GPS or maps?

[Jeff Weissman Electric]

Is anyone using GPS for their service vehicles? I have always been able to rely on the local spiral bound maps but I'm thinking if I can get real time traffic data it could same me a few hours a month.

[iwire]

I use both a basic GPS and local maps.

I don't really call the customer looking for help.

[jaylectricity]

I use maps, but only because I can't afford to buy a GPS, since I'm a one man show. I did however get to travel with two different people with GPS within the last two weeks.

One was an older lady (mother of my friend) and we used it to find a seafood restaurant. My friend was giving her the business by saying, "Mom you have never had a problem finding anything anywhere and now you're turning your life over to this machine?" But the machine did a good job.

The other was my father, he drives a taxi cab. He got it for his birthday last month from his siblings and mother. He loves the thing, and he too never had a problem finding anything before. In fact he drives taxi in a town that he had never lived in before.

If you can afford it, get it...especially for the city.

[jaylectricity]

I don't really call the customer looking for help.

Suuuure. Haha, just kidding.

[cadpoint]

8-) What, are we proofing the myth that we are truely, "MAN".

[Rockyd]

For a buck a minute, I use yahoo map, from me to whereever your problem is. Guess it is a combination of choice 1 and 2 = 3. Real men are not afraid of getting there, by fastest, most reasonable method. Linemen use a chopper, how fast do you want it?

[electricmanscott]

I have a very good sense of direction. Couple that with the fact that Massachusetts is a relatively small state and travel is no problem. :smile:

[JohnJ0906]

I use map books on the job, and carry them in my personal vehicle as well.
If I am going somewhere new on personal time, I generally use Google map, but at work its almost entirely the maps.

[ptonsparky]

I use a GPS occassionally just for the heck of it in my own truck. The help gets written directions and a GPS if the job is rural and out of our usual territory. County maps with land owners listed are nice. Otherwise we know almost all of the customers and if someone tells us they live catwumpus from Joe Spolinski, we know where to find them.

[ptonsparky]

I have a very good sense of direction. Couple that with the fact that Massachusetts is a relatively small state and travel is no problem. :smile:

I think it would fit in the county just to the Nortwest with room for Rhode Island.:D

[Greg Swartz]

I use MS Streets and Trip 2006... It sucks, and I use Google maps.

I want a GPS, but the new software comes out in 2 weeks.

Problem is, the maps are already outdated. I have had 3 jobs in the last month that are not on ANY maps!
Brand new developments...
However, Google is coming out with mapping software that works with GPS.

I like google maps the best, and they are THE most updated maps I use.
Besides, I can overlay with pictures and see the color of the house I am looking for, and the street layout too...

[mdshunk]

I tried one of those GPS gadgets, but I couldn't hear it calling out the directions over the truck noise. I need to find one that I can connect through the radio somehow. I generally use maps and map books. I don't like to call people asking for directions and such. To me, that's unprofessional. I'm afraid they might think that if I can't find their place, what sort of chance do I stand fixing their problem? I'd like to be considered an expert, and part of that is being able to expertly navigate to their location without assistance.

[Greg Swartz]

I don't really call the customer looking for help.

Absolutely not! Never never never!

It is very unprofessional. I've been at a job bid. Owner was taking calls from my competitors asking where he was...

I was trying to sell that to my advantage... "They can't even find you and you are looking to use them?" Same person called like 3 times...
I got the job, but only because I was tied with the lowest. (Got a couple of change orders out of it though...)

Sometimes you can sell it, sometimes not.

[macmikeman]

Where I live there is a two lane road going most of the way around everywhere. It ain't real hard to figure out how to get to anyplace, except what makes it hard is that the streets all sound alike, even after 30 years of driving around.

[Pierre C Belarge]

I live in a heavily populated area - hence many streets, some with only a few homes on the street, and many one way streets. The GPS is a major time saver. In performing inspections, I save about 1-1/2 hours traveling time a day and it is like adding insurance, as i am not constantly looking at a map. I turn the sound down, as the person's voice is annoying.
I would be lost without my GPS :D :wink:

[JES2727]

I have a Garmin GPS that I stick in my windshield if I'm going somewhere I'm unfamiliar with. It's a real timesaver, and worth every penny. No need to ask directions or check with Google maps. Just enter the address and start driving. I changed the language it speaks to "British English", because I like the accent. Sometimes I change it to Spanish if I'm going near Trenton.

[Mr. Timothy Curtis]

I also have a Garmin, and would be lost without it. Its really helpful and takes you right to it. Doesnt work well for new devolopments, but for service work its golden:smile:

[Brady Electric]

Depends weather my wife if there or not. Remember a "Real Man" never gets lost or turns around. Seriously I usually ask the customer directions when they call, but if I don't get directions right the first time I don't call them back I just use the map. How much is a Garmen? Just for laughs about 35 years ago I was driving a semi truck up north, I ask a person directions on the side of the road. He drew the map in the sand on the side and I said thanks. My brother-in-law and I went around the block and saw the man that gave us directions and I said hi we just came back to read the map again and he laughed. Semper Fi. Buddy