Intelligent location solutions are one of the marvels of the modern age. Instead of relying on local knowledge acquired over a number of years or old-fashioned paper road maps that quickly become out of date, GPS and other location technologies can provide route options for the entire globe in seconds. But navigation is not necessarily the same for every kind of vehicle.
Take truck navigation, for example. A substantial number of routes can be restrictive for larger vehicles, and car GPS systems do not often take these restrictions into account. Truck tolls and potential hazards can add delays and financial issues for truck drivers – even though car motorists might not necessarily even notice them.
Key Features of Truck Navigation Software:
- Route Customization: Truck navigation software allows for route customization based on various criteria, such as vehicle dimensions, weight, and cargo type. This level of personalization ensures that the chosen route is tailored to the specific requirements of each truck, minimizing any potential roadblocks or complications.
- Real-time Traffic Updates: Integration with real-time traffic data enables the software to adapt routes on the fly, avoiding traffic congestion and delays. This not only saves time but also reduces fuel consumption and wear and tear on vehicles.
- Hazardous Material Routing: For trucks carrying hazardous materials, specialized software can provide routes that avoid densely populated areas, sensitive ecological zones, and other potential hazards. This ensures both the safety of the cargo and the surrounding environment.
- Rest Stop and Fuel Station Recommendations: Many navigation tools provide information about rest areas, truck stops, and fuel stations along the route. This feature assists drivers in planning breaks and refueling stops strategically, further enhancing efficiency.
- Integration with Fleet Management Systems: Truck navigation software can be integrated with fleet management systems, enabling companies to monitor the real-time location and progress of their trucks. This integration enhances communication between drivers and dispatchers, streamlining operations and reducing downtime.
There is a growing awareness of the need for bespoke truck navigation solutions – and HERE offers one of the best on the market.
What is HERE truck navigation?
Trucks play a critical role in many of our day-to-day lives. The groceries on your supermarket shelves, the gadgets you rely on for your home office, and the supply chains that facilitate the movement of products around the world all depend on trucks. Statistics from the US indicate that trucking is responsible for moving 70% of all freight, with 80% of communities relying on trucks for the delivery of everyday items. Trucking is essential for nearly all sectors of the global economy.
Compared with regular navigation, truck navigation not only needs to consider potential hazards like low bridges, narrow streets or sharp turns, but also other obstacles. Rather than simply delivering the fastest route, truck GPS should take into account speed restrictions that apply to larger vehicles, access restrictions, and the general avoidance of unnecessary driver manoeuvres.
HERE truck navigation is a dedicated truck routing feature that provides drivers and operators with safe and efficient routes for their trucks. In addition to the standard information requested by regular navigation tools, HERE truck navigation lets users input truck profile parameters, so they can ensure that their vehicle won’t be sent on a route where their height, width or weight becomes an issue.
Trucks are also often involved in the transit of hazardous materials – another consideration when you are planning your route. Again, HERE truck navigation provides an option for drivers to avoid, say, roads near to water sources – something that governments trying to avoid environmental pollution will certainly appreciate.
Altogether, HERE truck navigation provides a number of features that enable users to experiment with different routing parameters so they can find the right routes for their fleet. Navigation for trucks is not as simple as finding the fastest route. Of course, speed continues to be important but there are specific factors that apply to truck routing that must be considered. HERE truck navigation takes this into account.
The Complex Landscape of Truck Navigation
Truck navigation presents a unique set of challenges compared to conventional GPS systems. Trucks must navigate through a dynamic and intricate web of factors, including size and weight restrictions, road classifications, traffic congestion, and delivery schedules. Unlike standard navigation applications, truck navigation tools consider these variables and tailor routes accordingly, ensuring that trucks are directed along paths that are both legal and efficient.
Standing out from the competition
In terms of location intelligence, there now exists a variety of options for businesses and individuals to choose from. For truck navigation specifically, HERE stands out from its rivals due to several reasons.
First of all, not all routing tools actually come with a truck navigation option. Google Maps, for example, does not offer users the ability to add bespoke trucking parameters. HERE also stands out due to the frequency of its route updates. As much as 86% of HERE’s core content is published daily. Given that temporary obstacles can crop up on routes at a moment’s notice, making roads impassible for larger vehicles, these regular updates are hugely important.
The Power of Truck Navigation Tools
Truck navigation tools are specifically designed to cater to the needs of commercial vehicles. They incorporate a comprehensive database of roadway attributes, such as bridge heights, weight limits, and hazardous material restrictions. This database enables the software to calculate routes that are not only the quickest but also the safest and most cost-effective, avoiding fines, detours, and unnecessary fuel consumption.
Truck navigation and APIs
Perhaps it is the flexibility that HERE truck navigation provides, however, that represents its main advantage over its rivals. Truck routing is available through HERE’s JavaScript API as well as its Mobile SDKs for Android and iOS. There are numerous truck parameters that users can specify, all of which are available in offline mode. Users cannot only plan routes for individual vehicles but also entire fleets, considering additional constraints, such as defined delivery windows.
Cost Savings Through Truck Navigation
The implementation of truck navigation tools can lead to substantial cost savings for trucking companies. Here’s how:
- Fuel Efficiency: Optimized routes and real-time traffic updates result in reduced idling time and shorter distances traveled, translating to significant fuel savings. Studies have shown that efficient navigation can reduce fuel consumption by up to 10%.
- Reduced Maintenance Costs: By minimizing unnecessary wear and tear caused by suboptimal routes, truck navigation tools help extend the lifespan of vehicles. This reduces maintenance costs and downtime for repairs.
- Time Savings: Time is money in the logistics industry. Shorter travel times lead to faster deliveries, enabling companies to take on more orders and satisfy customers’ demands promptly.
- Compliance and Avoidance of Fines: Truck navigation software helps drivers adhere to regulations and avoid fines related to oversize and overweight violations, prohibited routes, and other infractions.
- Driver Satisfaction: Efficient navigation reduces stress on drivers by eliminating the need to navigate through unfamiliar territories. This leads to increased job satisfaction, lower turnover rates, and better overall morale.
Routing your fleet safely and on-time
Trucking is vital to the modern economy, so there’s no excuse for relying on navigation tools that aren’t designed to take into account the specific needs of larger vehicles. HERE truck navigation puts the power in the hands of your fleet managers and drivers – they can create bespoke routing options based on their vehicles – their size, weight, delivery points, cargo, and more.
Conclusion
In the evolving landscape of logistics, where efficiency and cost-effectiveness reign supreme, the implementation of truck navigation tools and software offers an indispensable advantage. By harnessing the power of technology to chart optimal routes, minimize fuel consumption, and enhance driver satisfaction, trucking companies can unlock significant cost savings while ensuring smoother operations and timely deliveries. Embracing these innovations isn’t just a choice—it’s a strategic imperative in the pursuit of a more streamlined, profitable, and sustainable future in the logistics industry.
At Local Eyes, we take the data and expertise that HERE has acquired over decades and augment it with our world-class support. Much more than just a reseller, we can help you avoid barriers, navigate around toll roads, and ensure your deliveries reach their destination safely and on time.
Get in touch with Local Eyes today to find out how we leverage HERE truck navigation to ensure you can set a route that’s not designed for just any vehicle – but one that’s right for you.
