- Dieselboss review - Truck driver GPS features comparison and rating

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Trucker GPS features comparison chart
Copyright Dieselboss, Inc (rev. date Jan 24, 2012) NOT for redistribution.
Color Key: Green = this is an advantage of this unit | Yellow = this is a limitation of this unit

A BLANK cell means that feature is still being tested and the verdict is still out.

Hardware and general info
Feature Description	PC Miler 430, 440, 540, 740 (no further testing being done on these models)	Rand McNally TND 500-510/700-710 <click to view product>	PC Miler 450/550/750 <click to view product>	Garmin Nuvi 465T (no further testing being done on this model)	Garmin Dezl 560
Software / Firmware version tested:	(2010 - Q1 maps 7.8.0.356)	(10.9.1808.1617) (11.4.1945.1504)	(8.1.0.529 / data: 2010.04.5.1.1)	(soft 2.70 / maps NT 2010.20)	(soft 2.30 - firm 2.70 / maps NTTS 2011.31)
Current average pricing	$229 to $399	$299.99 / $399.99	$179 to $359	$229	$349 - $433
Factory Warranty	1 year - new units 90 days - refurbs	1 year	1 year - new units 90 days - refurbs	1 year	1 year
Screen Size	4.3" / 5" / 7"	5" / 7"	4.3" / 5" / 7"	4.3" only	5"
Screen technology (clarity of buttons and overall resolution. This is NOT related to "clarity of maps," which is graded further down this chart)	PCM430: ok PCM440: good PCM540: very good PCM740: ok	TND500: very good TND700: very good TND510: excellent TND710: excellent	PCM450: excellent PCM550: excellent PCM750: excellent	very good	very good
Bluetooth capable (Can be paired with cell phones for hands-free phone use)	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Has an SD memory card slot	Yes (2G card included)	Yes (empty except on early TND500's)	Yes (empty)	Yes (empty)	Yes (empty)
"Charging" LED light	Yes	Yes	Yes (except on 750 model)	No (on screen indicator only)	No (on screen indicator only)
Battery life when not plugged in and driving	About an hour	About 45 minutes	About 45 minutes	About 1.5 hours	About 45 minutes
External GPS antenna connection (only used if you driver regularly in huge cities like NYC)	Yes on 440,540,740 (not included)	500/700: "Some" of them have it. Depends on batch (ask) 510/710: Yes (not included)	Yes (not included)	No	No
AC and DC power cords	Yes	Yes (and extra long DC cable)	DC only (AC is available for extra)	DC only (AC is available for extra)	DC only (AC is available for extra)
Audio / Speaker built-in (*note: speaker on any unit can be drowned out by truck noise. The 7" are very loud though)	Yes (but not overly loud)	Yes (very loud)	Yes	Yes	Yes (very loud)
Mini USB cable included (to connect to a computer)	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Micro-USB included
Stylus included	Yes	TND500 (no) TND510, 700, 710 (Yes)	Yes	No	No, but not overly necessary on this model.
