WHAT ARE YOU USING FOR MILEAGE AND MAPPING? PLEASE LIST HERE.

Jul 11, 2011 at 09:53 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Hey guys, I've noticed a lot of talk about miles and mapping on the forums lately. On this site we use Google maps to calculate the distance and do the mapping. We use it for 2 reasons. 1. It's free. 2. It's really easy to get it setup on a website. The problem with Google maps is it's definitely not built for the trucking world and a lot of times the routes are way off. I’ve looked into using a professional mileage service like PC Miler or Prophesy. They are pretty spendy and would take weeks of programming to get it integrated with the site but if it’s needed and demanded by you the user, we’ll certainly do it. What are you all using for mileage / mapping? Hopefully we can start a list here of mileage software to look into. Thanks!

Replied on Mon, Jul 11, 2011 at 12:46 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Its something that if you have hauled a load or two, to any certain place, you got a good idea what the mileage is. We use Map Quest, the classic version alot, but then again its not perfect science. The best way I have found is to ask an old boy thats been out here along time. Thanks for your post.

Replied on Mon, Jul 11, 2011 at 01:32 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. We use PC Miler because of the options, rarely have I found it to be more than just a couple miles off, when quoting we use it and have not been let down yet.

Replied on Mon, Jul 11, 2011 at 02:08 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. We use PC Miler V24, and just got V25 in the mail last week. We use it because we find it is accurate and the miels are widely accepted. You can also run hub routing, practical millage, or shortest millage, restrict roads based off weight etc.

Replied on Mon, Jul 11, 2011 at 02:20 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. We use PC Miler Practical Miles. It is not odometer miles, of course, but it is realitive, which means that it is consistently 2- 4 percent below odometer miles and we can base rates accordingly. The challenge is to get shippers to realize that we still have expenses in those miles even if PC Miler says it is not that many miles. Over all PC Miler is very usable, but expensive. We do not update everytime they come with a new version. I think there should be something that does just as good but not as expensive, so it will be interesting to see what other carriiers and/or shippers use.

Replied on Mon, Jul 11, 2011 at 02:20 PM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

We use PC Miler Practical Miles. It is not odometer miles, of course, but it is realitive, which means that it is consistently 2- 4 percent below odometer miles and we can base rates accordingly. The challenge is to get shippers to realize that we still have expenses in those miles even if PC Miler says it is not that many miles. Over all PC Miler is very usable, but expensive. We do not update everytime they come with a new version. I think there should be something that does just as good but not as expensive, so it will be interesting to see what other carriiers and/or shippers use.

Replied on Mon, Jul 11, 2011 at 04:37 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. I use PC Miler. I't's the standard in the Industry. Most traffic managers, shipping managers, and logistics companies use it.

Replied on Mon, Jul 11, 2011 at 10:40 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Microsoft Streets & Trips is what i use. They do have a trucker version. I use the regular version but it has always done me good and always very close to our odometer miles. Great price.

Replied on Tue, Jul 12, 2011 at 08:55 AM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. My boss prefers Streets and Trips - it's very close to our actual odometers. He uses it for contract pricing and customer renegotiation. We have PC Miler 25 integrated into our software because it's standard, works with our Fuel Tax program, and it has many options we find helpful. We tested the costing feature, and we really like the tolls feature which gives us a great picture of costs when we need to run turnpikes or cross certain bridges. We find it's around 3% different from our odometer mileage (both ways) so that's factored into pricing, both for customers and for driver wages.

Replied on Tue, Jul 12, 2011 at 08:55 AM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

My boss prefers Streets and Trips - it's very close to our actual odometers. He uses it for contract pricing and customer renegotiation. We have PC Miler 25 integrated into our software because it's standard, works with our Fuel Tax program, and it has many options we find helpful. We tested the costing feature, and we really like the tolls feature which gives us a great picture of costs when we need to run turnpikes or cross certain bridges. We find it's around 3% different from our odometer mileage (both ways) so that's factored into pricing, both for customers and for driver wages.

