Google Maps for Trucks: The Good, the Bad, and the Better Alternatives

Did you know that the trucking industry is projected to make $3.4 trillion by 2030, yet many truckers still struggle with inefficient routes? It’s not because they lack experience; it’s because the tools they rely on weren’t built for commercial trucks.

Apps like Google Maps are great for everyday travel, but they fall short when a truck encounters low-clearance bridges, weight limits, restricted roads, tight turns, or hazardous-material rules. Those limitations don’t just slow drivers down; they lead to detours, missed delivery windows, higher fuel costs, and unnecessary stress.

That’s why understanding the gaps in Google Maps is so important.

In this blog, we break down the real challenges truckers face with general navigation apps and introduce the top 7 Google Maps truck route software solutions designed specifically to keep commercial drivers safe, compliant, and profitable on every road they take.

What is Truck GPS?

A truck GPS is a navigation system designed specifically for commercial trucks. Unlike standard GPS apps, it factors in truck size, height, weight, cargo type, bridge clearances, restricted roads, and legal truck routes to guide drivers safely and efficiently from point A to point B.

What are the features of truck GPS?

A truck GPS offers specialized navigation features built for commercial trucks, not just general driving. These features help drivers stay safe, compliant, and efficient on every route.

1. Truck-specific routing & traffic updates

As we have already made clear, truck routing is different and requires you to consider navigation constraints due to the size and weight of trucks. Therefore, your truck app must provide truck-specific route guidance and create routes that comply with trucking laws. It should also provide real-time traffic updates like road closures, diversions, or accidents to help you plan a detour quickly before your driver gets stuck.

2. Route optimization

Your trucking GPS app must provide the route optimization feature. It should leverage advanced algorithms to create the most efficient routes, considering factors like traffic, speed limit, preferred delivery time windows, and load specifications. Accordingly, it should let you plan the fastest and legally compliant route for your drivers. 

3. Seamless user experience 

Your truck routing software must have a simple and easily navigable interface that lets you and your truckers use it easily and efficiently. It should also be intuitive and interactive, and guide you on using each functionality to tap into its maximum potential and shorten your team’s learning curve. 

4. Offline availability

Make sure that the truck app you choose provides offline access to maps and routes. It is especially important in areas with poor network coverage and is key to keeping your drivers on track and executing deliveries without interruptions. 

5. Integration capabilities

The truck navigation app you select must allow integration with your existing business systems, including Enterprise Resource Planning, Customer Relationship Management, or Inventory Management Systems. Software like Upper provides an open API to facilitate seamless integration with your existing software. 

6. Live tracking

No matter which truck app you choose, it must have GPS tracking functionality. It lets you stay up-to-date with your drivers’ progress to know any issues along the route and mitigate them proactively. 

7. Proof of delivery 

This feature is essential to record your successful deliveries in digital format and maintain verifiable evidence for future reference. So, your trucking app should allow your drivers to collect signatures or capture photos of each successfully delivered order. 

8. Reports & analytics 

Your trucking app must also provide detailed reports of each driver’s performance based on the total stops they deliver or miss each day, week, or month. It is helpful as it lets you evaluate your fleet efficiency, find areas of improvement, and take corrective actions.

Who needs a truck GPS and why?

A truck GPS isn’t just for long-haul truckers; it’s essential for anyone operating a commercial vehicle that must follow height, weight, or hazardous-material restrictions. Here’s who benefits the most and why:

1. Long-haul truck drivers

They cover thousands of miles where one wrong turn can mean hours lost. Truck GPS ensures safer, compliant routing that avoids low bridges, restricted roads, and steep grades.

2. Local delivery drivers (LTL, final-mile, regional)

Local drivers navigate dense city areas, tight turns, and time-sensitive stops. Truck GPS helps them stay efficient, avoid restricted zones, and maintain consistent ETAs.

3. Fleet owners & dispatchers

They rely on accurate truck-specific routes to reduce fuel costs, improve on-time performance, and minimize risk. A truck GPS gives them predictable, optimized routing for all vehicles.

4. Owner-operators

Independent truckers need every mile to count. A truck GPS helps them save money by reducing detours, fuel waste, and compliance fines.

5. Hazmat carriers

Hazardous-material routes come with strict legal restrictions. Truck GPS systems identify allowed roads and avoid prohibited tunnels, residential zones, and sensitive areas.

6. RV, bus, and other oversized vehicle drivers

Anyone driving a tall, heavy, or oversized vehicle needs a route that accounts for clearance and road limitations to prevent accidents and costly damage.

