LOUISVILLE  --  At last week's Mid-America Trucking Show, Rand McNally unveiled its new IntelliRoute TND 520 connected GPS device for professional drivers. The new 5-inch device includes Wi-Fi connectivity that enables a number of new real-time data services, most of which will be standard on the device without any subscription fee.

The new generation device, which includes a new ruggedized case, Lifetime Maps, and a host of new features, will be available for sale starting in May.

Premium and standard connected services enabled for the TND 520 include:

  • Traffic Everywhere:  Traffic Everywhere helps avoid costly delays with real-time and predictive analytics for the road ahead and will show what to expect before key junctions. Powered by Inrix, Traffic Everywhere offers complete coverage beyond major metro areas across highways,  interstates and local roads as well as major truck routes in rural areas. Traffic Everywhere is a premium service that will be available for purchase.
  • Weather updates:  Current and forecasted weather information, including storms and wind speeds, are displayed along the route. This service is on device, no subscription cost.
  • Fuel prices: Powered by gasbuddy.com, this feature provides up-to-date fuel prices in real time along a route and nearby. Includes diesel and gas. In addition, fuel prices and fuel stop icons can be shown on a map and in list format, viewable by brand, price, or distance to location. This service is on device, no subscription cost.
  • Local search:  This feature expands the ability to find points of interest on the device, using a free-form keyword search, such as "burgers" to find locations. The user also may search by a category or a business name, and the TND 520 will display a description, address, and phone number for locations. This service is on device, no subscription cost.

In addition to connected capabilities, the TND 520 is built with software featuring:

  • Updated maps and routing - Includes an updated road network with truck navigation incorporating legal and physical restrictions including axle-count support, plus page-and-grid references to Rand McNally's 2014 Motor Carriers' Road Atlas.
  • Compare Routes - Provides a primary route and a reasonable alternate, allowing the driver to choose. Both routes are presented on a map for a quick review.
  • Team Driver Timers - Allows for a second set of driver timers to be maintained on the device.
  • Address Book transfers - Enables the download of an address book from another device or PC; the user may select to "merge" or "overwrite" existing addresses on the device.
  • Fuel economy tracking - Enhanced fuel logs provide current and average mpg calculation for a route, and can be viewed by month and by quarter.

Rand McNally also announced that the updated software available on the TND 520 will be available to current owners of the TND 720 devices via the Rand McNally Dock as early as May.