pro trucking version

[Flagelpater]

I would like to sound a VERY LOUD second! for this request. An additional cost would be expected. I am now paying for a few books such as Woodall's to get the RV INFO. It would be nice to have it all in the same location. I drive a diesel 38' motor coach. I need almost all that the professional truck driver needs plus the RV INFO. Big Rigs Welcome would also be a requirement.

[smkaplan]

Co-Pilot Truck $300
(+$50 for canada streets)
so:
$300 + shipping (US only)
$350 + shipping (US & Canada)

ProMiles Truck Miles $199
(+ $49 for US streets)
(+ $49 for Canada streets)
(+ $20 for Canada postal codes)
so:
$248 + shipping (US only)
$317 + shipping (US & Canada)
$268 + shipping (Canada only)

What does it all add up to?
We should expect to pay $200-$250 extra for truck/rv routing and $50-75 extra for Canadian data... I know it's worth it to me, the question is how do we convince DeLorme that there are enough of us out here willing to pay for it?

[us-kiwi]

One more request for a 'Big Rig' version.
I could personally sell about 10 licenses (terminology? ) in about a New York minute, just around my local fuel pump.

As far as building a database goes, with the new reporting feature in SA07, would it not be simple for all of us to contribute 'a little bit each' of what we find during the day. This way, it would give us all something to do, and maybe even improve the quality of the Channel 19 'chatter'

If we knew that the data was :
1. wanted by somebody who was processing it.
2. distributed on a regular basis for further 'beta' testing
3. edited to reflect the dynamic nature of construction, etc.

then I'm sure that the 'big rig' community would pay for it.
I already voted $250 extra - anybody else want to commit ?

Shucks, that is less than 1 days' fuel burn - less than 1 tire.
And WAAAAY less than chrome and LED's.

And living and driving in New England, I have to agree with Nedra, all those 'Parkways' can get real exciting. Just having to back out of an on-ramp can 'spoil your whole afternoon', along with the 10-to-20 'understanding 4-wheelers' that also had to back up behind you. Ask me how I know...........

[Silver]

I want to add to this too I would love to see a pro-trucker version. Or even one that tells the difference between gas stations and stations that sell diesel.

[us-kiwi]

This seems to be the 'most actively read' suggestion, with the most replies, with the exception of 'new colors' which the great people at Delorme addressed VERY quickly.
Does Delorme have a position/policy regarding THIS topic ? ( Or perhaps Sanagan or Dan Lawyer could have a whisper to that 'little birdie' that seems to be able to peek thru keyholes etc. from time to time. )

I would be willing to contribute more info/effort/support if I knew that the light at the end of the tunnel was NOT a train............ It just seems to me that there is a market for such a product, and somebody might jump on the opportunity, hopefully Delorme. Just a thought.................

[Dan Lawyer]

I can't speak for DeLorme, but I've been around long enough, and talked to them enough, to be able to say that IMHO, the chances are slim to none of getting a truckers version, at least in the near future. They have their hands full as it is.

As a trucker, you know how much the software that truckers who can afford it, cost. The reason for the cost, is the cost of getting, and maintaining the data you all need to deal with, which is way beyond truck stops, some of which are in the SA programs. I've been fighting for the last couple of years to just get the truck stops they have, in their own category so we RVers can search on them, with out getting ten million gas stations we can't get in. They actually had it a few years ago, but for some strange reason it disappeared.

There are a couple of truckers here that have used the program, very successfully for years. I know they probably have tons of other data that they have added over the years as draw files, to aid them. You can do a search on "Truck" and author = Nedra, and get lots of info on how they deal with it.

Off Topic...that's one sweet rig you've got. Bet you can't guess what I wanted to be when I was a kid Missed out on the mode of transportation, but I've been all over the US anyway, so I can't complain.

[us-kiwi]

Yes Dan, I certainly agree with you, the trucker software/databases ARE very expensive, and by comparison, are not very good. (At least, that's what I've been told, not being able to justify/buy/use the stuff.) And I understand that the major expense is in the maintenance - try keeping a big truck in one piece, and drive 100, 000 miles /yr. at the same time.

Please dont misunderstand me - I feel strongly that GPS mapping - as in SA type stuff, is essential for any trucker that does not know where he is going. I for one will not hire a driver that is not interested in learning/using SA.
I have read most of Nedra's posts, and have learned a lot from them. I was mainly wondering if Delorme had anything cooking in the 'skunk works', or should I investigate 'other options' and I guess that you have answered that one for them.

Off Topic reply - Thanks for the compliment - However, that is not my truck pictured. Mine is identical, just not as pretty. I found this photo on e-Bay, and decided to borrow it, as my truck is the same spec. Mine does not 'present well'- its been 'rode hard and put away wet' by too many previous owners.
I'm a relative newbie to this whole trucking deal - that mid-life crisis/career change thingy. My background is business management/manufacturing with a lot of computer/networking mixed in.
One day I just decided that 'low tech' might be better for a while, so I started a small trucking business. Jury is still out..............

[Sanaghan]

And I understand that the major expense is in the maintenance - try keeping a big truck in one piece, and drive 100,000 miles /yr. at the same time.

