Need a Little Help and Advise please

lostandfound · Jun 24, 2007

the wife and i run team for FedEx so far we really like it only been at it for two week's but FXCC is a good fit,even thou i have nothing to compare it to.

Now the Chief complaint iheck my s the routing sysstem they use heck my Dog could do a better job than that thing can and she doe's not have all the money like FEDEX has.

It is very frustrating trying to find your way into these shipper's and reciver's,so do any of you have any advice on what to purchace as far as routing and/or mapping system or have any other advice we are getting tired of sending up smoke signal's LOLany help will be appreciated from the wife and Thanks

TeamCaffee · Jun 24, 2007

First as all it appear all you have is a computer I would use MapQuest to locate all shipper and receivers.

Next I would look into getting a dash mounted GPS. I would not recommend using your computer due to the investment you have in it. The laptops we use don't seem to handle the constant vibration of the truck and being left on. We also found that at night you cannot dim the screen so the brightness is way to high.

You can search the archives as most GPS units have been discussed.

lostandfound · Jun 24, 2007

thankyou for the quick reply yes we have discused the GPS TomTom or Garmin but with so many Brands and Model's it makes yeah go hmmmm which one is best at a descent price.

TeamCaffee · Jun 24, 2007

We use the Lowrance Iway 500c but believe when we upgrade we will get one of the Garmens with the truck routing.

nightcreacher · Jun 24, 2007

when you are useing feds directions,i asume you are talking the locals.all the local directions will come from the nearest ex center,and that may not be anywhere near the way you are comming from.so 1st you must compare the directions to your map,if this is still messed up,then when you call in your info for departure tell dispatch the directions seem to be wrong,they will correct them.I have a gps system,microsoft streets and trips,works great for me,and useually the routing is the same as fed exs,there are cases where i can get places with less miles,but we dont want to allert the wrong people, lol

ihamner · Jun 24, 2007

We are also looking into getting a Garmin but can't seem to determine which one is best for the truck. Anyone with experience on these? We have checked them out but is there one that is best for trucks? Thanks. ih

India Hamner
[font color="purple"] FEDEX [/font][font color="blue"]Custom Critical[/font]
D Unit
"You see weird things driving... I've never
understood log trucks, sometimes you'll be out on the highway, you see
two big giant trucks loaded up with logs, and they pass each other on
the highway... I don't understand it. I mean, if they need logs over
there... and they need 'em over there, you'd think a phone call would
save 'em a whole lot of trouble." Brian Regan

Jack_Berry · Jun 24, 2007

reducing brightness of the monitor

start at the desktop
right click and choose properties
click the settings tab
click the advanced button
click on color(might be top row upper left.
reduce brightness.

don't know if this is enough for nitr time driver operation or not.

maybe an acoustic foam pad under the laptop to reduce vibration?

Jack Berry

dieseldiva · Jun 24, 2007

RE: reducing brightness of the monitor

When first starting a few years back we purchased a Garmin. Eventually it started "freezing" up on us so, still under extended warranty, Comp USA exchanged it for us and we chose the Magellan 700. Once in a while it lets us down too. I think every brand probably has it's plus and minus columns but I would be sure and opt for the extended warranty so you're covered.

Oh and the Garmin had a "truck option" but it would still try to put us on the parkways in NYC!!!

We just use a combination of the Fed's directions, the GPS, and our good old map. Also if you're a verizon cell customer, they offer GPS routing on some of their newer phones, for a fee of course, but you don't have to subscribe, you can pay daily if you like. Haven't used mine yet but still keep in the back of my mind that it's there if needed.

LDB · Jun 24, 2007

RE: reducing brightness of the monitor

Laptop brightness... most units have a fn (function) button in the lower left area of the keyboard that controls various things through the f keys across the top. Frequently f7 and f8 are brightness controls. You may be able to dim the screen some by holding down the fn key and pressing f7.

GPS units do not register for commercial trucks. There is talk at Garmin of adding commercial functionality in the last part of the year. Some of the current crop have a setting for truck and/or motorhome but they are really geared toward motorhome size units that aren't as tall as our trucks. They also don't have a setting for hazmat.

If you have a laptop already you may want to look into ProMiles. They have different versions available with varying levels of features. At the high end you tell it your truck length, height, number of axles etc. and it only restricts routes that apply to your particular truck. I would not recommend CoPilot as it's just not ready for prime time.

