Aug/Sept 2007

Satellite navigation systems should be more relevant to lorries, the Freight Transport Association says. 'There are too many stories of lorries getting stuck or using inappropriate roads because of satnav systems,' explains policy director James Hookham, who adds: 'There is a lot more suppliers can do to make their systems more useful to the commercial vehicle driver.'

The FTA has an extensive wish list of features it wants to see in future satnav systems. It includes vehicle width, height and length restrictions, kerbside loading and unloading restrictions, recommended lorry routes, ability to specify trunk roads or motorways, adequate predictability of possible access problems, location of lorry parks and driver facilities, and location of public weighbridges

The main problem is that such features have not previously been drawn together by the companies that supply the mapping and point of interest data used by satnav systems. Individually, products such as Bridgeclear do address specific aspects (bridge heights in this case), but the data has not generally migrated to consumer-oriented satnav systems.

However, this should change. Navteq, a world leader in mapping for satnav, is currently rolling out a product called Navteq Transport, which lists a variety of truck-related information including height, weight, width and length restrictions and preferred truck routes.