Google Maps for Truckers? That's Dangerous
Google Maps is great for cars. But it doesn't know your truck height, weight, or cargo type. That's why we built Argus Nav—a complete turn-by-turn truck GPS created by a trucking company owner with 15+ years on America's highways. We know what happens when you trust the wrong GPS.
How Google Maps Fails Truckers
Google Maps is designed for cars. It has no concept of truck dimensions, weight, or cargo type.
Low Bridge Clearance
Weight Restrictions
No Truck Zones
HazMat Routing
The Famous "11foot8" Bridge
The Norfolk Southern railroad bridge in Durham, NC has been hit so many times it has its own YouTube channel with millions of views. Every single strike? A driver using Google Maps or consumer GPS that didn't warn about the 11'8" clearance.
Don't become the next viral video. Use truck-specific navigation.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Argus Nav | Google Maps |
|---|---|---|
| Full Turn-by-Turn Navigation | Yes, complete truck GPS with voice guidance | Yes, but car-only routing |
| Price | $7/month | Free |
| Truck Height Awareness | Yes, warns of low clearances | No |
| Weight Restrictions | Yes, avoids restricted roads | No |
| Low Bridge Warnings | Yes, route-specific alerts | No |
| HazMat Routing | Yes, all 9 classes | No |
| Truck Stop Info | Yes | Limited |
| Crash Alert Speed | Under 10 seconds (AI) | 5-15 minutes (crowdsourced) |
| General Navigation Quality | Truck-optimized | Excellent for cars |
| Street View | No | Yes |
| Public Transit | N/A | Yes |
Crash Alerts: 10 Seconds vs 10 Minutes
Google Maps uses crowdsourced reports for traffic incidents. By the time enough people report a crash, 5-15 minutes have passed. Argus Nav's AI detects crashes from traffic cameras in under 10 seconds.
That's the difference between rerouting early or sitting in a backup for an hour.
When Google Maps is Fine
We're not saying Google Maps is bad—it's just not built for trucks.
- Personal vehicle: In your car, Google Maps is excellent. No clearance issues to worry about.
- Finding addresses: Google's address database is unmatched. Use it to find locations, then switch to truck GPS for routing.
- Street View scouting: Street View is great for previewing delivery locations and tight areas.
The bottom line: Use Google Maps in your personal car. Use Argus Nav when you're behind the wheel of a truck. One bridge strike can cost you $30,000+ and your job.
Built by Truckers, for Truckers
Not just another tech company making apps
Argus Nav was founded by a trucking company owner with 15+ years of experience navigating America's highways. We've dealt with the low bridges that Google Maps doesn't warn you about. We've gotten the "recalculating" message after a route took us onto a truck-restricted road.
That's why we built Argus Nav as a complete truck navigation solution—not just an alert system you run alongside Google Maps. Full turn-by-turn routing with height, weight, length, and HazMat restrictions built in. Voice guidance. Offline maps. Everything you need to replace consumer GPS.
The AI crash detection? That's the extra advantage that no other truck GPS offers. We know what it costs to sit in traffic—in fuel, in time, in missed delivery windows. So we built something better.
Get Navigation Built for Your Truck
Height warnings. Weight restrictions. HazMat compliance. 10-second crash alerts. Everything Google Maps doesn't have.