Headphone/external speaker jack	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No
FM Transmitter	No	No	No	No	No
Vehicle mount kit included	Yes (window suction style)	Yes (large 90mm suction style)	Yes (window suction style)	Yes (dash mount kit)	"bean-bag" style dash mount
Documentation / Manuals	Included and online (good)	limited included, and extensive online (very good)	Included and online (good)	Online only (Excellent)	Online and on-board the unit (Excellent)
Ability to display a camera (external input jack)	No	No	No	No	Yes
General Software Features
Feature Description	PC Miler 430, 440, 540, 740	Rand McNally TND 500-510/700-710 <click to view product>	PC Miler 450/550/750 <click to view product>	Garmin Nuvi 465T	Garmin Dezl 560 (test in progress)
Languages	English US / English UK / English Australia / French / Spanish	English US / French / Spanish	English US / English UK / English Australia / French / Spanish	US English / UK English / Spanish / Czech / Dansk / Deutsch / Eesti / French / Hrvatski / Italian / Latvian / Leituviu / Magyar / Netherlands / Norsk / Polish / Portuguese / Romania / Slovencina / Suomi / Svenska / Turkish / Arabic / Russian / Japanese / Chinese / African	US English / UK English / Spanish / Czech / Dansk / Deutsch / Eesti / French / Hrvatski / Italian / Latvian / Leituviu / Magyar / Netherlands / Norsk / Polish / Portuguese / Romania / Slovencina / Suomi / Svenska / Turkish / Arabic / Russian / Japanese / Chinese / African
Built-in help tutorials	Yes	Yes (Extensive)	No	Yes (Extensive)	Yes (Extensive)
Keyboard (on touchcreen)	Qwerty or Alphabetical	Qwerty or Alphabetical	Alphabetical only	Qwerty or Alphabetical	Qwerty or Alphabetical
Can take "screenshots"	No	No	No	Yes	No
Can dial a POI phone number from the GPS when paired with a cell phone	N/A	N/A	N/A	Yes	Yes
Plays windows movie, MP3 music, and picture files	No (except for the PCM430 model which will do this)	No	No	jpeg/jpg picture viewer	jpeg/jpg pictures viewer
Has optional security lock code	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Can add your own vehicle icons and voices	No	Yes (icons only)	No	Yes	Yes
Language translator	No	No	No	No	Yes (subscription)
Add pictures of places in your favorites	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Multiple map color schemes	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Unit converter/calculator (temps, distances, and weights)	No	Yes	No	Yes	Yes
Current time and time zone	Manually set	Manual and Automatic	Manually set	Manual or Automatic	Manual or Automatic
Screen modes	Day / Night / Automatic	Day / Night / Automatic	Day / Night / Automatic	Day / Night / Automatic	Day / Night / Automatic

GPS Software Program and Mapping Features
Feature Description	PC Miler 430, 440, 540, 740	Rand McNally TND 500-510/700-710 <click to view product>	PC Miler 450/550/750 <click to view product>	Garmin Nuvi 465T	Garmin Dezl 560 (test in progress)
Difficulty to use & learn (software)	Ok	Excellent	Ok	Very Good	Very Good
Street-level Maps and addresses	US / Canada / Mexico(ALK)	US / Canada (NavTeq)	US / Canada / Mexico (ALK)	US / Canada / Puerto Rico (NavTeq)	US / Canada / Mexico / Puerto Rico / Virgin Islands (NavTeq)
Map "look" / road clarity (zoomed in)	Very good	Very good	Excellent	Excellent	Very good
Map "look" / road clarity (zoomed out)	Very Good	Good	Very Good	Good	Good
Can select how much map "detail"	No (map detail is very good already)	No	No (map detail is excellent already)	Yes (and map detail is excellent)	Yes
Map "auto-zoom" mode option	No	Yes (Multiple)	Yes (Multiple)	No	Yes
Download program updates from the web (NOT maps)	No. Updates thru 2010 come on a memory card	Yes (PC only)	Yes (PC only)	Yes(PC or Intel-based Macs running OSX 10.4 or later)	Yes(PC or Intel-based Macs running OSX 10.4 or later)
Map update method	Annual (on SD Card)	Annual via SD card	Quarterly via web, (PC only)	2 - 3x / year via web	2 - 3x / year via web
Map update cost	$49.95	$89.99 product lifetime	free at this time	$49 - $89	$79.99 OR purchase the "LMT" model for free lifetime built in.
