If driving is how you make your living, you can benefit from having a good GPS navigation system in the cab. You can rely on Garmin to get you where you’re going. Garmin has been making GPS devices for years and has become an industry leader for good reason. The dezl 580 truck navigation system is designed for professional truckers and incorporates all the features you could ask for.
Specifications
It’s similar in size to other GPS devices at about 6″ x 4″ x 1″ and weigh in a one pound, which is still pretty solid given the dimensions. It utilizes a rechargeable 820 mAh lithium-ion battery good for up to two hours, but that’s disconnected. Using it in you cab on a charger, it’ll last as long as you need it. It has a glossy black casing and a vibrant 5″ WQVGA touch-screen display at a high-res 480 x 272 pixels. The dezl 580 also includes 16 GB of memory and an available card slot for adding more. It also offers voice-recognition technology so you can use it without letting go of the wheel.
In the Box:
- Garmin dezl 580
- Vehicle dashboard suction cup mount
- 12V power cable to vehicle
- USB cable
- Quick Start user’s manual
Features
Custom Truck Routing
The dezl 580 comes preloaded with detailed maps for North America, including lifetime updates. These maps provide truck-related tips such as bridge heights, weight limits, hazardous curves, school zones, and more for most highways and major roads. All you need to do is enter information to create a vehicle profile and the 580 will plot the best route for your truck’s size and load.
It will guide you along the route with voice prompts and bright on-screen arrows based on real-life landmarks instead of just street signs and intersections. You can also tap into a bird’s eye view from overhead if necessary.
The Trip Planner allows you modify routes by simply touching the screen, and save them for future trips. It also includes a feature that lets you swap trailers with a single button for planning your next route.
Break Planning
You can also plan breaks along the road. The 580 lets you plot stops for food, fuel, rest stops, parking spots, and ATMs, to name just a few amenities, with timely alerts so you don’t miss them.
It comes with TripAdvisor integration, so you can also find sites of interest like recommended hotels, dining, shopping, national monuments, historic sites, amusement parks, and other points of interest you might want to visit. All of these are searchable through the included FourSquare app.
You can also integrate the dezl 580 with Garmin’s eLog ELD for D.O.T. compliance through automated tracking and digital records. This Garmin model is also fully compatible with a range of Garmin-made backup cameras. For dispatchers and managers, the dezl 580 also comes with pre-installed features for coordinating and monitoring multiple vehicles.
Directory of Services
Garmin also supplies a built-in directory for locating truck and trailer services along your route. This includes truck stops, lodging, weigh stations, public Wi-Fi hotspots, parking, and more. You can also search or filter truck stops by the brand name or the amenities they offer, such as showers or truck washing. Garmin also includes a list of over 30,000 repair locations across the U.S. and Canada, noting those with after-hours service. The dezl 580 also a Service History Log so you can keep track of any repairs or maintenance, plus monitor tire pressure and mileage.
Hands-Free Calling
The dezl 580 will pair up easily with your Bluetooth compatible smartphone. It works with both Android and iPhone mobile devices. The 580 has a built-in microphone and volume-adjustable speakers that are loud enough so you can hold conversations in heavy traffic noise. You can also read text messages straight from the dezl 580’s display. You can even do this without taking your phone out of your pocket. With the built-in Wi-Fi, you can also get the latest local traffic and weather updates over your Garmin whenever you want them.
Additional Features:
- Lane assist
- Junction views
- Lifetime traffic updates
- Speed limit indicator (U.S.)
- Automatic software updates
- Smartphone Link live-service notifications
- Red light and speed camera alerts
- Mile marker info
- State and country border alerts
Verdict
The dezl 580 is cheaper than some comparable models, yet it suggests quality the moment you take it out of the box. It’s hefty feel, elegant design, and bright, crisp screen are all very satisfying. The on-screen options are fairly straight-forward and easy to navigate. Everything works as advertised to make your long hauls both easier and more interesting.
Even there’s any complaints, it’s the short battery life if you choose to unplug and take the 580 with you on your out-of-truck excursions. Of course, you shouldn’t get lost with a Garmin GPS navigator right in your pocket, but it would be nice to have more than two hours of service if you wanted to take an afternoon of sight seeing or ran into problems. But two hours of battery life is actually longer than most previous versions, and really not too bad if you take into account all the things the dezl 580 can do for you.
Considering all the features it comes with straight out of the box, and add voice recognition technology for spoken commands, automatic Wi-Fi updates, and extensive, detailed maps, and the Garmin dezl 580 becomes a trucker’s best friend. It will get your from one point to the next without complications, yet you can customize and save your routes to plan your ideal trips.
Although there are a lot of competitor units out there with some good features, you’ll have a hard time finding the total package offered with the dezl 580, and at an affordable price and proven quality. You can get a great deal on Garmin dezl 580 here.