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Trucker GPS features comparison chart 
Copyright Dieselboss, inc (rev. date Nov 11, 09) NOT for redistribution.
Color Key:  Green = this is an advantage of this unit  |  Yellow = this is a limitation of this unit

(a smaller version of this chart can be viewed by clicking here for those with low-res screens)
 
Feature Description PC Miler 430, 440, 540, 740 <click to view product> Rand McNally TND 500 <click to view product> Garmin Nuvi 465T
 Software / Firmware version tested: (V23 2009 maps) (2009.9.1392.2101) (soft 2.70 / maps NT 2010.20)
Hardware and general info
 
Manufacturer suggested price $299 / $399 / $499 $499.99 $499
Warranty 1 year 1 year 1 year
Screen Size 4.3" / 5" / 7" 5" 4.3"
Bluetooth capable (Can be paired with cell phones for hands-free phone use) No No Yes
Can dial a POI phone number from the GPS when paired with a cell phone N/A No Yes
Multiple profiles to set up specific truck and trailer dimensions Yes No Yes
Plays windows movie, MP3 music, and picture files No (except for the PCM430 model which will do this) No jpeg/jpg pictures only
Has an SD memory card slot Yes (2G card included) Yes Yes (empty)
"Charging" LED light Yes Yes No (on screen indicator only)
Battery life when not plugged in and driving About an hour About 30 minutes About 1.5 hours
External GPS antenna connection Yes on 440,540,740 (not included) Yes (not included) No
AC and DC power cords Yes Yes (extra long DC cable) DC only (AC is available for extra)
Vehicle mount kit included Yes (window suction style) Yes (large 90mm suction style) Yes (dash mount kit)
Audio / Speaker built-in  (*note:  speaker on all 4" and 5" units can be drowned out by truck noise.  The 7" is very loud though) Yes Yes Yes
Mini USB cable included No Yes Yes
Stylus included Yes No No
Headphones/external speaker jack Yes Yes No
Unit converter/calculator (temps, distances, and weights) No Yes Yes
FM Transmitter No No No
Car mode Yes Yes Yes
Motorcycle mode Yes No No
Walking mode Yes No No
Screen modes Day / Night / Automatic Day / Night / Automatic Day / Night / Automatic
Documentation / Manuals Included and online (good) Included and online (good) Online only (Excellent)
Built-in help tutorials Yes Few Yes (Extensive)
Has optional security lock code No No Yes
Multiple map color schemes Yes No No
Languages English US / English UK / English Australia / French / Spanish English US 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
Current time and time zone Manually set Automatic Manual or Automatic
Multiple time zone clocks No Yes (current, dest, and yard) Yes (configurable)
Download features and updates from the web No Yes (very extensive) Yes
Can send feedback back to manufacturer when connected to web No Yes No
Hours of service timers and alerts(driving, on-duty, of-duty) No Yes No
Logs miles driven by state No Yes No
Trip odometer(s) No Yes (3) Yes
Maintenance warnings counter No Yes No
MCRA cross-reference data  No Yes No
       
Feature Description PC Miler 430, 440, 540, 740 <click to view product> Rand McNally TND 500 <click to view product> Garmin Nuvi 465T
Addressing, Routing, and Guidance capabilities
 