Wow, you are new at this! Most people stop driving while working on their vehicles; it's much easier (and safer) that way.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[us-kiwi]

Most people stop driving while working on their vehicles;

But with WAAS enabled, so that the green arrow is ON the road, hook the laptop to the cruise control....................... Oh, Never mind................

[drumtrucker]

As one of the truckers using SA for many years, I still say the old interface was better. But there is NO chance of that coming back.

Thanks Nedra, for the info on Truckstops as POI, which was really a big loss to me. Back in the old days, I used to hit ctrl-J and it would bring up all truckstops coming up, kinda like along the way I guess.

What somebody should do is publish an Xdata base with truckstop and service info. RV could have one also. They have a lot of common needs, but separate ones as well.

As far as truck ROUTING goes, well some experience and common sense and diligence (I forgot the first 2 once and found myself on forest road...) can usually keep you out of trouble.

Sure would be nice if the INTERSTATES were BLUE.

[smkaplan]

One other very useful category for truckers is scales. A list of the cat scales ( http://www.catscale.com/ ) and interstate scales ( http://www.interstatescales.com/ ) should be easy to get (permission as they post them on their website...) and are the cheaters way to find a truckstop anyway...

-Steve

[jwilhelm121]

I have downloaded from Pilot, TA, Flying J, Petro web sites their Location sites and using Excel arranged the INFO to what I needed.

Cat scale and LOVES doesn't provide Lat-Longs and I don't have time to convert Hwy Exits to Lat-Longs.

NOT all LAT-Longs provided are ACCURATE, but if you know what is the correct location, manual lat-long or "on map" input can be made as I have done.

I will share.
Input into SA2008+ from "map tab- Add - XData datasets "
Import bmp into the "Draw tab - Symbols file" then Symbolize each XData file with the correct *.bmp pic.

This can be done with any list you want and not have the 'BIG' map covered with location notes.
PLUS;

They are searchable as POIs.

Warning: NOT ALL LOCATIONS ARE ACCURATE, ONLY WHAT I CORRECTED OR VERIFIED. SOME LOCATIONS ARE MILES OFF (Blame the truck Stops who don't seem to know the Lat-Longs of their fuel stops !!)

[jwilhelm121]

Continued: files attached

[Nedra]

I HAD to reply to this so I can tell you how CUTE I think your avatar is here on the forums.

I've worked with the new interface long enough that I now like it better as it is much stronger and more capable. There are sources for locating truck stops in addition to the improved SA POI database since 2005. There are downloadable lists for RVers and truckers. There are online places to search. I still keep one Trucker's Friend and one Exit Guide (now published by a new company) to compare to data found in PCMiler and at the NATSO website. Also there are the downloadable files from Discovery Owner's website:

http://www.discoveryowners.com/cginfo.htm

Actually we know many professional drivers who use SA 200x and x Plus for routing. We usually compare PCMiler's routing with SA to see if they match or not.

I find it interesting that this thread started in 2005 is still active in 2007. You were quite correct in saying that some experience and common sense are important factors in truckers' use of the program.

As one of the truckers using SA for many years, I still say the old interface was better. But there is NO chance of that coming back.

Thanks Nedra, for the info on Truckstops as POI, which was really a big loss to me. Back in the old days, I used to hit ctrl-J and it would bring up all truckstops coming up, kinda like along the way I guess.

What somebody should do is publish an Xdata base with truckstop and service info. RV could have one also. They have a lot of common needs, but separate ones as well.

As far as truck ROUTING goes, well some experience and common sense and diligence....

[Nedra]

If you look at the Discovery Owners link, you'll find POI files for SA including:
Sam's, Walmart, Super Walmart, Walmart Canada, Love's Truck stops, Freightliner Dealers, Flying J, Cummins Repair Shops, TA truck stops and scales. They are probably updated from 2005 when I downloaded copies. If your files are different or more comprehensive than what they have, I'm sure they'd love to have you share your files with them as well.

Thanks for your three files. I've downloaded them. I've always found it strange that they don't know their lat/lon. I have suggested to DeLorme that they contact each truck stop chain and request information be provided to DeLorme as needed for the POI database, since, doing this would provide the truck stops with the equivalent of FREE ADVERTISEMENT not only to truck drivers, but also to RVer's who buy the mapping program. That's the fastest way to update their in-house database... by making the truck stops, scales, etc. WANT to be listed.

If DeLorme would pay me for data entry, I'd be happy to get a lot of these placed correctly. I've been to so many of them that I already know where they are for the most part. I just can't spend the time it would take to do this kind of data entry unless I'm paid for my work and time.

I have downloaded from Pilot, TA, Flying J, Petro web sites their Location sites and using Excel arranged the INFO to what I needed.

Cat scale and LOVES doesn't provide Lat-Longs and I don't have time to convert Hwy Exits to Lat-Longs.

Warning: NOT ALL LOCATIONS ARE ACCURATE, ONLY WHAT I CORRECTED OR VERIFIED. SOME LOCATIONS ARE MILES OFF (Blame the truck Stops who don't seem to know the Lat-Longs of their fuel stops !!)