Magellan announces the RoadMate: a GPS unit built specifically for truckers

Magellan isn’t normally the name that comes to mind when we think of GPS technologies, but the company has a pretty nice announcement for us at this year’s CES 2015. The navigation company has just announced their GPS unit for truckers. Officially dubbed the RoadMate RC9485T-LMB, it’s designed specifically for truckers and commercial drivers, and aims to provide a better navigation experience for those going on long trips.

The RoadMate allows for multiple driver sign-in support, as well as customizable routes and truck preferences. Atop all of these already handy features, the GPS device offers:

• Multiple-Stop Routing lets drivers plan their trip with multiple stops in the order they want or automatically optimizes for the most efficient route, helping to save time and money.
• Free Lifetime Traffic Alerts, sent directly to their GPS unit, lets users plan more precise travel times and ETAs by avoiding traffic jams and other delays.
• Junction View displays a realistic image of the road and highway signs to help guide drivers to the correct lane that the vehicle needs to be in for safe merging and exiting.
• Landmark Guidance gives users an easier way to navigate to their destinations by telling them to turn at familiar landmarks, such as gas stations, stores or other large, easily-seen places instead of only street names that may be hard to locate and/or read.
• Highway Lane Assist helps when navigating complex highway interchanges, ensuring that a driver stays on the correct roadway.
• Exit POIs indicate where truck stops, food, lodging, rest areas, and weigh stations are located at an approaching exit. Integrated Bluetooth 4.0 wireless technology allows drivers to safely talk hands free on compatible Bluetooth phones.

The Magellan RoadMate will be available to the public sometime in Q1 of 2015, and will retail starting at $299.99. We wouldn’t doubt it if we saw these devices on the road everywhere within the coming months. Check back to Android Authority for the best coverage here at CES 2015!

[press]Santa Clara, CA – January 5, 2014

Magellan, a leader of innovative GPS devices and content services for vehicles, fitness, outdoor, and mobile navigation, announces its latest commercial series GPS, the RoadMate RC9485T-LMB, at International CES. The Magellan RoadMate RC9485T-LMB is a 7″ Android truck GPS navigation system optimized for independent truckers and professional commercial drivers. It will be demonstrated during CES in the Magellan booth, LVCC South Hall 2 – MP25441.

With an extra loud speaker, an external Audio/Video input for a backup camera and a 7″ glass capacitive touch panel, the RC9485T-LMB ensures a safe and convenient trip for all drivers. Its OneTouch favorites menu offers ease-of-use and allows for a personalized travel experience.

The RC9485T-LMB is compatible with the Magellan SmartGPS Eco cloud, giving drivers easy access to time and money-saving content such as: real-time fuel pricing information, weather (including five-day forecast and overlays), truck speed limit warnings and IP traffic.

“Our new RoadMate RC9485T-LMB Android navigation device offers comprehensive navigation solutions by providing best-in-class software as well as unsurpassed connectivity, and real-time content delivered by our SmartGPS Eco cloud,” remarked Stig Pedersen, Magellan associate vice president, product management. “We are very excited to be showing our new device at this year’s CES and look forward to the positive response from attendees.”

The Magellan RoadMate RC9485T-LMB offers users a host of truck navigation features. These include:

• Multiple Driver Log-in allows drivers to log HOS (hours of service) and driving status, track hours and record state mileage for IFTA fuel logging. Drivers can also conveniently export all logs for reporting and tracking of each trip.
• Customizable Truck Route sets up vehicle profile and calculates routes based on height, weight, width, length, and hazmat restrictions; it guides users according to their route preferences and vehicle profile.
• Multiple-Stop Routing lets drivers plan their trip with multiple stops in the order they want or automatically optimizes for the most efficient route, helping to save time and money.
• Free Lifetime Traffic Alerts, sent directly to their GPS unit, lets users plan more precise travel times and ETAs by avoiding traffic jams and other delays.
• Junction View displays a realistic image of the road and highway signs to help guide drivers to the correct lane that the vehicle needs to be in for safe merging and exiting.
• Landmark Guidance gives users an easier way to navigate to their destinations by telling them to turn at familiar landmarks, such as gas stations, stores or other large, easily-seen places instead of only street names that may be hard to locate and/or read.
• Highway Lane Assist helps when navigating complex highway interchanges, ensuring that a driver stays on the correct roadway.
• Exit POIs indicate where truck stops, food, lodging, rest areas, and weigh stations are located at an approaching exit. Integrated Bluetooth® 4.0 wireless technology allows drivers to safely talk hands free on compatible Bluetooth phones.

Pricing and Availability

The Magellan RoadMate RC9485T-LMB will be available in Q1 with an MSRP of $299.99. Additional information about Magellan’s navigation products is available at www.magellangps.com.

About Magellan

Headquartered in Santa Clara, CA, MiTAC Digital Corporation, manufacturer of the Magellan (www.magellangps.com) brand of portable GPS navigation devices, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MiTAC International Corporation. Magellan, the industry leader for innovative GPS navigation devices since 1986, globally markets award-winning products in multiple categories including auto, RV, commercial, outdoor, fitness and mobile. Continuing its spirit of innovation, Magellan is developing new cloud-based technologies, wearables, OEM, and B-to-B solutions to meet the changing needs of today’s consumers.[/press]