CoPilot Truck navigation software by ALK Technologies Review

ALK Technologies CoPilot Truck navigation software can deliver important financial and safety benefits to the truck owners if adopted. The software has specialist routing options including height, width and weight restrictions, HazMat routing to ensure a truck is only directed on suitable roads. The benefits provided by this this type of specialized GPS routing are such that momentum is building to require that GPS devices used in trucking are trucking specific. New York Gov. David Paterson (D) has proposed requiring truck drivers there to use only Global Positioning System devices that are equipped with truck route information to keep them off restricted roads. CoPilot Truck navigation software makes it simple for a driver to plan a route with height, weight, and hazmat restrictions taken into account automatically!

CoPilot Truck navigation software

Along with greater safety trucking companies can also benefit from faster delivery times and reduced fuel costs. The CoPilot Truck navigation software will handle up to 50 destinations for a route which is significantly higher than the usual 10 which a vehicle GPS device will handle. Optimize function will automatically rearrange the stops within a trip to create the most efficient order.

The software will actually handle other vehicle types allowing the driver to choose from Truck, Automobile, RV, Motorcycle and Bicycle. It also handles pedestrian navigation.

CoPilot Truck Navigation Routing Options

CoPilot Truck navigation software provides an extensive collection of options to tailor route calculations to the drivers preferences and the characteristics of the vehicle being driven.

Vehicle Restriction: If Truck has been selected as the vehicle type routing will be based on the height, width, length and weigh of the truck.

RV Height Restriction: There are three routing options for RVs based on height; 12 feet 6 inches, 13 feet or No Restriction.

HazMat Routing: For trucks HazMat routing to determine a suitable route for the load type indicated by tickbox selections for: None, General, Explosives, Inhalants, Radioactive, Flammable or Caustic.

General: Gerneral Routing calculation settings including options for; Avoid Ferries, Scenic Route, International Borders Open, 53 ft Trailer, National Network, Override Restrictions or Avoid Propane-Restricted Tunnels.

Routing Type: Allows for the setting of preferences for time, difficulty and fuel saving including; Shortest, Quickest, Practical, Economic or Avoid Expressways.

Toll Roads: Selection of toll roads preference options including; Use, Avoid if Possible or Always Avoid all toll roads your route may encounter.

View/edit road preferences: Provides the ability to influence the type of roads which CoPilot Truck uses to calculate a route. It’s possible to attach a preference (Strongly Avoid, Avoid, Neutral, Favor or Strongly Favor) to each road type as well as a preferred speed.

ALK Technologies CoPilot Truck navigation software comes with maps of the United States and Canadian road networks. Mapping data is ALKs own rather than being supplied by a digital mapping company such as NAVTEQ. The mapping database contains details of over 2.9 million commercial truck restrictions including bridge heights and clearances, load and weight limits and HazMat routing. The 7 million trucking specific Points of Interest database includes truck stops, weigh stations, rest areas and CAT Weigh Scales.

Driving Views

There are quite a number of different driving views available to display including:

Driver Safety displays a simple turn arrow with concise instructions about your next turn in large type . The display will change to a map view upon approaching a turn.
3D shows current position, next turn and surrounding roads on a map with a three dimensional perspective
2D Where Am I displays current location, next turn and surrounding roads on a map with a two dimensional perspective
2D Next Turn displays your current location and next turn on a 2D map.
2D Destination shows the planned route on a two dimensional map.
Itinerary View is a comprehensive plan for the programmed route including a list of all destinations, waypoints, turn instructions and distances.

For long haul drivers, regular breaks are essential for safety and the CoPilot Truck will assist by alerting the driver to take a break at regular time intervals.

CoPilot Truck will speak street names allowing the driver to confirm they are on route without looking away from the road ahead. If a turn is missed there is an automatic route recalculation will get the driver back on track quickly!

Review Summary – ALK Technologies CoPilot Truck Navigation Software

ALK Technologies CoPilot Truck navigation software provides professional truck drivers can to navigate safely on routes calculated for the characteristics of their vehicle and cargo. It also improves profitably by providing tools for reducing route mileage, time, tolls and fuel. Trucking specific GPS navigation is under consideration by governments and may become a legislated or regulated requirement sometime in the future.