Can send map and feature feedback back to manufacturer when connected to web	(via web site or email)	Yes (make notes on unit and send later via web dock software)	Yes (can send in tracks from the unit when docked plus "Mapsure" online feedback program)	Yes (send directly to NavTeq via web site)	Yes (send directly to NavTeq via web site)
Car mode	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
RV mode (with scenic route option)	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
"Avoid" propane-restricted tunnels (RV)	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
Motorcycle mode	Yes	No	Yes	No	No
Walking mode	Yes	No	Yes	No	Yes
Specific Tools and Functions for Truck Drivers
Feature Description	PC Miler 430, 440, 540, 740	Rand McNally TND 500-510/700-710 <click to view product>	PC Miler 450/550/750 <click to view product>	Garmin Nuvi 465T	Garmin Dezl 560 (test in progress)
Ease up setting it up correctly for truck routing and other features	Ok	Very easy	Good	Good	Easy
Truck Routes	Yes (US and Canada) (ALK) (good)	US and Canada (Rand) (very good)	Yes (US and Canada) (ALK) (very good)	US and Canada (good)	US and Canada (good)
Hours of Service log timers and alerts (driving, on-duty, off-duty, sleeper)	No	Yes (Automatic or manual)	No	No	Yes (semi-automatic)
Driver Daily Logbook "grid" screen"	No	No	No	No	Yes
MCRA cross-reference data	No	Yes	No	No	No
Can save multiple specific truck and trailer dimensions	Yes	No (one at a time)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Logs miles driven by state (helps with IFTA)	No	Yes	Yes, but needs to be more versatile.	No	Yes
Can export the miles driven off the unit and onto a computer	N/A	Yes	No	N/A	Yes
Maintenance warnings counter	No	Yes (2)	No	No	No
Trip odometer(s)	No	Yes (2)	No	Yes	Yes (2)

Multiple time zone clocks	No	Yes (current, dest, and yard)	No	Yes (configurable)	Yes, including a "world clock"
Built-in calendar	No	Yes (TND 700/710 only)	No	No	No
Built-in Notepad	No	Yes (TND 700/710 only)	No	No	No
Address book (favorites)	Yes	Yes (excellent. Can group, sort, and add notes to favorites or POI)	Yes	Yes	Yes and searchable
Shows upcoming scale icons on the maps on the Nav screen	Yes (but uses the same icon for truck stops and exits too.)	Yes, even when zoomed out. Also shows rest areas this way	Yes (but uses the same icon for truck stops and exits too.)	No (audio/visual alert only)	Yes, but only when you are close - not zoomed out. Needs to separate which side of highway it is on.
Color-coded roads that show preferred truck routes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Icons that show "no-trucks allowed, low bridges, hazmat, and no-hazmat roads"	Some	No	Many	No	No
Enter Fuel Purchases in dollars and gallons	No	No	No	No	Yes
Enter load info	No	No	No	No	Yes
Enter multiple drivers (for log and load usage)	No	No	No	No	Yes
Enter truck trailer numbers and VIN	No	No	No	No	Yes
Can filter-search truck stops by amenity (what they have there)	No	Excellent feature!	No	No	No
POI results show what services at at a truck stop	No	Yes, VERY extensive	No	No	Yes (a few items, like scales and food)
Current road Truck Speed Limits on screen	No	Yes, on most roads, but not always truck-specific limits.	No	Yes, on most larger roads, but not always truck-specific limits.	Yes, on most roads, and has ability for you to add or correct them
"Trip statistics" page	No	Yes - Excellent (avg speed, miles driven, uphill speed, downhill speed, elevation, sunrise/sunset, more)	No	Yes (extensive)	Yes (extensive)

Addressing, Routing, Planning, and Guidance capabilities
Feature Description	PC Miler 430, 440, 540, 740	Rand McNally TND 500-510/700-710 <click to view product>	PC Miler 450/550/750 <click to view product>	Garmin Nuvi 465T	Garmin Dezl 560 (test in progress)
Time to calculate a route	Very fast (3 - 15 secs)	TND500/700: Slower (5 - 45 secs) TND 510/710: medium (5 - 35 secs)	Very fast (3 - 15 secs)	Medium (5 - 25 secs)	Medium (5 - 35 secs)
Preplan multi-stop routes	Yes (up to 50 stops)	Yes (up to 50 stops)	Yes (up to 50 stops)	Yes	Yes
Route optimization for mileage	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
Enter cities using the zip code	Yes	Yes	Yes	?	?
Enter Canadian cities using postal code	No	Yes	No	?	?
