Rand McNally announced it has unveiled a new, in-cab tablet with enhanced navigation and advanced features for professional drivers.
Engineered with driver input, the company says the TND Tablet 1050 features four key items necessary for professional truck drivers:
- Superior Navigation: New, upgraded Rand Navigation with 33 percent more truck-specific road data than other GPS providers
- Large Format: High-definition 10-in. screen with enhanced mapping and graphics for ease of use
- Professional-Grade Strength: Includes a removable tablet guard, a heavy-duty Corning Gorilla Glass screen and three strong mounting options
- Enhanced Trucker Tools: Such as an upgraded camera for driver and vehicle inspection reports and receipt tracking
Built from the ground up for truckers — not repurposed from small vehicle devices — Rand McNally’s TND Tablet 1050 has endured hours of input and over-the-road testing with long-haul drivers. The 1050 is the most solid, driver-designed TND Rand McNally has launched since creating the truck navigation device category in 2009, the company says.
“In spending time and communicating with thousands of drivers, we heard loud and clear what is most valuable to professional drivers,” says Ivan Sheldon, Rand McNally vice president of product management.
“Feature overload is not helpful. Instead, drivers want more accurate mapping and navigation, easier-to-see screens, louder voice guidance and a more durable device that lessens the risk of breakage if dropped,” Sheldon says. “Those were our top goals in creating the TND Tablet 1050.”
Best-in-Class navigation
At the heart of the device is new, upgraded navigation built by Rand McNally, whose Geographic Information System (GIS) engineers update and supplement the mapping on a year-round basis maintaining hundreds of attributes on its network.
While other GPS providers use standard base mapping, Rand McNally delivers at least 33 percent more truck-specific road data. That means Rand McNally’s navigation is more accurate, helping to ensure drivers won’t get routed unnecessarily due to misinterpreted road signs or a lack of weight-restricted routes.
Compared with other market-leading products, Rand McNally’s navigation includes thousands more low bridges, 28,000 more miles of weight-restricted roads and 15,000 more miles of truck-prohibited roads, the company says.
Built for professionals
The large-format device is trucking tough: Not only is the screen made of Corning Gorilla Glass, which is eight times stronger than conventional glass and four times more resistant to scratches, the TND Tablet 1050 comes with a sturdy case or guard designed to protect. Evaluated to exceed drop-test standards, the guard has reinforced corners and is made of industrial-grade material.
The new device also includes an upgraded camera, with a high-performance image sensor. Whether used to supplement reports or track receipts, the camera makes it simple to record and save on the same device.
Ongoing investment
The TND Tablet 1050 is the latest trucking solution from Rand McNally, which, along with its owner TELEO Capital, has spent the last year significantly increasing its investment in best-in-class solutions for the transportation market. With TELEO Capital backing, the company is working to build and strengthen its customer support function, implement new and more efficient internal systems and bring on board additional talent, the company says.
