GPS Help Please.....

[scott_vt]

OK Guys,
I downloaded the the pdf file owners manual on the 465-T, and on page 5 there is a few words on loading multiple stops and or programming in another stop after the initial route was calculated.

At this point maybe it would be in my best interest to just talk to someone in customer support for any specific questions on this topic.

Thanks again for all the info to date !

 

[Reg]

OK Guys,
I downloaded the the pdf file owners manual on the 465-T, and on page 5 there is a few words on loading multiple stops and or programming in another stop after the initial route was calculated.

At this point maybe it would be in my best interest to just talk to someone in customer support for any specific questions on this topic.

Thanks again for all the info to date !

You might want to do the test drive at a Best Buy first.

Yes, you can "Insert" to add a stop in the sequence where YOU want it.
You can "Add" to allow the GPS unit to put it wherever it thinks is best.
That "best" might be on the outbound or on the homebound leg.
For DELIVERIES that weigh a significant amount (some number of hundreds of pounds for fuels) you generally want to unload on the way out.
So you probably want to review the proposed route and re-order some of the stops according to the size of the deliveries, e.g. use a few extra miles to get the BIG deliveries off the truck first, even though that may lead to some zig zagging.

Kinda like farming; Gather TOWARDS home, scatter AWAY from home.
You don't take the spreader to the farthest corner of the field and spread coming back towards the barn.
Neither do you collect the harvest going away from the barn and then bring the loaded wagon all the way back in.
Least ways, I don't (-:

 

[CinderSchnauzer]

Here's a site with good info on GPS

GPSmagazine.com GPS Buyer's Guide

DIL has a Garmin 265WT and really likes it. In our motor home, I use Microsoft Streets & Trips on a 17" laptop. Mostly lay out the routes evening before and then follow - where required. If entering a lot of waypoints, I'm not sure how convenient the little hand held units would be. Compromise might be a computer based solution using one of the small notebook type computers. As example, Acer, HP and several others have 8" - 10" machines that would be lots easier to mount than a full size laptop - but still have advantage of keyboard input.

 

[EarPlug]

The Garmin 7xx Series has what is called "Route Optimization". Read the review on the now discontinued Nuvi 760 models Multi Destination Routing

.

 

[Reg]

Take a SERIOUS look at your other needs.
If you are "just driving" for someone maybe there is no advantage to optimizing for the minimum ton-miles, although I would think an employer with more than half a brain would appreciate it if you get the heaviest loads off the truck as early as practical on the route.
You won't get that with a consumer level device or software package, it doesn't come in until the full logistics levels of software, so you will need to do this manually as you look at the day's deliveries.

If you have a franchise and trucking costs directly affect YOUR pocket, you will want to optimize for ton-miles, not necessarily shortest or quickest.

"Stops" to me are customer's premises, i.e. they are entries in my address book, complete with contact info and links to their account histories.
I find it useful to "have at my fingertips", but that might not be relevant to you.

OTOH, knowing that a particular customer last received 1,000 gallons of whatever only last week COULD alert you to the fact that you have a duplicate order in your hand and their tank probably won't take another 1,000 gallons ?

 

[scott_vt]

You might want to do the test drive at a Best Buy first.

(-:

Good Evenin Reg,
Thanks for all your very valuable help !

I do plan on some test driving next weekend ! I am driving for someone else not myself so I may not go for the absolute top of the line.

Earplug made a very good point about the Garmin 7xx units having routing capabilities, so that may be a viable option !

I could probablly live without the height and weight limitations, especially in this part of the northeast...

We will see, and report back.

Thanks again !

 

[sandman2234]

As far as Streets and Trips is concerned; DeLorme DOES Maps, MicroSoft (almost) does software.
Nuff said.

Everybody has a different opinion, and our definitely are! The only mapping program I have ever used on my laptops (about 12 years now) that has given me problems has been DeLorme maps. Guess you answered why, since running it on a laptop requires software, and drawing maps requires paper, I prefer to have no problems with the software end of it. Knowing Microsoft, they will just steal the maps they need and wiggle somebody into writing the software for it.
Using a laptop does give you the ability to view the route, and very easily move them around to suit your needs, but even it isn't perfect (It does have M/S name on it). However looking at each stop on a typical gps requires better glasses and a magnifying glass at the same time.
David from jax

 

[Reg]

Everybody has a different opinion, and our definitely are! The only mapping program I have ever used on my laptops (about 12 years now) that has given me problems has been DeLorme maps. Guess you answered why, since running it on a laptop requires software, and drawing maps requires paper, I prefer to have no problems with the software end of it. Knowing Microsoft, they will just steal the maps they need and wiggle somebody into writing the software for it.
Using a laptop does give you the ability to view the route, and very easily move them around to suit your needs, but even it isn't perfect (It does have M/S name on it). However looking at each stop on a typical gps requires better glasses and a magnifying glass at the same time.
David from jax

Just about all non-Microslop software has PRO_GRESSED in 12 years, not RE_GRESSED.
What is it now, 14 or 17 Gig of disk space for Windon't Vista ?
Pretty much the definition of "feature encumbered".

No "need" for anything from Redmond's (supposed) monopoly, open source can and does do it all.
Apple ?
Maybe not known to you, never mind.

 

[dmccarty]

Not sure if this helps or not but I'll just throw it out.

We just went on vacation and we used MapQuest and Goole Maps to figure out the fastest route at the start of the trip. Distance wise they were both about the same. Time with Map Quest saved us 20-30 minutes which was a good chunk of time.

Not sure how you can figure out which GPS unit can give you the best route. The roads we took are not new. Map Quest for some reason had a better route.

And a GPS does not keep you from getting lost.

We live at the end of a road. We own the last 1000 feet or so and have a gate across the road. This week the gate was open and I could hear some heavy equipment moving our way....

Turned out it was a semi with a load of trusses. The driver had just drivin to a dead end on a single lane gravel road and realized he was having a Huston we have a problem moment. He turned off the big rigs engine.

The trusses were too big for what I need to build but I could make 'em work. And I told him so. He grinned. He kinda mentioned his directions but not all of them so it sounded like he just had the wrong directions. The road he was looking for was familiar but I could not figure out where it was. He made some phone calls and got now where.

He wanted to back out a half mile down a windy single lane gravel road. I finally convinced him that the grass and moss covered open area was really full of gravel and he would not get stuck. He turned around and left.

Got up to the house and talked to the wifey and told her about the road. She looked at me and said it sounds like he was trying to get to the subdivision on our western border. DUH! I felt like Homer. His instructions told him to make a left turn from town. He turned a half mile too soon. He did not read me all of the directions if he had I would have figured out where he was trying to get. He was only about 2,000 feet from his destination as the crow flys. It was just due west. To get that truck there he was going to have to drive a couple of miles.

Later,
Dan

 

[scott_vt]

Good Evenin Guys,
Just a little update here ! I have been looking at a number of different units and reading reviews etc...

As nice as the Garmin 465T is I dont think it really fits my needs, and may possibly get me in a bit of trouble at times...

What I really need the most as far as the routing c apabilities is not for an over the road truck, it needs to be more geared towards residential delivery with certain height and weight restrictions. Im just under 10 ft high in the delivery truck and carry at the most a payload of 3500 gals. So possibly some weight restrictions.

I honestly am not sure if you can change those variables on the 465 T ?

Any bulk being moved is along the I-95 corridor and I can find may way without too many issues there.

Im thinking out loud here, but Im leaning along the lines of just a Garmin 7xx unit with routing capabilites and none of the other bells and whistles...

More later...