Truck Routes Yes (US and Canada) (ALK)
(excellent)
US and Canada (Rand) US only (Garmin)
(limited)
Street-level Maps and addresses US / Canada (ALK)
US / Canada (NavTeq)
US / Canada / Puerto Rico (NavTeq)
Time to calculate a route Very fast (3 - 15 secs) Slower (5 - 45 secs) Medium (5 - 35 secs)
Preplan multi-stop routes Yes (up to 50 stops) Yes (up to 10 stops, but cannot arrange middle of trip and vias) Yes
Route optimization for mileage Yes Yes No
Difficulty to use (software) Good Excellent Very Good
Pre-plan route from another location Yes (easy)  No Yes
Can edit current trip on-the-fly Yes (easy) Yes Yes
Can rearrange the order of a trip Yes (easy) Only first and last stops Yes
Preview your route turns/directions Yes (easy) Yes (limited to first leg only)  
Preview your route on map Yes Yes (limited to first leg only) Yes
Map "look" / clarity when zoomed in Very good Very good Excellent
Map "look" / clarity when zoomed out Good Ok (state borders only) Very good
Can tap on a road and "avoid" it No Yes No
Points of Interest (POI's) Yes (> 7 million) Yes (6 million) Yes (6 million)
Point of Interest alerts Yes Yes (weigh stations, toll booths, and state borders) Yes
POI searching ability Very good Excellent (includes end of day) Limited to nearby only
Can filter truck stops by ammenity No Excellent feature!  No
Add your own POI's No No Yes
Can add POI ratings and notes No Excellent feature!  
Can choose which POI's are displayed on "Nav" screen No (show all or none) No (show all or none) N/A (doesn't show POI icons when navigating)
Shows upcoming scales on screen No (audio alert only) No (audio alert only) No (audio alert only)
Shows next two turns on screen No (only the next) Yes (often shows next 2) No (only the next)
Add pictures of places in your favorites No No Yes
Specific road type settings Yes (Extensive) Yes (Freeways, tolls, u-turns, ferries favors and avoids) Yes (Freeways, tolls, u-turns, ferries, traffic favors and avoids)
Lane guidance info No Some Yes
Current road Speed Limits on screen No Yes, on most larger roads, but not always truck-specific limits. Yes, on most larger roads, but not always truck-specific limits.
Configurable speed alert warning No Yes No
"Recent" destinations memory Yes Yes Yes
Automatically saves recent destinations Yes Yes Yes
Leaves a "breadcrumb" trail of trips No No Yes
Avoid or prefer toll roads feature Yes Yes Yes
Can search for "cross-streets" Yes (Easy) Yes (Easy) Yes (Easy)
Detour feature Yes (Very Good) Yes Yes (poor reroute choices)
Auto re-routing if you miss turn Yes (fast and accurate) Yes (less predictable) Yes (very unpredictable)
"Where am I?" screen No Yes (very good) Yes (very good)
Drive maps in 2D and 3D modes Yes Yes Yes
Address book (favorites) Yes Yes (excellent.  Can sort and add notes to any favorite or POI) Yes
"Save current location" to favorites. Yes Yes Yes
Add your "Home" location Yes  (Home and Work) No Yes (Home only)
"Pick on Map" destinations Yes Yes Yes (Easy)
Saved / Custom places show on maps No No Yes
Can save specific trips to memory Yes Yes Yes
Customize info displayed on Nav screen Yes Yes (extensive) No
Click on roads to see their names Yes Yes Yes
"Trip statistics" page No Yes (avg speed, miles driven) Yes (extensive)
Keyboard Qwerty or Alphabetical Alphabetical only Qwerty or Alphabetical
Keeps your current trip if you turn it off If you saved it If you saved it Yes
On-screen compass No Yes (on Nav screen) Yes (must push the stats button first)
Can modify how far from turn warning Yes (extensive options) No No
Can select how much map "detail" No (map detail is very good) No (map detail is limited when zoomed out) Yes (Yes, map detail is excellent)
Can add your own icons and voices No No Yes
Current Route "Demo" simulator Yes (Excellent) No Yes (but not versatile)
Can take "screenshots" No No Yes
 
Summary Review PC Miler 430, 440, 540, 740 <click to view product> Rand McNally TND 500 <click to view product> Garmin Nuvi 465T
Overall Dieselboss Review out of 10 Route accuracy: 9 | Features: 7 Route accuracy: 7 | Features: 8 Route accuracy: 6 | Features: 7
(software is changing rapidly so check back here often!) Comments:  2nd generation maps on all units now contain very accurate truck routing attributes when the routing profile is correctly configured.  Fewer extra truck-specific features than the RM-TND unit at this time, but a solid navigation solution for truck drivers. (NYC driver note - this one is currently the most accurate there for the NYC area) Comments:  Unit just released in October, 2009.  Truck-specific features are excellent and more than any other unit.  Truck routing and maps are good, but need more maturity as this is a brand new unit.  Highly recommend that owner has access to a computer to plug unit into and receive updates regularly at this time. 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.

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