Is it time to rethink what you are getting from that tourist level GPS

Custom truck routing : The best route for a car may not be the best one for a truck hauling freight. A custom routing feature ¹ , available on specific GPS products, lets you enter your vehicle profile (customizable by height, weight, length, width and hazardous materials carried) to find truck-preferred routes best suited for your rig and load. With the onboard trip planner, you can easily change your route to include preferred roads, waypoints or cities. And if you're driving in unfamiliar territory, there's a feature that shows you popular routes used by fellow truckers in the vicinity. Plus, driver alerts for upcoming bridge heights, weight limits, sharp curves, steep grades and other potential "oops-factors" help add safety and take the guesswork out of getting your load delivered on time.

Quality-of-road-life features : Need to make a pit stop? Grab a shower? Park your rig? Find a reliable mechanic? To help simplify life on the road, your over-the-road friendly GPS can include searchable database information such as a Truck & Trailer Services directory that helps you locate all these things and more. The directory can filter listings by brand or amenity, such as " Love’s Travel Stop " or " Showers ." Truck-specific parking data also helps you locate the choice slots at truck stops along your route. You can even access a load-to-dock guidance feature that shows potential loading zones or storage lots available as you're approaching your drop-off destination.

Staying connected: Want hands-free calling? Smart notifications on the big screen? Live traffic, weather, fuel prices? A voice assistant you can ask for directions? All these connectivity features and more are on the menu with these new-generation truck navigators. So, bottom line, what makes a trade-up worth the money? Any old GPS can probably navigate your rig from Point A to Point B. But a GPS that understands how truckers work can do so much more to make life on the road safer and less stressful. Check out the gear at your favorite Love's Travel Stop , and try to tell us we're wrong!

Written by the experts at Garmin .

FOOTNOTE: ¹ Not available in all areas. Entering your truck profile characteristics does not guarantee your truck's characteristics will be accounted for in all route suggestions. Always defer to all posted road signs and road conditions.