The Dangers of Using a Non-Commercial GPS Device in a Commercial Motor Vehicle
Why Shouldn’t Commercial Truck Drivers Use Car GPS Devices
Imagine this scene. You’re walking along a beach boardwalk and see a tractor trailer driving toward you. It may be hard to believe this improbable situation could take place, but it did not that long ago in Ventnor City, New Jersey. At 5:30 a.m. a police officer spotted a tractor trailer driving on the boardwalk because of a GPS error. The driver told police that his GPS instructed him to get on Albany Avenue in Atlantic City and drive up the boardwalk. With three dangerous miles traveled, and nearly 100 feet of railings damaged, there is a very important lesson here for all commercial drivers.
Truck drivers must use extreme caution, and common sense when following their GPS navigation. The average GPS navigation system does not distinguish between commercial and non-commercial vehicles, meaning it could instruct a commercial vehicle to use a road that is not fit for the size and weight of such a vehicle.
The solution is for commercial drivers to invest in a commercial vehicle GPS system that is designed specifically for large, commercial vehicles, such as tractor trailers, and takes into account the roads they can and cannot use, tailoring the directions accordingly.
Commercial Vehicle GPS Systems
While the story of the tractor trailer on the boardwalk is an extreme example, it’s far more common than you might imagine for commercial drivers to end up on truck restricted roads because they are using non commercial GPS navigation. Many of these incidents involve damaged utility poles and traffic signs because the truck’s turning radius is too wide for the intersection.
There are various types of GPS for truck drivers on the market. Though a commercial vehicle GPS system can cost about a thousand dollars initially, the savings in fines, costs, restitution and loss of driving privileges is well worth the money.
How Do GPS Systems Differ?
Commercial vehicle GPS systems differ from non commercial GPS navigation in the following ways:
- Commercial vehicle GPS systems customize directions to avoid truck restricted roads
- They provide directions that are the safest and most efficient way for commercial vehicles to travel to avoid accidents and fines, and reduce fuel by optimizing routes
- They will automatically reroute commercial vehicles around truck restricted roads, keeping the driver safe and focused on the road
- They provide additional features such as tracking and monitoring which can be beneficial to a trucking company
Should I invest In a GPS System Designed For A Commercial Vehicle?
Investing in a GPS system designed for your commercial vehicle could be one of the smartest decisions you make. Not only could this technology save you the cost and headache of fines associated with using truck restricted roads, it can also prevent injury or worse as the result of an accident. Because the technology is readily available and relatively affordable, there is no reason not to be using a commercial vehicle GPS system to keep you safe and out of trouble.
If you or someone you know is a commercial driver who has run into an issue related to using truck restricted roads, reach out to Colgan & Associates today. We have highly skilled and experienced CDL traffic ticket violations lawyers who stand ready to listen to your case and guide you toward the best options available to resolve your matter. Call us at (717) 790-2048 for a free phone consultation today.
My company doesn’t provide truck gps , they give us a regular phone with google maps I always end up on streets I’m not allowed on.