Recommended Truck Route GPS?

Ok folks, I'm headed to Swift Truck Driving School in phoenix in the next couple weeks. My Family is wanting to get me something useful for Christmas. GPS was one of the suggestions. None of us really know what gps units are good for truck routes. I have lots of truck drivers in my family but they are all old school drivers or they have more local jobs and just plain don't need a gps.

So suggestions would be great.

Thank you in advance

Wes, welcome aboard and stick with the Rand McNally, no one else even comes close to being up to speed with their units.

Awesome, quick response. Thank you Old School.

I was just looking at the Rand McNally, for $399.99. It's one of the only ones that had any reviews. all good reviews for that one as well.

Yeah, I haven't used them myself but I've heard a lot of good things about the Rand McNally models also.

Congrats Wes. I have been looking at a bunch of them also. Rand McNally is head and shoulders above the rest. The TND 720 is their flagship unit right now, which is the price you listed. They also have a TND 520. Same unit and software, just a 5" screen instead of 7". A little cheaper. Have fun in school.....You gotta keep us updated though....

Definitely get a Rand McNally. I use one of their older models. I use the 510. The only difference between the 510 and 520 is that the 510 doesn't have wifi, doesn't have weather updates, and the plastic frame around it is smooth not rigid like the 520. I love my gps it does a lot more than take you from point A to B.

The 510 is the cheapest and I think it's worth every penny. Just make sure you keep the GPS updated or else it will freeze and glitch on you.

I use the Rand McNally 720. Love it. It' big, loud, has 100000 features. I think I got mine on Amazon for $275ish. Look around online for deals. Also consider buying a factory refurbished one, I didn't do that but then thought about it and regretted buying a new one. I think McNally gives a year warranty on refurbished ones, so check it out.

How often do you need to update it and how much are the updates?? Can you really trust it to keep you on the truck routes? I think of the terror stories from NY and the low bridges. Just wondering. I may get one before I start orientation so I have it when I start company training.

Updates are free. I update mine every time I go home, so every 10 days. Sometimes there is an update and sometimes not. It has yet to lead me anywhere wrong yet. But always keep your eyes open for bridges and other things, regardless of what the GPS says.

Now that is super! A real value; free updates. In my book, that makes the unit worth the price. As for the bridges, I'll always keep an eye out for those. I just don't want to go down a road that has a low bridge a couple miles away.