LOUISVILLE, Ky. — ALK Technologies was on-hand at the Mid-America Truck Show, to demonstrate its new CoPilot truck tracking system.

The CoPilot system combines the company’s PC*Miler mileage and mapping capabilities with award-winning in-cab GPS navigation and route guidance technology. The system supports voice-spoken commands that will provide detailed directions and guidance.

A driver safety screen also enables truckers to avoid distractions while seeking guidance, and a pre-trip planning feature enables drivers to preview routes before hitting the road.

Over the road truckers will be able to plan routes with as many as 50 stops and can recalculate routes within seconds of missing a turn or straying from the planned route. The system also provides information about bridge height restrictions and tolls, which can save the driver money in the long run.

Craig Fiander, marketing director for ALK Technologies, says the CoPilot can help owner/operators maximize their productivity.

“It’s definitely going to reduce your empty mileage and your out of route mileage,” says Fiander. “It improves your efficiency and productivity.”

The Co-Pilot is laptop-compatible, and another system is being finalized that allows the CoPilot to work with the handheld Qualcomm MVPc.

Although the PC*Miler software used by the CoPilot offers incredibly-detailed street-level mapping, that isn’t the case north of the 49th parallel just yet. The system still works in Canada, but the street-level details isn’t yet up to the same level as it is south of the border, says Fiander.

“We have people that travel into Canada and we will track you but we cannot offer street-level details in Canada,” says Fiander. “But it’s good for Canadian drivers not familiar with the U.S. The dispatcher’s directions sometimes just don’t cut it.”

The 15 voice prompts recognized by the CoPilot range from ‘Where am I?’ to ‘Next turn?’ and ‘How far?’

Fiander says the system will recognize any voice, so any driver can hop into the cab and immediately begin receiving voice directions to their next destination.