Today, many people use Google Maps for navigation. The tool is practical and offers good results for route planning in many situations. Just recently however, a Berlin-based artist drew attention by successfully changing the traffic situation on Google Maps with 99 smartphones. This is just one reason why logistics companies would do better to rely on professional route optimization software than on Google Maps for planning their truck routes.
Google Maps and other commonly used navigation apps quickly reach their limits when calculating truck-specific routes and are therefore not an ideal solution for transport companies.
When planning a truck route in Google Maps without the option for the vehicle profile, you are bound to get the fastest route for a car. In addition to the risk of running into restricted traffic areas or environmental zones, the navigation might lead the truck into roads that are too narrow for the vehicle or to bridges that are too low. Non-professional apps just have no idea that the truck is bigger and less agile than a car. For the truck driver, this may mean a U-turn is necessary, resulting in late deliveries and lots of frustration.
A non-optimized route can also become expensive. Carriers need to know the costs of a truck route in advance, to keep track of overall transport costs. In contrast to Google Maps, route optimization software takes into account factors such as toll charges along the chosen route, fuel costs, or the driver’s hourly rate. As well as factors such as driving and rest times, opening hours of ramps, loading and unloading times, and customer requirements.
Better to use a professional tool
Professional tools for route planning not only provide the fastest and most efficient route from A to B, but also plan and optimize the successive stops of the entire tour. In doing so, it takes all relevant and individually important parameters into account. From restrictions, such as tunnel restrictions, to the truck’s individual vehicle profile and transport costs, to emission calculations.