Does Google Maps Have Truck GPS?

No, Google Maps does not have truck navigation. As already discussed, trucking routes are complex and must account for height limits, weight restrictions, and other truck-specific constraints.

So while Google Maps can help with basic navigation, it lacks a true Truck GPS mode.

More importantly, understanding its pros and cons will help you decide whether it’s suitable for your operations.

The advantages of Google Maps

1. User-friendly interface

Google Maps has a simple interface familiar to everyone, including truckers, making it easy for them to use and navigate roads.

2. Cost-effectiveness

Unlike truck GPS apps that require heavy upfront installation and onboarding costs, Google Maps is typically free.

Thus, it is cost-effective, especially if you have a small transportation company with budget constraints.

3. Cross-platform compatibility 

Google Maps is compatible with a broad range of devices, including smartphones, tablets, and in-vehicle infotainment systems. This easy access across all device types improves flexibility and usability for you and your drivers. 

The limitations of Google Maps

While Google Maps provides multiple navigation modes, including driving, public transit, cycling, and walking, it doesn’t support the truck mode.

This makes it not the most preferred choice for truckers right at the outset. Here are the downsides of using Google Maps for trucks:

1. Limited truck-specific information  

Using Google Maps for trucks may not provide truck-specific details, such as parking stops, rest areas, filling stations, or CAT scales.

It may thus fail to cater to truck drivers’ specific navigation needs, hampering their productivity, efficiency, and convenience during transit. 

2. Inaccurate truck-specific routing directions

While Google Maps may offer basic routing directions, it may not account for the road restrictions that truckers may face due to their height, weight, and volume. This may result in the inadvertent violation of truck navigation regulations, increasing the risk of accidents and non-compliance penalties. 

3. Absence of multi-stop route optimization

Google Maps allows you to add up to only 10 stops at a time. However, as truck drivers have to cover multiple stops along their route, Google Maps may fail to add more stops and optimize routes for them.

This lack of multi-stop route planning and optimization can result in suboptimal routes. It, in turn, can lead to unwanted mileage, fuel consumption, and wear/tear, escalating overall operational costs.

4. Lack of load and capacity planning 

Google Maps may fail to consider truck parameters like the permissible number of items, weight, or volume of goods. It may lead to sending a truck to a route that includes stops with non-matching load specifications.

This can either cause under- or overutilization of the available truck’s space and payload capacity, causing loading inefficiencies.  

5. Inability to provide real-time traffic and road alerts

Google Maps may fail to offer real-time updates on traffic and road conditions, particularly relevant for trucks. For instance, it may not tell you whether a road is wide enough for trucks to travel.

You may also fail to identify road closures, accidents, or specified operating hours for trucks on a specific road. 

6. Inadequate international navigation information 

Google Maps lacks exhaustive information about cross-border regulations and procedures, requisite paperwork, and customs requirements.

If you are an international shipper, it may hinder your ability to comply with transnational freight transport laws and lead to non-adherence fines.

7. Constrained fleet management 

Google Maps may not offer customization options tailored for efficient truck fleet management. For example, it may not provide customization options like route preferences, real-time visibility, or integration with existing systems.

It may hinder your fleet management operations and decrease your fleet dispatching efficiency.  

8. Reporting & analytics 

Google Maps doesn’t provide detailed delivery reports and analytics to help assess your fleet’s or drivers’ performance. As a result, you may not get valuable insights to evaluate and improve your delivery efficiency and fleet productivity.

In short, while Google Maps may appear cost-effective and user-friendly, its limitations outweigh the benefits it provides. Hence, using it for trucks is not a good idea, and you should refrain from using it for trucks. 

Moving ahead, let’s read about the 7 best truck routing software that you may select from to streamline your truck routing activities.

7 Truck GPS Apps for Android and iPhone Mobile Users

Google Maps is a great tool for general navigation, but it falls short of truck-specific routing requirements. However, alternatives to Google Maps that can meet your trucking needs are available in the market.

1. Upper

Upper is a route optimization and scheduling platform designed to help trucking operations plan faster, more efficient routes. It minimizes manual planning by generating optimized stop sequences based on distance, time windows, priorities, or delivery constraints. 

Upper also provides real-time ETAs and adaptive customer notification capabilities to keep dispatchers and customers informed throughout the day.

In addition to routing, Upper supports long-term route planning through route scheduling features that allow you to create and store recurring delivery plans. Drivers can also collect digital proof of delivery, like photos, notes, and customer e-signatures, to improve accuracy and recordkeeping.

Pricing starts at $40 per user per month.

