HGV drivers - Sat Navs

katies_mum

Hi
My hubby has just moved from driving very large vans back to driving HGV`s. He has mentioned getting a sat nav and I was wondering if there are any HGV drivers on the forum who might be able to help/recommend one.
I know he needs one suitable for HGV`s as you need to put in the size of the vechicle etc... From the information I have looking at we think Garmin and Tom Tom might be the best ones (Garmin I think do lifetime updates of maps) there might be other makes we have not heard about. (he will only be travelling in the UK as far as we are aware)
If anyone can help or offer any advice it would be really appreciated.
Many thanks.

Jo_F

Most of the sat nav companies do a unit suitable for HGVs, my partner has a Snooper (7000 I think), this comes with all the height/weight restrictions etc.

Work have fitted TomToms in the cabs, connected into the traffic update systems and the works system, but for some reason they forgot to add the truck software.

katies_mum

Thanks I`ll take a look, not hears of Snoopers before. I think its daft that the company havn`t got these fittedin all the cabs, especially as a lot of them a new cabs.

Lum

Can I just say a thank you to the two of you for actually going to the effort of looking for an HGV specific sat-nav.

I used to live up in the Welsh valleys and most normal satnavs would decide that going up the hill and down the other side, on single track lanes, was the quickest route.

Sure the majority of HGV drivers out there would realise this was stupid and/or notice the big blue sign saying "ignore satellite navigation" but every so often I'd go up that lane as a shortcut, only to have to reverse about half a mile as the way was blocked by an HGV that had gotten itself firmly wedged between two houses!

katies_mum

Thanks, that was nice.

Jo_F, I`d not heard of of Snoopers as I mentioned, have just spent the last hour reading up on them...seem pretty good and do everything apart from make the tea. I see they do one with Europe maps and one for UK only - which might suit him better. Does your partner pay extra for the map updates?

Notmyrealname

katies_mum wrote: »

Hi
My hubby has just moved from driving very large vans back to driving HGV`s. He has mentioned getting a sat nav and I was wondering if there are any HGV drivers on the forum who might be able to help/recommend one.
I know he needs one suitable for HGV`s as you need to put in the size of the vechicle etc... From the information I have looking at we think Garmin and Tom Tom might be the best ones (Garmin I think do lifetime updates of maps) there might be other makes we have not heard about. (he will only be travelling in the UK as far as we are aware)
If anyone can help or offer any advice it would be really appreciated.
Many thanks.

The general consensus on the trucking forums is that the ones targetted for HGVs are crap with inaccurate info. Some claim to be really clever where you put in the dimensions of the vehicle (length/width/height/weight) but they'll still try and route an artic down an unsuitable road.

Best keeping the Trucking Atlas with the low bridge heights and also getting a Low Bridge heights POI file for the Satnav he buys.

Notmyrealname

Lum wrote: »

I used to live up in the Welsh valleys and most normal satnavs would decide that going up the hill and down the other side, on single track lanes, was the quickest route.

I've driven in Wales and some of those roads are actually signed as HGV routes. Here's one to Minsterley (yes I know its in Shropshire). Take note of the HGV route sign. Turn left onto the B4387 and have a wander down it. At some points, there is barely a foot either side of the wagon.

katies_mum

Thank you for replying. Do you use a sat nav?
Please can you tell me about this: Low Bridge heights POI file. How would you get this?
Thanks

muckybutt

katies_mum wrote: »

Thank you for replying. Do you use a sat nav?
Please can you tell me about this: Low Bridge heights POI file. How would you get this?
Thanks

http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=24817&highlight=low+bridge

katies_mum

Thank you.

gilbert_and_sullivan

Forget truck navs.

As the above poster, get a proper AA truckers atlas, use atlas to plan routes...with large helping of common sense.

Simple sat nav is a handy gadget though, so long as you think of it as a pocket sized street atlas, and only use it to home in your destination once you've got within spitting distance.
Another good point of the sat nav is the ability to count down to turning and knowing the turning is the correct one if unsigned, if the local authority have blown the street sign budget on jollies for councillors for instance.

HGV drivers hould never rely on a sat nav to route find for them, therein lies the route to disaster.