Truck GPS FAQ's

Have you Docked lately?

To receive all the latest software updates and construction information, and to send Tell

Rand messages, download the Rand McNally Dock and connect your TND^™ to your computer.

Charging and Updating

• How often should I check for updates?

  We recommend that you connect to the Dock every 30 days to receive RoadWork^™ construction and other updates.

• How can I see what version of software I have installed?

  You can check the software version on the device itself or on the Dock. On the device, select Preferences from the Home screen. Scroll down to About. The software version is written in the first line of text. Connect your device to the Dock to see the software version in the upper right.

• Can I use the computer to charge my device?

  Not recommended. The device requires a strong current in order to charge completely. While the USB port on your computer provides enough power to allow your computer to recognize the device, it does not provide enough power to charge the battery in a timely manner.

• Can I use any USB power cord to power the device?

  No, they are not universally compatible. There are a few different types of power supplies that produce varying amounts of amperage. Please use only power cords supplied by Rand McNally or you may damage your device.

• Where does the power cord plug in on my TND™ 720?

  On the back of the device. Remove the white sticker to uncover the power input.

• What is the SD card slot for? Can I load videos?

  The SD slot on your device is there in case it is needed for future data updates or technical support. Please do not insert any SD card unless instructed to do so by Rand McNally customer support. The SD slot does not enable loading videos or other content not provided by Rand McNally.

• Can I back up addresses on my TND™?

  Yes, you can back up addresses when you connect to the Dock. Click "Tools" and then "Back Up My Data."

• Can I transfer data from another brand of GPS to my TND™?

  Because each manufacturer uses their own proprietary data format, this data is not transferrable between different GPS brands.

TND™ Features

• How do I adjust truck settings and warnings?

• What are the preferences that I can customize on my device?

• How do I find truck stops and other points of interest (POIs) on my device?

• How do I use the Address Book?

• How do the Timers, Logs and Trails features work?

• What is the Tell Rand feature?

• What does the maintenance reminder alert mean?

  This alert is set in Truck Tools > Timers. Use this feature to remind you to check the oil, tires, or perform any other maintenance at the mileage you specify.

• What does the Hours of Service alert mean?

  To record or reset driving timers, tap Truck Tools > Timers. You can set alerts to notify you when you’re nearing the limit of your hours of service for the driving day, on-duty day, or on-duty week in Truck Tools > Warnings.

• How do I customize the icons displayed on the map?

  You can display icons on the map for standard POIs (such as restaurants and banks), truck POIs (such as truck stops and truck service locations), and Address Book locations. You can access each of these categories in the "Preferences" menu, under the "Map" tab, to turn icons on or off. Select which categories of standard POIs to view on the map using the filter feature.

  If you have loaded Custom Points of Interest to your device, you can manage those icons from the "Preferences" menu, under the "General" tab. Tap "Manage custom POIs" to edit the name, image, warning distance, warning type and at what map zoom level the icon will be visible.

• Why is the speed limit sometimes in an orange box and sometimes in a white box?

  Where there is a specific truck speed limit, that limit appears in orange. If there is no truck-specific limit, the standard car speed limit displays in white. In both cases, the current speed displays in red when your vehicle exceeds the speed limit, according to the preferences you set for speed limit warnings.

• Can I remove the legal warning screen?

  No, this screen displays when you turn on the device, in compliance with a legal requirement for GPS devices.

Routing

• I'm having trouble finding an address.

  To find an address, enter the name of the city/town first. Some cities with common names such as "Athens" have several types of names associated with a city. If a name does not display, continue typing characters until the name you are looking for displays, or tap "List" to display a longer list of city names. If a city name appears twice within a state, you may need to check both for your specific address.

  After city, enter the street name and the number of the address. If the next letter in the street name can not be selected on the keyboard, tap "Expand Search" to search a greater area. The Expand Search button can also help locate addresses that may actually be in a different town, spelled slightly differently, or in a neighboring town.

  If you're entering a State or County Route, it's typically best to first either enter the State or County initials (for example, State Road 535 would be entered as "SR") but you may also need to try other options, such as "State Road" or "CA" for California, for example.

  You can also search by postal code, city center, intersection, or latitude/longitude.

• How do I enter an address by latitude/longitude?

  Tap Choose Destination > New Location > Enter Lat/Long. Tap each field and enter the coordinates. There are two ways to enter latitude/longitude: by decimal degrees or by degrees, minutes, and seconds. Tap "Go."

• How can I view the directions for my route?

  Look for the on the right hand side of the screen. Tap it to slide out the turn-by-turn directions. Use the arrows on the bottom to scroll up and scroll down through the route steps. Simply tap the slide-out button again to hide the instructions.

  You can also tap "route display options" to view only the highways and major roads, or to choose a map view of the entire route, with the total time and distance. The trip summary view shows each leg of a multi-stop trip.

• How do I program and view a multi-stop trip?

• How do I calculate a detour from my route?

  At any time while you're navigating a route, you can tap the cog button in the lower left hand corner to detour or cancel a route. Tap Detour and select the number of miles on the route to be avoided on the left side, or select a particular road to be avoided on the right side.

  You can also detour from the turn-by-turn directions list on the right side of the map screen. Tap any road name or maneuver to detour around it.

• How do I view road construction?

  Road construction information is available after a route has been calculated. Tap the turn-by-turn direction slideout to see whether there is construction along any particular road or at any maneuver in the route.

• Why does it take me on a certain route when I know there is a better one?

  There are many factors that are taken into consideration when calculating a route. That’s why it's important to specify your truck settings accurately in the Truck Info menu. Verify that all the settings are correct and within the legal limits for the route in question. If you have a specific routing suggestion, please notify us through Tell Rand on your device, and send the comment the next time you connect to the Dock on your computer.

• The address number I entered is really down the road from where the device says it is. Why?

  Address numbers are determined by an algorithm, based on the numbers at the beginning and end of the block. This typically produces accurate results, except in cases where the number is inconsistent. It may be easier to enter these locations by latitude and longitude (see above).

• Can I enter my own route into the device?

  The device determines the route to your destination, but you can alter that route by detouring (see above) or adding a via point. To add a via point between your origin and destination, select the location by tapping on the map and then tapping the "Add as Via" button. Or enter the location under "Choose Destination." On the confirmation screen, tap "Add as Via."

• I received the following error: No truck-legal route could be found for this truck configuration.

  You have received this warning because one or more of the truck settings for your vehicle is restricted from the available routes. There is either a hazmat, weight, height, or trailer restriction preventing the device from completing a route to the destination. Try adjusting the truck settings and attempting the route again. As always, be sure to pay attention to all road signs and restrictions.