2. Waze

Waze is widely used by everyday drivers, but many truckers rely on it for its strong community-driven traffic insights. It provides real-time updates on congestion, road closures, weather impacts, and hazards reported by other drivers. 

While Waze does not offer truck-specific routing, its live alert system helps drivers anticipate sudden road events and adjust their path digitally.

Truckers find Waze especially useful in dense urban areas where unexpected slowdowns or incidents are common. Its hands-free guidance and simple interface make it easy to use on the road.

Waze is free to use.

3. CoPilot GPS

CoPilot GPS is a dedicated truck navigation solution designed specifically for commercial vehicles. It allows drivers to create custom truck profiles based on height, weight, load type, and axle restrictions to ensure routes stay compliant with road regulations. 

Its built-in offline maps make it a strong choice for areas with unreliable network coverage.

The software also enables multi-stop route planning, lane guidance, and turn-by-turn instructions tailored to large trucks. CoPilot offers real-time traffic insights and rerouting options to help maintain predictable ETAs and overall schedule reliability.

Pricing is $119.99 for a year.

4. PTV Navigator

PTV Navigator is built for logistics companies seeking reliable truck-oriented navigation with accurate road data for commercial vehicles. 

It creates compliant routes by accounting for vehicle dimensions, cargo type, and relevant restrictions such as low bridges or hazardous-material limitations.

The app also provides lane-level instructions, speed warnings, and updated traffic information to ensure a smooth driving experience. 

PTV Navigator integrates well with dispatch systems, allowing fleets to share routes or updates directly with drivers in real time.

Pricing is custom depending on configuration and fleet requirements.

5. Trucker Path 

Trucker Path is a popular navigation and resource app trusted by thousands of truck drivers. 

While it is not a traditional truck routing app, it provides essential trucking tools such as real-time parking availability, weigh station status, rest area information, and fuel price comparisons to support long-haul planning.

The app also offers truck-legal navigation features that help drivers avoid restricted roads and low-clearance locations. 

A strong community-driven data model ensures that drivers get updated information about truck stops, amenities, and road conditions throughout their routes.

Trucker Path operates on a freemium pricing model. Gold membership is $149.99/Year = $12.50/Month.

6. Sygic

Sygic is a widely used offline GPS navigation app trusted by drivers of large vehicles. 

It supports custom vehicle profiles based on truck length, height, weight, and cargo type to prevent drivers from entering restricted or unsafe routes. Sygic also helps avoid tolls, sharp turns, and U-turns by tailoring guidance specifically for trucks.

A standout feature of Sygic is its reliable offline accessibility, making it useful for remote routes with weak network coverage. 

Drivers can also access information on nearby truck services, rest stops, and lounges, along with real-time alerts such as weigh station status.

Pricing starts at €13.99 for 3 months.

7. SmartTruckRoute

SmartTruckRoute is a dedicated truck routing app that builds routes based on truck dimensions, weight limits, hazmat categories, and current road restrictions. 

Its routing engine uses updated commercial road data to help drivers avoid low bridges, restricted zones, and costly detours.

The app also includes real-time traffic updates, street-level accuracy, and voice-guided navigation. 

Drivers can save routes, add custom stops, and update their truck profiles as load types change. SmartTruckRoute also offers daily, monthly, and yearly plans, making it flexible for seasonal or long-term trucking needs.

Pricing is subscription-based, starting at daily or monthly rates depending on usage.

Going ahead, let’s find out what you should look for while choosing your truck routing software.

How to Choose the Right Trucker Maps Software?

Choosing the right truck routing software starts with checking whether it supports truck-specific routing based on height, weight, axle count, and cargo type.

You also want real-time traffic updates, multi-stop optimization, and offline navigation for areas with poor signal.

Safety features like low-bridge alerts, hazmat routing, and lane guidance are essential, along with simple driver-friendly navigation.

Finally, consider how well the software integrates with your fleet or dispatch tools, its pricing, scalability, and the reliability of its customer support.

What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Truck GPS Apps

Truck GPS (navigation) apps are designed to meet specific trucking needs, giving them a competitive edge over Google Maps. 

The following are the benefits of deploying truck GPS apps:  

1. Helps track and boost your fleet’s performance 

A truck app helps analyze each route that your truck drivers traverse through reports and analytics. These reports help you know details like the total number of stops your team delivered or missed along different routes. 

You can also assess an individual driver’s performance through their delivered and missed stops by day, week, or month. These insights help you find areas of improvement and take measures to improve delivery efficiency. 