Pre-plan route from another location	Yes (easy)	Yes (easy)	Yes (easy)	Yes	Yes
Can edit current trip on-the-fly	Yes (easy)	Yes (easy)	Yes (easy)	Yes	Yes
Can rearrange the order of a trip	Yes (easy)	Yes (easy)	Yes (easy)	Yes	Yes (easy)
"Forcing" a different route / making it take specific roads (permit loads)	Yes (easier)	Possible, but not easy	Yes	Yes	Possible, but not easy
Preview your route turns/directions	Yes (easy)	Yes (easy)	Yes (easy)	Yes	Yes (easy)
Preview your route on map	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Preview just the route main highway list separately	No	Yes	No	No	No
Real-time traffic capability *requires an optional antenna for Rand.	No	Yes - 510 and 710 models	No	Yes (supported by ads)	Yes (supported by ads which are irritating unless you pay for an upgrade.)
"Traffic Predictor" technology (uses historic traffic data to help plan route based on time of day through many cities)	No	Yes (TND710 model only)	No	No	Yes
"MyTrends" predicts routes based on learning your past driving habits	No	No	No	No	Yes
Download and display road construction info for route planning	No	Yes (updated every 2 weeks via dock app)	No	No	No
"Quick-stop" entry feature	Yes	Yes (easy)	Yes (very easy)	No	No
Exit Services (see food, lodging, fuel by exit)	No	No	No	No	Yes
Can tap on a road and "avoid" it	No	Yes	No	No	Yes (can also define road segments to avoid by tapping on map)
Points of Interest (POI's)	Yes (> 7 million)	Yes (6 million) 14 million on 510/710's	Yes (> 7 million)	Yes (6 million)	Yes
Contains enhanced truck POI's	Yes (ALK)	Yes (Trucker's Friend and TruckDown data)	Yes (ALK)	Yes (Garmin)	Yes (NTTS Breakdown enhanced, but needs to be more complete)
Point of Interest and other types of alerts	Yes, but limited because exits, weigh stations, scales and truck stops are all one alert.	Yes MANY (weigh stations, toll booths, state borders, time zones, sharp curves, steep hills)	Yes (very good options, but need to separate CAT scales from weigh stations and use different icon for weigh stations)	Yes (weigh stations, sharp curves, and more)	Yes (weigh stations, curves, cameras)
POI searching ability	Very good	Excellent (includes end of day)	Very Good	Limited to nearby only	Very Good
Add your own POI's	No	No	Yes (excellent)	Yes	Yes (excellent)
Can add POI ratings and notes	No	Yes, Excellent feature!	No	No	Yes
Can choose which POI's are displayed on "Nav" screen	No (show all or none)	Yes (all, truck-only, car only, or none)	Yes (choose which icons to display)	N/A (doesn't show POI icons when navigating)	No (doesn't show POI icons when navigating except weigh stations)
"Am I Close" feature - starts showing address numbers on screen when close.	No	Yes	No	No	No
Shows next two turns on screen	No (only the next)	Yes (often shows next 2)	Yes (often shows next 2)	No (only the next)	No (only the next, but voice sometimes announces the next 2)
Show what county you are in on Nav screen	No	Yes	Yes	No	No
Specific road type settings	Yes (Extensive)	Yes (Freeways, tolls, u-turns, and ferries to favor or avoid, unpaved)	Yes (Extensive)	Yes (Freeways, tolls, u-turns, ferries, traffic favors and avoids)	Yes (Freeways, tolls, u-turns, ferries, traffic favors and avoids, car pool lanes, unpaved)
Lane "assist" guidance info / junction view	No	Yes	Excellent	Yes	Yes
Safety Camera Alerts	No	No	No	No	Yes
Configurable speed alert warning	No	Yes - very flexible	No	No	No, but it does turn red (visual) when speeding.
