Hi guys, I’m a relatively new driver in the industry and I’m in need of a hgv sat nav.
I have a regular tom tom but it’s got me into a couple of let’s say awkward situations.
Can anyone recommend a reliable and accurate sat nav for truck use.
I don’t want to spend too much on one though as money is tight.
Any advice is appreciated.
Thanks
Its not a truck specific nav but ive found the Garmin Nuvi 58 to be good. Lifetime updates and very easy to use… around 90eur…
Thanks, I’ll check it out. I need one that I can put vehicle dimensions in though so I can avoid low bridges etc.
Have a look on eBay. There’s loads on there for £40 or less I’ve had a couple and they’ve worked perfectly well.
The one I’ve got at the moment has all the features of a top end truck satnav including free lifetime map updates at about a tenth of the price.
Mine is a Goldbay one but they’re all pretty much the same.
Oh and remember no matter how good a satnav is you still need to use common sense and good judgement.
Don’t just tap a postcode into the thing and blindly follow it, that’s asking for trouble. Have a look on a map or Google maps at where your going and have an idea of your route before you set off. 10 minutes spent checking your route/destination could save you a he’ll of a lot of agro. If you’re not sure about anything stop get out and have a look. Also if you’ve not already got it think about downloading Google earth onto your phone, street view can be a life saver.
Use the satnav on your phone, set it to HGV / Truck routes, increase your data if needed, it is far better and cheaper, also far more reliable than a ■■■■■■’ sat nav.
Didn’t know you could set the satnav on your phone to truck routes.
Pat, do you mean google maps? Cos that’s the only sat nav on my phone. And how do you switch it to hgv? I’ve never noticed that mode before.
Thanks guys.
You can’t. I just had a look. You can download a truck satnav onto your phone but it will probably cost you more than just buying one. Plus with a proper satnav your not using your data.
I use a trucktables one, but as said Google maps before you leave makes a lot of difference too
If im off my ususal route i normally glance at a map first and then just use the nav for the final address maybe a few km’s away, navs will always find the shortest route but can take you onto roads you really dont want to be on…
£35-40 xgody off ebay .It stops you going into weight restricted areas and low bridges .And wack google maps on your phone .xgody goes mad if you try going under low bridges now.
I have the Tom Tom truck6000 one and it’s been great, only problem is it takes forever to update the maps but that might be my computer.
If its HGV specific then it’ll do what all the other ones do reliably the smartphone apps are just as good if not in some cases better than a dedicated unit.
350jeff:
Pat, do you mean google maps? Cos that’s the only sat nav on my phone. And how do you switch it to hgv? I’ve never noticed that mode before.
Thanks guys.
I have google maps on mine, I look up the location I want and either just get as close as I can just by looking at the directions, then when I get closer I switch to the navigation icon on the screen, I have options before using it to set it for truck routes. Even though on my last phone it didn’t have the truck feature, I still used it.
I known you live in the UK and don’t have Verizon but I think Vodafone have a similar sat nav to VZ navigator which when you set up also has the truck route option ? By the way the phone company ‘Verizon’ do not charge for downloading the app, but when using it there is a small daily charge, on days when you don’t use it you don’t get charged, for instance I have only used VZ navigator twice in two years and my total charges where just under $4.50.
A couple of quid a day just to use the satnav? ■■■■ me Pat, UK lorry drivers would rather offer their firstborn or let the phone company have first dibs on the missus rather than pay that sort of money!
We have co-pilot truck on our microlise devices (can be bought off the app store/google play) but it is expensive, prompts you on restricted roads, low bridges etc
All depends on how confident you are, Waze is really good (and free) for avoiding traffic but it doesn’t have a truck option so you’d have to keep an eye on restrictions yourself and plan accordingly
Depends if you want a separate devcie or something you can add on you phone/tablet
Just as a small aside I came across a free truck routeplanner at Truck & Driver magazine website here: 'Don't hit that bridge!' - free Truck Route Planner - Truckanddriver.co.uk - tested it out on a couple of known routes I use regularly & it seems to work well.
AndrewG:
If im off my ususal route i normally glance at a map first and then just use the nav for the final address maybe a few km’s away, navs will always find the shortest route but can take you onto roads you really dont want to be on…
That’s just not true, I have a tomtom 6000 & it will find the fastest route suitable for hgv’s not the shortest route for anything, it will also offer a couple of alternative routes. The trick is to set it up properly & try using a bit of common sense along with google maps for looking at the actual destination, hasn’t let me down yet although there’s always a first time 
wrighty1:
AndrewG:
If im off my ususal route i normally glance at a map first and then just use the nav for the final address maybe a few km’s away, navs will always find the shortest route but can take you onto roads you really dont want to be on…That’s just not true, I have a tomtom 6000 & it will find the fastest route suitable for hgv’s not the shortest route for anything, it will also offer a couple of alternative routes. The trick is to set it up properly & try using a bit of common sense along with google maps for looking at the actual destination, hasn’t let me down yet although there’s always a first time
Cant comment on the systems you guys have but the system I have fitted offers choice of "shortest/quickest/most economic settings". All of the options fall short of a working "common sense" option mixing together all of the above. Not yet capable of predicting traffic either: I know if Im gonna try running around a big city at 17hr30 Im gonna hit traffic, but my SatNav will start routing me that way if Im starting out 3hours away, then panic and divert as I approach and traffic builds. I often look at the routes it throws up, but they are only advisory after all.
Are any systems yet capable of looking at frequent traffic snarls and predicting/allowing for them?