Leo Bricker, 73's K5LDB, OOIDA Life Member 677319
Owner, Panther trucks 5508, 5509, 5641
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator
----------
Support the entire Constitution, not just the parts you like.

jaminjim · Jun 24, 2007

RE: reducing brightness of the monitor

Ah yes to all that information but, knowing me you had to know that there would be a but. Remember that I think all mapping software only posts Low Overpasses if they are on a truck route, only surface streets that are designated(sp)truck routes will show up.

lostandfound · Jun 24, 2007

RE: reducing brightness of the monitor

Thanks a bunch everyone for the help and advice now you got me scratching my bald head,i just looked on E-Bay they have some real descent prices for GPS system's.

layoutshooter · Jun 24, 2007

RE: reducing brightness of the monitor

We use our laptop and Delorme mapping. We bought a gps reciever and mounted on the mirror frame. Works perfect. I will lose C-link and XM radio signals and still have a working gps. The laptop has been working like this for almost 18 months, no problems yet. We do have a stand for it that isolates it from some of the vibration. As for the stand alone gps units. I sold them for almost 6 years. During that time I sold Garmin units at a 5 to 1 clip over all others. My customers most often came in asking for them. They were seldom returned.
When we do our routing we start with FedEx, then put into Delorme, work out the differences and then check it with a truckers atlas for clerances. We have never been burned by a low brige YET. Who know what we might miss but so far so good. Layoutshooter

ihamner · Jun 25, 2007

RE: reducing brightness of the monitor

Hey Layout, how amazing that you SOLD Garmin's and yet you are not using one. That says a lot. You probably know more than the average person about these yet you decided to use your laptop instead. Thanks for the info. india

India Hamner
[font color="purple"] FEDEX [/font][font color="blue"]Custom Critical[/font]
D Unit
"You see weird things driving... I've never
understood log trucks, sometimes you'll be out on the highway, you see
two big giant trucks loaded up with logs, and they pass each other on
the highway... I don't understand it. I mean, if they need logs over
there... and they need 'em over there, you'd think a phone call would
save 'em a whole lot of trouble." Brian Regan

OntarioVanMan · Jun 25, 2007

RE: reducing brightness of the monitor

My Brightness is "function key and F3 and F4"

dieseldiva · Jun 25, 2007

RE: reducing brightness of the monitor

>My Brightness is "function key and F3 and F4"

I've often wondered if "some" men had a switch of some kind that turned their "brightness" up and down.......thanks Ken for clearing that up for me!

layoutshooter · Jun 25, 2007

RE: reducing brightness of the monitor

Hey India,

I use the laptop because I am too cheap to buy a standalone gps. I also like being able to do my input from a keyboard vrs a touch screen. Some Garmins come with key pads but I don't know what they do. Not being in that business anymore I am no longer completley up to date on the newer units. So farthe computer has held up. I hope this remains a working system. If I have to buy a standalone it will be a Garmin. Good luck, there is no one size fits all answer to the problem, yet. I would love to sit down with a software person or a Garmin tech guy and design a system for trucking. Layoutshooter

spudhead911 · Jun 25, 2007

We have a Garmin c330 Street Pilot and it works just great, we also use a computer program called Route Tools bit I don't think the program is available any longer.

Spudhead911

OntarioVanMan · Jun 25, 2007

RE: reducing brightness of the monitor

>>My Brightness is "function key and F3 and F4"
>
>I've often wondered if "some" men had a switch of some kind
>that turned their "brightness" up and down.......thanks Ken
>for clearing that up for me!

Aren't you going back into hiding sometime soon??? REAL soon!!*LOL*

JuJu often says I have a bad case of foot in mouth!!! hahaha
;-)

dhalltoyo · Jun 26, 2007

If you would choose to use Microsoft Streets and Maps on your computer there is a "Night Vision" view that you can select. It is very easy to read in the truck at night.

ATeam · Jun 26, 2007

lostandfound,

Even with the latest and greatest computers, maping programs, GPS devices, internet resources, and local directions provided by human beings, expediting continues to be an endeavor where you will be trying to find unfamiliar locations in unfamiliar areas. Diane and I have some of the high-tech toys but still get lost and frustrated. You might enjoy a story I recently wrote about one such experience and about how the toys don't always work:

http://www.successfulexpediters.com/Madsen/MadsenStory030.htm