From the Seat · On the Road

A Good Truck GPS Is Worth Every Penny

After twenty years and one road atlas too many, here's why a truck-specific GPS earns its place on the dash — and the two Garmin units I'd run today.

RJBy Rufus Jones · 20+ years hauling flatbed
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When I first started driving flatbed over 20 years ago, truck GPS units weren't what they are today.

Back then, you carried a road atlas. You wrote directions down on a notepad. You asked other drivers where the entrance to the steel mill was. And if you missed a turn... well, you figured it out the hard way.

Today, things are different. Technology has made life a whole lot easier for truck drivers, and if there's one piece of technology I wouldn't want to be without, it's a good truck GPS. In my opinion, it's one of the best investments a professional driver can make.

Heads up: some links below are affiliate links — if you buy through them, it helps support this site at no extra cost to you. I only point to gear I'd actually run. Whatever you buy, make sure it's a real truck GPS, not a car unit.

More than turn-by-turnIt's More Than Just Directions

A lot of people think a GPS just tells you where to turn. A truck GPS does much more than that. The good ones can show you:

That's a lot more than simply saying, "Turn left in one mile."

One wrong turnIt Can Save You From a Really Bad Day

One wrong turn in a passenger car usually isn't a big deal. One wrong turn in an 80,000-pound truck can become a nightmare.

I've seen drivers end up on roads they never should have been on. Dead-end streets. Neighborhoods. Roads with weight limits. Low bridges. Places where there was no easy way to turn around.

A good truck GPS helps keep those mistakes from happening. And believe me, it's a lot easier to listen to a GPS than it is to explain to a police officer why you're stuck under a bridge.

The one that scares meLow Bridges Aren't Just Stories

Every truck driver has heard the stories. Some of us have even seen it happen. A driver ignores the warning signs or follows the wrong route and ends up meeting a bridge that isn't nearly as tall as the truck.

Nobody wins that battle. The bridge isn't moving. Your trailer isn't going to shrink.

From the seat — a bridge in New Jersey

I learned that lesson the hard way once on a bridge in New Jersey — a story I tell in full elsewhere on this site. A truck GPS that knows your vehicle's height is one more layer of protection against making a mistake you'll never forget.

Know before the curveWeigh Stations

One feature I've really come to appreciate is knowing where weigh stations are. Many truck GPS units can tell you where they are and, on some models or with connected services, whether they're reported as open. That helps you stay prepared instead of being surprised around the next curve.

Hours running outFinding Fuel and Parking

Every driver knows the feeling. It's getting late. Your hours are running out. You need fuel. You need parking. And you don't want to waste time guessing where the next truck stop is.

A good GPS makes that easy. Instead of wondering what's coming up, you already know. That saves time, fuel, and frustration.

The paperwork sideIFTA and Mileage Tracking

For drivers who need mileage records for IFTA reporting, some GPS systems and electronic logging devices can automatically track miles by state. That's one less thing to worry about and one more example of how technology can make the paperwork side of trucking a little easier.

It's still a toolDon't Trust It Blindly

Now let me say something that's just as important. A GPS is a tool. It isn't a substitute for common sense.

I've had a GPS suggest some pretty questionable routes over the years. That's why I still pay attention to road signs. I still read bridge clearance signs. I still look at my surroundings. If the GPS wants me to turn onto a road that obviously isn't meant for a tractor-trailer, I'm not making that turn just because a screen told me to.

You're still the driver. The GPS is there to help — not to think for you.

Not a car unitBuy One Built for Trucks

If you're driving professionally, don't try to get by with a GPS made for passenger cars. Truck GPS units are designed with commercial vehicles in mind. You can enter information like:

That allows the GPS to plan routes that are appropriate for your truck instead of sending you down roads where you don't belong.

The picksWhat I'd Run Today

Over the years I've settled on one answer when a driver asks me what to buy: Garmin. To me, Garmin is the only way to go. They've been doing this a long time, the truck routing is solid, and they hold up to life in a truck. Here's what I'd put on the dash today.

Garmin dēzl OTR710 — 7" Truck GPS · Main pick

7" displayTruck-specific routingHeight · weight · length

The everyday pick. If you're outfitting your first truck or you want a solid, no-nonsense unit, the 7-inch Garmin dēzl does everything a professional driver needs — truck-specific routing by your height, weight, and length, plus the truck stops, weigh stations, and low-bridge warnings that matter.

Check the Garmin dēzl OTR710 →

Garmin dēzl OTR1010 — 10" Truck GPS · Premium pick

10" displayTruck-specific routingFuller feature set

The premium pick. If you spend all day looking at that screen and want the bigger display and the extra features, the 10-inch Garmin dēzl is the premium pick. The larger screen is easier on your eyes over a long day, and you get the fuller feature set. It costs more, but for a full-time driver it earns it.

Check the Garmin dēzl OTR1010 →

Whichever size you choose, the important thing is that it's a real truck GPS — not a car unit — so it routes you legally for the truck you're actually driving.

For the new driverMy Advice to New Drivers

If you're just starting out, save up and buy yourself a good truck GPS. You'll spend money on chains. You'll spend money on tarps. You'll spend money on binders. A quality GPS belongs on that same list — right alongside the rest of your flatbed gear.

It can save you time. It can save you fuel. It can help you avoid expensive mistakes. And one day, it might save you from trying to back a tractor-trailer out of a place you never should have been in the first place.

One Final Thought

After twenty years on the road, I've learned that experience is the best teacher. But there's nothing wrong with letting technology help.

A good truck GPS won't make you a great driver. Only experience can do that. But it can make your job easier. It can help you stay on truck routes. It can warn you about low bridges. It can point you toward fuel, parking, and truck stops when you need them most.

At the end of the day, it's another tool in the toolbox. And just like every other tool, it's only as good as the driver using it. Use it wisely, trust your own judgment, and never stop paying attention to the road ahead.

That's how you make it home safely. — Rufus

This article shares personal experience and general product guidance; it is educational and is not legal advice. A GPS is a driver aid, not a substitute for posted signs, current maps, or your own judgment — always confirm bridge clearances, route restrictions, and legal limits for your specific truck and load before you travel. Some links are affiliate links; buying through them may support this site at no additional cost to you.