2. Enhances compliance with truck-specific information

A truck navigation system helps identify the routes that comply with regulations regarding height, weight, and hazardous material transportation.

Hence, it helps ensure that trucks don’t navigate weight-restricted roads or no-go zones and avoid legal implications that it could lead to. 

It also establishes you as a responsible trucking company that emphasizes legal adherence, boosting your brand reputation. 

3. Boosts customer satisfaction with accurate ETAs and timely deliveries 

Most truck apps provide route optimization that allows you to optimize your routes based on distance, traffic, and preferred time windows. These efficient routes help your truckers achieve on-time deliveries.

Further, they enable you to track your drivers in real time and predict their estimated arrival times (ETAs) precisely. Communicating these dynamic ETAs to customers helps enhance their visibility into delivery operations, enhancing their trust and satisfaction levels.

4. Enables operational cost savings through route planning and optimization

A truck GPS app helps create optimal truck routes based on general and truck-specific constraints like height and weight. These routes help reduce the distance that your truck drivers have to cover daily to execute deliveries, lowering fuel consumption.

Moreover, minimizing distances to cover helps cut down on the wear/tear of your trucks and, hence, the need for frequent maintenance expenses. Thus, optimizing routes contributes to overall operational cost savings.

5. Facilitates convenient, driver-friendly, and safe routing

A truck navigation app is equipped with a database of crucial points of interest and  truck-specific amenities, including:

• Tuck parking availability
• Rest areas
• Weigh stations
• Driver lounges 
• Fuel/service stations

This information helps your truckers take appropriate breaks to refresh themselves. A rejuvenated driver is more alert and productive, preventing unsafe driving practices or delays. 

When your drivers can take specified breaks, it also helps you ensure your compliance with their legal Hours of Service and avoid adherence issues.

Information on nearby service stations helps them address potential mechanical issues promptly before they hamper delivery timelines.

6. Improves fleet management through real-time visibility

A truck route app provides real-time visibility into the precise location and status of your trucks. Tracking them helps you ensure that they are following the designated path and not deviating from it.

Live tracking also lets you send your maintenance team in case your truckers face a mechanical issue or guide them to the nearest service stations, improving fleet management.

7. Allows for efficient load planning

A truck app not only helps you optimize routes but also plans your loads based on each truck’s weight and volume specifications. It lets you configure the number, permissible weight, and volume of goods for a truck.

You can then dispatch each truck on the route that has loading /unloading stops matching its load specifications. It helps optimize your trucks’ payload capacity and maximize load efficiency.

Disadvantages of truck GPS apps:

Truck GPS apps offer strong value, but they also come with certain limitations that trucking companies should be aware of before depending fully on them.

1. Higher cost compared to free navigation tools

Most truck GPS apps operate on paid subscription models. While these fees support advanced routing, compliance data, and real-time updates, they can become a noticeable expense for fleets with many drivers.

For small fleet owners or individual operators, the cost difference compared to free apps like Google Maps may feel significant.

2. Occasional inaccuracies or outdated restrictions

Even the best truck GPS systems can’t guarantee 100% map accuracy. Road closures, newly added weight restrictions, changed bridge limits, and construction updates may take time to appear in the app.

When this happens, drivers may face unexpected reroutes or delays, affecting delivery timelines.

3. Requires modern devices and stable connectivity

Truck GPS apps run heavy map data, real-time tracking, and traffic layers, which require newer smartphones or tablets for smooth performance.

Older devices may lag, crash, or heat up during long trips. Additionally, some features depend on internet connectivity, meaning drivers in remote areas might experience partial or slow navigation updates.

4. Learning curve for drivers with limited tech experience

While truck GPS apps offer powerful capabilities, they can also be complex. Features like truck profiles, axle settings, hazmat routing, and load-based restrictions need to be configured correctly to avoid unsafe routes.

Drivers who are not comfortable with technology may need training to use the app effectively.

Go beyond Google Maps truck routing

Physical street maps are the talk of the past ever since online route planning has taken the trucking or virtually the entire transportation industry by storm.

While Google Maps may be the pioneer of seamless navigation and is popular across the globe, especially when using a Google Maps trip planner, it doesn’t fit when it comes to creating truck routes.

Google Maps might win on convenience and cost, but when it comes to trucking, it misses the mark. Without truck-specific routing or regulatory awareness, it can’t guarantee safe or efficient deliveries.

That doesn’t mean you’re out of options; there are specialized truck GPS solutions designed to navigate the complexities of commercial trucking, from weight and height restrictions to optimized multi-stop routing. Choosing one of those can make a real difference to your operations.