HGV drivers - Sat Navs

Paradigm

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Forget truck navs.

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

A satnav is a map, albeit a moving/talking one. Use the same common sense (along with the Mk 1 human eyeball) with a satnav & you won't get into trouble.

It's only when people blindly follow the directions that there are problems.

d-seven

As far as Snoopers are concerned, there is a company called Roadpro who specialise in electrics for motorhomes and trucks, and they stock this brand.
https://www.roadpro.co.uk/retail/product_list.aspx?prod=Snooper+GPS+navigation+systems

katies_mum

Thanks, I`ll get him to have a look later.

Flyboy152

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

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.

What is the difference between an atlas and a satellite navigation system. Why is an atlas better than a satellite navigation system?

gilbert_and_sullivan

Flyboy152 wrote: »

What is the difference between an atlas and a satellite navigation system. Why is an atlas better than a satellite navigation system?

Because you can oversee the route you need to take, indeed by using the route finder pages as well as the main maps you can mentally pencil in several alternative routes should you hear of traffic problems as you make your way.

By all means allow the satnav to run alongside, its a useful tool, but no lorry driver worth his salt will be told which way to go by a machine that can never pool togther the years of knowledge that a driver has.

Satnav to be fair though comes into its own when you get near to your destination in strange areas, saves having a stack of street maps, but should always be used in conjuction with, and not as an alternative to, a real atlas.

Only my opinion, others may feel differently.

GT60

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Because you can oversee the route you need to take, indeed by using the route finder pages as well as the main maps you can mentally pencil in several alternative routes should you hear of traffic problems as you make your way.

By all means allow the satnav to run alongside, its a useful tool, but no lorry driver worth his salt will be told which way to go by a machine that can never pool togther the years of knowledge that a driver has.

Satnav to be fair though comes into its own when you get near to your destination in strange areas, saves having a stack of street maps, but should always be used in conjuction with, and not as an alternative to, a real atlas.

Only my opinion, others may feel differently.

Never a truer word printed give me an atlas/A-Z any day
Hgv class one driver!!

Jo_F

I was going to say that its a good idea to have a truck mapbook too, in fact we have 2, one each, as obviously if he has to take a detour, he can't always stop to check, so I will check the route for him just to make sure there are not bridges etc.

Flyboy152

gilbert_and_sullivan wrote: »

Because you can oversee the route you need to take, indeed by using the route finder pages as well as the main maps you can mentally pencil in several alternative routes should you hear of traffic problems as you make your way.

By all means allow the satnav to run alongside, its a useful tool, but no lorry driver worth his salt will be told which way to go by a machine that can never pool togther the years of knowledge that a driver has.

Satnav to be fair though comes into its own when you get near to your destination in strange areas, saves having a stack of street maps, but should always be used in conjuction with, and not as an alternative to, a real atlas.

Only my opinion, others may feel differently.

You can do that with a satellite navigation system as well. In fact, you can avoid traffic altogether. Which really makes no advantage for the atlas above satellite navigation.

Rolandtheroadie

Flyboy152 wrote: »

You can do that with a satellite navigation system as well. In fact, you can avoid traffic altogether. Which really makes no advantage for the atlas above satellite navigation.

What happens if the sat nav breaks?

gilbert_and_sullivan

Flyboy152 wrote: »

You can do that with a satellite navigation system as well. In fact, you can avoid traffic altogether. Which really makes no advantage for the atlas above satellite navigation.

Indeed, the canny driver uses a combination of both, and years of knowledge to where the likely hold ups will be at certain times of the day and certain days of the week.

Satnav is an excellent tool if used sensibly, ie as pocket sized street atlas, where at one time you'd have a box of street maps to cart around.

I like many other old road hands have managed perfectly well for a lifetime of truck use without the latest electronic toy, i sometimes do use a satnav, being a Garmin it has traffic search facility, its the nearest to though not a patch on the excellent Trafficmaster YQ units now without a signal to home in on.

The Garmin being large screened is good for final homing in on a strange destination, though like all these toys, for thats all they are, any info from it needs to be viewed with a pinch of salt.
And of course like all navs has its limitations when in heavily built up areas, arguably the time you need it most.