Meta: Make the most of every second behind the wheel with some of the best truck GPS devices available today.
Whether you're hauling for work or just for fun, certain responsibilities come with driving a pickup truck. For one, you want to make sure you get where you're going on time while minimizing wasted gas. You'll also want to spend more time on the way to your destination and less time stuck in traffic.
However, you don't have to memorize the local map to maximize your time and fuel efficiency—you merely need a better truck GPS.
Luckily, there are many GPS models out there that are well-suited to the specific needs of pickup truck drivers, be they on the job or just moving a friend from place to place. Below, we'll take a look at some of the top-reviewed devices, to see if we can identify the best truck GPS on the market.
Product FAQs
What is a GPS and how do they work?
What special features can help truck drivers?
What are the benefits of using a GPS device?
How much should you spend?
How We Reviewed
We sorted through hundreds of reviews to find the best truck GPS options for professional and non-professional drivers alike. We made sure each item on this list not only fit our standards for quality, but had something unique to offer in terms of features, cost, or innovation. In this manner, the list remains well-rounded and not wholly driven by price point.
Overall Price Range
You can expect a price range between $60 to $420 for the truck GPS devices offered on our list.
That said, the average price for a reliable GPS device around $120, with many adequate models boasting a price tag of under $100.
Top 10 Best Truck GPS Devices
Ready to discover new routes to saving time, money, and energy on your next trip? This list of truck GPS devices is bound to offer something or every need and every budget.
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Garmin is easily one of the most recognized names in GPS navigation, and their Dezl 580 LMT-S Truck Navigator has proved to be among their most popular models. Garmin is known for developing easy-to-use GPS systems that provide detailed, and continually-updated maps of the user's target area.
The Dezl 580 LMT-S contains several features specifically-designed for semi truck drivers, but anyone who drives long distances in a truck can benefit from them. The product continually warns of dangerous curves, weight limits, and traffic restrictions, but also provides built-in Wi-Fi for easy updates, refuel and lodging information, and live traffic and weather updates.
Additional features include multiple vehicle options to quickly transfer data, multiple language options, and voice-activated, hands-free interface.
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Rand McNally is perhaps the leading name in map-related products, so it's easy to understand why a GPS device boasting their name would be quite popular. The Intelliroute TND 520 is another GPS model designed with professional drivers in mind, boasting many route planning features that will benefit those who haul for a living but can also be helpful for any truck driver.
Though the unit requires a Wi-Fi hotspot to update information, the updates it generates are incredibly beneficial and include up-to-the-minute fuel prices, searchable business database, and detailed route comparisons. Among the most significant benefits is the weather application, which shows not only potential weather issues but also current wind speed and precipitation.
The Intelliroute TND 520 is an excellent option for those truck drivers who will find themselves on the highway or back roads quite often. City-based drivers who are less concerned with long trips may want to find another option, however.
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The YoJetSing 7-inch GPS Navigator is a budget-friendly GPS device that boasts a sizable amount of features for its price point. Though designed with long-haul truckers in mind, the YoJetSing has the right prerequisites to fit virtually any truck driver's needs and has the bonus of providing clear, realistic voice prompts to cut down on distractions.
The YoJetSing comes pre-loaded with all of North America, from Canada to Mexico, and free lifetime map updates. Additional maps are available, though whether or not there is an extra cost associated with them is not clear. Routes are customizable according to vehicle weight, height, and width, and the unit supports seven different vehicle types, right down to “bicycle.”
All things considered, the YoJetSing is a reliable and versatile GPS unit, backed up by a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 12-month warranty.
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The Garmin 780 LMT-S Truck Navigator is one of the most reliable and versatile big rig GPS systems on the market. With a seemingly endless array of features and helpful alerts, the only hindrance to the 780 LMT-S is its high price point and the fact that many of the included features only apply to drivers of tractor trailers (bridge height warning, steep grade warning, etc.).
