WHY A DELIVERY DRIVER OR COURIER NEEDS TO KNOW MORE ABOUT THEIR SATNAV OR SATNAV APP April 18th 2013 The problems that delivery drivers face with a satnav or satnav app are many. Whether they are long distance, multi drop or simply have numerous deliveries in a day, compared to the general motorist, these drivers have the common problems multiplied and magnified. For not only do they do many deliveries per day they often have to complete some or all of these to deadlines. Problems that often arise are: • The address or postcode provided is either partly or wholly wrong • Drivers sometimes experience problems inputting the digits correctly • The satnav or satnav app sometimes does not recognise the address/postcode • Drivers sometimes misread the address/postcode and • The postcode is correct but satnav does not locate the exact destination It’s a minefield, not only is there a great danger of going to the wrong destination but a number of other problems arise once the journey is underway: • Taking a wrong turning • Near misses or swerves • Misunderstandings or confusion • Satnav takes the long way around and • Missing a turning, especially on a major road Professional drivers cannot afford to go to the wrong destination or to waste any significant time on deliveries. So what can be done to help drivers avoid these potential pitfalls? A worldwide search though the literature reveals a lack of information to solve the problems. The manufacturers often provide user guides or manuals but these do little to help beyond explain the menu options. What is really needed is some nitty-gritty practical help for drivers along the following lines: 1. How to be much more certain the destination is correct 2. How to know if the satnav route is correct or if it could be improved 3. How to gain an overview of satnav directions while on the move and if necessary override them 4. What to remember and what to attend to when driving Fortunately, a new book is available that addresses these issues, it’s called How to Get More of Your Satnav by R T Scanlon and is a comprehensive analysis of the way a satnav or satnav app is used. The conclusion provides practical advice to guide drivers when using their satnavs and is written by a professional driver for professional drivers (and the general motorist). In addition, a number of satnavs allow for multiple destinations or waypoints, the TomTom Go Live 1000 for example allows up to three, while others satnavs are available which allow more than this. Smartphone satnav apps are another market that is rapidly growing and one Android app that has caught my attention recently is the Best Route Pro which allows up to fifty destinations (the free version allows up to fifteen). Not only does this app allow you to plot many destinations but it will also optimise the quickest route though them. This may be very helpful to some multi-drop drivers but, of course, it does not take into account deadlines for particular destinations. Other advice beyond the use of a satnav Drivers might also carry a postcode map for the area they cover together with an up to date street atlas. It’s quite difficult to obtain some postcode maps for specific areas however; they are very useful, if available. Lastly, if many of the delivery addresses are repeated then a database might be developed with notes on parking. Probably, an Excel spreadsheet would be sufficient for this, especially as each column can be sorted alphabetically so allowing easy access to the data once compiled. How to Get more from Your Satnav is available as a paperback or as an eBook from: amazon.co.uk or satnavmaster
Posted on: Sun, 16 Jun 2013 13:47:31 +0000
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