The Source for Trucking News, Opinions and Trucking Jobs | Routing Programs

Routing is probably the most popular reason to get a computer. There are a zillion of them out there. I’ve tried a bunch. None of them do exactly what I want the way I want to do it. I have and use three at the moment.

Microsoft Streets and Trips. It’s not truck specific, but it’s an easy interface, it’s fast, the entire program and all maps can be loaded on the hard drive, (really important feature when you’re looking for a program.) I can block roads (or states, like Ohio!) I know are truck restricted, it’s easy to check alternate routes. It’s easy to find hotels close by. As far as I can tell it’s pretty accurate. I’ve been able to find all addresses that have been given to me. I post notes on toll roads and bridges so I know what the tolls are. I can draw in alternate detour routes. Construction information is updated via the internet.

You can also hook up a GPS to your laptop and Streets and Trips will use it to show you where you are. It was tough to check my laptop on the passenger seat while I was driving. That’s the main reason I have a Pocket PC. Microsoft Streets and Trips comes with a Pocket PC version that I use on my pocket PC. That is also connected to a GPS. More on that later.

Other programs may do some of that now. It’s been awhile since I’ve checked out Rand McNally programs and others. The bad part about Rand McNally was that there was a program for streets and a seperate program for trip planning.

I also use Truck Miles 2.0 on CD by Promiles. The good part is that has truck specific routes. I can input a trip and input what I get paid per mile and my costs and fuel per mile. And they list the truck stops along the way. The routing and miles are truck specific and can be shortest or practical, Canada or not. There isn’t street level routing, though the newer version may have that now. The input interface is clunky at best. It’s good for a quick look at the cost and profit for a trip. Don’t misspell a city, otherwise it won’t find it. You can input daily expenses, but you can’t do anything with those expenses. I got tired of inputting all my expenses in two or three different places and gave up on this feature. There’s also a web version of Truck Miles. Both versions still show Hoover Dam being a truck route, which isn’t right.

I mainly use Pocket Copilot Truck by the same people that do PCMiler. I use this mainly to download maps and route information to my pocket PC. It has a separate route and trip feature that is truck specific. Street level detail. Sometimes an address won’t show up, but it will usually point you to the street or the general area. That’s why I have to use Streets and Trips too. Their Points of Interests shows truck stops and truck facilities, rest areas, weigh stations. It’s a decent desktop program, but the main purpose to download information to my pocket pc. Which is also GPS equipped. More on that later.