GPS for Dummies
I get at least five emails a week asking “Trucker Steve do you use a GPS and if so what brand should I get?” When I get this question it reminds me of a episode of The Office, where branch manager Michael follows directions from his GPS device — despite the warnings of his passenger — and drives his car into a lake.
That turns out to be art imitating life. These things actually seem to happen fairly often. Not long ago the safety department shared a similar story with us. A driver for a undisclosed carrier was following routing that directed him underneath a low over pass. Against his better judgment he continued on, topping the trailer. In closing the company stated “GPS units are now banned at our company and any use of them will be handled in similar fashion as a radar detector.” I Agree 100 %, to many drivers have allowed modern technology to put them in a state to become complacent.
Looks like you might have to add using your GPS to the list of things that the experts tell you not to do while driving. According to a new study, using GPS while behind the wheel is actually more distracting and less safe than unfolding a paper map and using it to find your way. The survey found that in 10% of cases, drivers would wait until they were on the road to program their GPS, and about 13% would rely solely on their GPS to get them to their destination, rendering them completely oblivious to the world around them. But what do
you think? Has GPS made you feel safer or less safe behind the wheel?
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- Texting while trucking
- A rookie truckers big mistake
- Jason’s Law
- Volkswagen Touareg Commercial – “Light”
- Better Truck Driving Trainers – part 1
Category: Truckers safety, Trucking in general
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A company ban on GPS is the kind of knee-jerk reaction that makes people in the trucking industry look like hicks and dumb asses. When news like this reaches the manufacturers of GPS units what incentive will they have to improve them for our industry? If I drove for a company that flat banned GPS I’d have a talk with safety and if they wouldn’t change the policy I’d seriously consider running for another outfit. Thankfully my employer sees GPS as a tool that drivers can use to improve safety and reduce time to pick ups and drop offs.
Why not get the company to hire you to do a video to educate truckers about the proper use of GPS including it’s limitations, legal and above all, safety aspects? Put the video on the company web site, burn it to DVD and require everyone to watch it and maybe pass a quiz before restoring their ability to use GPS if they want to.
Thank you for taking the time to write to me and state your position. I can agree that if used correctly the GPS can be a useful tool. I think I will communicate with the company and run your idea past them. I am not sure what their “exact” position is in this ruling, I didn’t look to far into the details because I don’t have a unit.
However, I have seen many people so reliant on the device they couldn’t get their way out of a parking garage with out GPS instructions, I am not kidding about that. This is simply a case of, the bad ruining it for the good. I can see why any company would do what my company has, lowering your liability, educating your drivers and saving life’s is what the safety department does, that is why our safety record is among the best in trucking, our safety crew is amazing their extremely good at catching problems before they happen.
Again thanks for your comment.
My gps unit can help in many ways. I can see what type of exit is up ahead, whether it’s a switchback, a regular on-off, a cloverleaf, a double off ramp, a split ramp and that prepares me to be looking out for that road configuration. I can also see how far away my next fuel stop is and calculate my fuel level, or how far away from the shipper/receiver I am so I can reschedule my deliveries if possible. This is what I use mine for, as far as the routes go, I do not depend on the gps for that. After being out here for 7 years, you get to where you go over your route on a map and check for weight limits, low clearances, restricted routes, etc etc…
i think there kind of nice to use if you use care. but about 3 weeks ago i had a lady that was goofin with her gps runnin me in the ditch and i tipped a brand new d8 over it only caused minor damage but it put me out work for 3 days i think if your going to use think about the world and rember people use to use the sun and stars to move around use that thing between your ears for more than just a hat rack