"Recent" destinations memory	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Automatically saves recent destinations	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Leaves a "breadcrumb" trail of trips	No	Yes (in walking mode only)	Yes (in walking mode only)	Yes	Yes
Avoid or prefer toll roads feature	Use, Avoid, Avoid if possible options	Prefer or Avoid	Use, Avoid, Avoid if possible options	Prefer or Avoid	Prefer or Avoid
Can search for "cross-streets"	Yes (Easy)	Yes (Easy)	Yes (Easy)	Yes (Easy)	Yes (Easy)
Detour feature	Yes (Very Good)	Yes (several options to avoid roads or road segments)	Yes (Very Good)	Yes (poor reroute choices at times)	Yes
Auto re-routing if you miss turn	Yes (fast and accurate)	Yes (but can be slow on long trips on 500/700 models) Includes auto or manual rerouting.	Yes (fast and accurate)	Yes (sometimes unpredictable)	Yes, but can be slow to make next turn decision.
"Where am I?" screen	No	Yes (very good)	No	Yes (very good)	Yes (very good)
Shows mile post maker while driving	No	Yes, Excellent feature!	No	No	No
Click on roads to see their names	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Drive maps in 2D and 3D modes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
"Save current location" to favorites.	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Add your "Home" location	Yes (Home and Work)	Yes (Home, in car mode)	Yes (Home and Work)	Yes (Home only)	Yes
"Pick on Map" destinations	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes (Easy)	Yes
Saved / Custom places show on maps as icons	No	No	Yes (and in the POI search function)	Yes
Can save specific trips to memory	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Customize info displayed on Nav screen	Yes	Yes (extensive)	Yes (multiple choices for which items)	No	Yes (extensive)
Keeps your current trip if you turn it off	If you saved it	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
On-screen compass	No	Yes	Yes	Yes (must push the stats button first)	Yes
Can modify how far from turn alerts	Yes (extensive options)	No	Yes (extensive options)	No	No
Current Route "Demo" simulator	Yes (Excellent)	No	Yes (Excellent)	Yes (but not versatile)	Yes (very good)

Feature Description	PC Miler 430, 440, 540, 740	Rand McNally TND 500-510/700-710 <click to view product>	PC Miler 450/550/750 <click to view product>	Garmin Nuvi 465T	Garmin Dezl 560 (test in progress)
Overall Dieselboss Review out of 10 points (higher numbers = better)	Route accuracy: 9 Raw addresses: 7 Features: 7 Calc/Recalc speed: 9 Stability: 10 Learning to use it: 7 Hardware durability: 8	Route accuracy: 9 Raw addresses: 9 Features: 9 Calc/Recalc speed: 6/7* Stability: 8 Learning to use it: 9 Hardware durability: 7	Route accuracy: 9 Raw addresses: 8 Features: 8 Calc/Recalc speed: 9 Stability: 8 Learning to use it: 7 Hardware durability: 9	Route accuracy: 6 Raw addresses: 9 Features: 7 Calc/Recalc speed: 8 Stability: 9 Learning to use it: 7 Hardware durability: 9	Route accuracy: 8 Raw addresses: 9 Features: 8 Calc/Recalc speed: 8 Stability: 9 Learning to use it: 8 Hardware durability: 9
(software is changing rapidly so check back here often!)	Comments: 2010 maps on all units now contain accurate truck routing attributes and improved addresses when the routing profile is correctly configured. Fewer extra truck-specific features than the RM-TND units or the newer PCM x50 series. Though new models are discontinued and have been replaced by x50 series, a good refurb is still a solid truck nav option for bargain hunters. Excellent pricing.	Comments: Truck-specific features are excellent and more than any other unit. Truck routing and maps are very good. This brand is the easiest to learn for "non-techie" drivers because of big, clear buttons and logical program layout. Rapid software improvements during first year of product life. * TND510/710 models have improved speed over the 500/700	Comments: As the newest series from PC Miler they improved greatly upon an already solid "x40" series (for the most part.) They fixed a couple of key feature complaints and added the much-demanded "miles-by-state" logging and more regular map updates via the internet, as well as a much improved custom POI manager. We do have an issue with the high sensitivity of the touchscreen though, especially on the two smaller models.	Comments: Excellent "looking" interface and maps. Very good database of addresses and extensive features. However, the truck routing and detouring abilities have concerned us in the current revision enough to mention this. High price for only a 4.3" screen.	Comments: This unit is being road tested right now. The cells above in this chart are being updated as the test goes on.
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