Regardless, there are things about the 780 LMT-S that everyone can appreciate, which accounts for its overwhelming popularity. These include the high-resolution, 7-inch touch screen, the free mobile app for pairing with your smartphones, and the large amount of pre-loaded data. Also included with this particular model is a bundle of accessories and mounts
If you're looking to invest in a high-quality GPS device that will deliver at every turn, the Dezl 780 LMT-S from Garmin is worth every penny.
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The Vyncs GPS tracker system is another cost-effective GPS model that will deliver quality results for cars, trucks, and everything else with wheels. Using real-time technology that runs on 3G wireless, this self-inclusive system requires an activation and renewal fee, but guarantees up-to-the-minute traffic, weather, and route data for drivers.
Though the Vyncs is technically a “budget” option compared to some of the models on this list, the manufacturer has gone to great lengths to make sure it includes a wide range of useful features. These include battery-free operation, real-time geofence zone information, vehicle diagnostic and maintenance information, and a “score-based” system that rates the user's driving.
If you want a range of features not commonly seen in GPS models regardless of price, and don't mind renewing your account every year, this is an innovative and reliable system.
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Garmin basically pioneered the concept of GPS navigation, so it's no surprise that they're a name that's frequently appearing on this list. The Drive 51 USA LM GPS navigator is among Garmin's most affordable models, and is dramatically stripped down when it comes to features and “bells and whistles.” Still, for those looking to for sound directions and not much else, it fits the bill.
Boasting turn-by-turn voice commands, driver alerts, built in TripAdvisor and landmark data, and an easy-to-use interface, the Drive 51 is perfect for drivers long trips with the family, or for logging information on time spent behind the wheel for work. Don't expect too much out of the unit by way of innovation, however. It is about as bare bones as Garmin gets.
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Jimwey is a California company that produces a wide variety of discount electronics. One of their most popular items is their 7-inch touchscreen GPS navigation system, which is both affordable and boasts a fair amount of features, including a built-in FM transmitter that uses the car's radio and speaker system instead of onboard speakers.
One of the Jimwey's main selling points is its large display, which features both 2D and 3D map views. This design makes it perfect for the elderly or people who want to spend less time looking at their GPS and more time looking at the road. The device comes pre-installed with 101 region maps of the US, Canada, and Mexico, and supports games, photos, video, and MP3 files.
Though the company may be a bit less known, the Jimwey 7-inch GPS device is a popular and well-reviewed item, and at this price, it's a much less risky investment than some might think.
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For a while, TomTom was almost as synonymous with in-vehicle GPS devices as Garmin, their chief competitor. Though both systems differ quite a bit in design and execution, there are those who prefer the more simplified, easy-to-read TomTom instructions, which focus more on correct lane usage and traffic avoidance than attractions and other frills.
The TomTom VIA six-inch GPS Navigation Device is compact, easy-to-use, and offers some unique features as well. These include spoken instructions in more than 30 languages, advanced lane guidance to ensure that users can easily navigate multi-lane highways and interchanges, and free map updates for the lifetime of the product.
If the prevailing GPS design aesthetic is a bit too “cartoony” for your taste, or you merely want a different set of features, the TomTom VIA is well worth a look.
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Considering the number of features packed into NAVRUF 's low-cost car navigation system, it's surprising that this model isn't more popular. A universal GPS with a functional multimedia player, voice playback, lane direction, and pre-installed maps of all of North America, this is a unit that is sure to make budget-conscious shoppers happy.
The NAVRUF also features multiple-vehicle support, so you can go right from your car or truck to your bike and get a whole new readout of routes and instructions. If you want more versatility and reliable function with a lower price point, this is a great deal.
The Verdict
What’s our verdict?
In our opinion, the best truck GPS device is Garmin's Dezl 580 LMT-S Truck Navigator. Though slightly more expensive than the average model on this list, the fact that the Dezl 580 comes from such a trusted manufacturer and boasts plenty of truck-centric features makes it a real stand out for truck drivers who want reliable navigation.
Overall, the Garmin is easy to use, offers multiple vehicle profile options, and already has loads of information onboard that is specifically designed to keep truck drivers safe. While you'll likely be happy with any of the items on this list, our choice for your money is the Garmin Dezl 580 LMT-S Truck Navigator.