ALK Technologies has released CoPilot Truck 2003, the second generation of the company’s laptop-based GPS system for owner-operators, leased-operators, and company drivers.

Designed to reduce out-of-route miles, CoPilot Truck combines the truck routing, mileage, and mapping capabilities of ALK’s popular PC*Miler software with in-vehicle GPS navigation. At the centre of the upgrade is an expansive overhaul to the street-level routing database, adding 14 million street addresses and 100,000 new streets in the United States.

ALK says drivers enter a street address, intersection, or truckstop as a destination and receive turn-by-turn, spoken directions based on the routing type selected. Using GPS, CoPilot Truck recalculates the route within seconds if the driver misses a turn or goes out-of-route for any reason. A “detour” feature lets drivers route around traffic or construction immediately, and lane-change warnings can alert the driver if an upcoming exit requires being in the left lane. Drivers can trip-plan using the most practical or shortest routes, or routes on major highways, roads where 53-foot trailers are allowed, or routes that avoid tolls.

ALK is selling CoPilot Truck online at www.CoPilotTruck.com. The price is $449 US.