Replied on Tue, Jul 12, 2011 at 05:44 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. PC Miler. I also use Rand McNally Trip Maker (about $15 in the truckstop) as a back up. The Rand McNally Trip Maker is always within a few miles PC Miler's mileages

Replied on Sun, Aug 28, 2011 at 02:12 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. We use steets and trips to! Plus it has the construction (monthly update w/ internet free), so you know what the states are dittling around with!!

Replied on Sun, Aug 28, 2011 at 07:47 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. I use teletrac fleet director www.teletrac.net because I not only want to know how to get there but I want to be able to locate my trucks communicate with my trucks send loads report events to customers track my fuel milage and monitor vehicle performance.kinda does away with out of route miles and have not had a driver call me once since install wanting directions.plus I like the e-logs.

Replied on Sun, Aug 28, 2011 at 07:47 PM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

I use teletrac fleet director
www.teletrac.net because I not only want to know how to get there but I want to be able to locate my trucks communicate with my trucks send loads report events to customers track my fuel milage and monitor vehicle performance.kinda does away with out of route miles and have not had a driver call me once since install wanting directions.plus I like the e-logs.

Replied on Mon, Aug 29, 2011 at 01:09 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Prophesy

Replied on Mon, Aug 29, 2011 at 08:07 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. MAPQUEST....GIVES SEVERAL OPTIONS AND THE NEAREST MILES TO ACTUAL...PC MILER HAS ALWAYS BEEN WAY OFF ACTUAL.....

Replied on Tue, Aug 30, 2011 at 07:27 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. Quote: "MAPQUEST....GIVES SEVERAL OPTIONS AND THE NEAREST MILES TO ACTUAL...PC MILER HAS ALWAYS BEEN WAY OFF ACTUAL....." I agree with using mapquest. I have used PC, Rand MC, and I used to use a AAA program (which was not bad) a long time ago. I like Map Quest for many reasons. It is online so whoever I am talking to can usually see the same route I am looking at. It is easy to manuver the stops in different order. Furthermore, when I quote miles to a carrier I have a backup which shows an attemp to use reasonable miles. I often talk to carriers who show less miles than I am showing, which starts us off on a better foot too. Yes, mistakes can be made, however using quickest miles seems farely close to truck miles most of the time. I have had drivers tell me after a run it turned out reasonably close. Frankly, I am to the point where I don't care what the shipper is using. It boils down to if the truck can take the load. I think of PC miler as subdivision miles. It appears to me it almost goes through subdivisions to cut the miles down. (It would not suprise me if it actually did in some cases.)

Replied on Tue, Aug 30, 2011 at 07:27 PM CST

Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.

Quote: "MAPQUEST....GIVES SEVERAL OPTIONS AND THE NEAREST MILES TO ACTUAL...PC MILER HAS ALWAYS BEEN WAY OFF ACTUAL....."

I agree with using mapquest. I have used PC, Rand MC, and I used to use a AAA program (which was not bad) a long time ago. I like Map Quest for many reasons. It is online so whoever I am talking to can usually see the same route I am looking at. It is easy to manuver the stops in different order. Furthermore, when I quote miles to a carrier I have a backup which shows an attemp to use reasonable miles. I often talk to carriers who show less miles than I am showing, which starts us off on a better foot too. Yes, mistakes can be made, however using quickest miles seems farely close to truck miles most of the time. I have had drivers tell me after a run it turned out reasonably close.

Frankly, I am to the point where I don't care what the shipper is using. It boils down to if the truck can take the load. I think of PC miler as subdivision miles. It appears to me it almost goes through subdivisions to cut the miles down. (It would not suprise me if it actually did in some cases.)

Replied on Tue, Aug 30, 2011 at 11:56 PM CST
Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member.	Posted by a private BulkLoads.com member. TruckMiles by Promiles off OOIDA web site.