Garim’s truck-specific dezl 760 GPS

Garmin International has announced the dezl (pronounced ‘diesel’, oddly enough) 760, the company’s first trucking navigator, sporting a seven-inch display and a new ‘Active Lane Guidance’ feature to help truck drivers navigate intersections and exits. Other trucking-specific functions include route calculation based on truck attributes, trucking points of interest (POIs), hours-of-service logging, an extra-loud speaker, and support for backup cameras. Compatible with the Garmin Smartphone Link, it’s said to be the only navigation device for truckers with the ability to receive real-time information through an Android smartphone app, such as fuel prices, traffic camera images, and weather.

With detailed maps, the dezl 760 provides truck-specific routes and turn-by-turn directions based on vehicle height, weight, and length. Users can simply enter their truck’s profile and the device will consider truck-verified roads that are suitable for the truck’s characteristics. It also provides warnings of upcoming hazards such as sharp curves. The device can save multiple truck profiles and users can change the active profile at any point.

Trucking-specific POIs include truck stops, weigh stations, dealerships, and washes. Garmin ‘Exit Services’ allows drivers to quickly search for upcoming POIs at highway exits. Also included are sunrise and sunset times to follow after-sunset regulations, mile markers to share a location with others, and state/country border notices to comply with legal requirements.

Using the large display of the dezl 760, the Active Lane Guidance feature is shown in a split-screen next to the map view to guide drivers to the correct lane for an approaching turn or exit. In a moving lane animation a purple line indicates the way the driver should go, showing exactly which lane to be in and helping to avoid potentially dangerous last-minute maneuvers.

To make it easier for truckers to keep track of their trip data, the dezl 760 automatically archives fuel usage and the number of miles driven in a given state or province. Truckers can use this information to fill out logbooks, forms, and tax materials. This data can be exported from the unit and can be beneficial in submitting quarterly IFTA reports.

The dezl 760 allows drivers to record HOS times and it warns of violations in advance. It’s also compatible with the Garmin Fleet Management Interface and can be integrated with a telematics data transponder manufactured by a Garmin-authorized partner. This provides a digital solution that complies with FMCSA regulations for EOBRs.

The Garmin Smartphone Link for Android smartphones solves the problem of having to pay for an extra data plan to receive real-time information on a navigation device. It utilizes the existing data connection of a smartphone by simply pairing it to the dezl 760 via Bluetooth. Users can then access real-time information right from their dezl unit, such as traffic, images from traffic cameras, weather, parking, fuel prices, and more. Garmin Smartphone Link is available at no cost in the Android Market and includes several free live services as well as premium content available through subscriptions.

The dezl 760 is expected to become available in the fourth quarter of 2012 and will have a suggested retail price of US$399.99.