Hammer: Truck GPS & Maps Reviews

by Xarasdaddy

Downloaded Hammer two different times. First time when it came out, second time just recently. First time, app wouldn’t follow my location, so I had to keep refreshing the map to show my location. Waited a couple days, played with the settings longer, still couldn’t get Hammer to follow my location.
Had same issue when I downloaded it the second time. Messaged the customer support in app and the tech feedback in the help page. Did not get a response in either.
App was a good idea for give rough estimates on drive times to my supervisor for trip planning, but couldn’t keep it if that was the only reason to have it. I can google the route and add a couple hours.
I may download it a third time later, but there are other options to try first.

by _.kvng.b_

I use to love Hammer!!! Now all a sudden updates were made and Hammer crashes. It went from never crashing not one time to now as soon as I click start route boom it crashes. And if I get it up in running it’ll crash mid route. So now I have to pull over with my 4 ways and find out where to go . Use to be reliable but now it’s unreliable !! Get it together I drive a 18 wheeler with a 53 foot trailer can’t go down certain roads and Hammer lets me know those roads. Another thing if I miss a turn , REROUTE!!! Don’t make me make a impossible U turn or put me in no truck route residential just to get me back on the route. There’s other ways ! Plz fix these problems

by $6hf&n

I haul exclusively OS/OW, and Hammer is perfect… when it works. Let’s review based on it working, and hopefully it will work again. You can save routes and easily alter the routes as your permit changes. The unlimited stops and ability to save your route makes multi day trips a breeze. Just take the time to build your route and you know you are good. If your iPad updates or needs to restart, just reload your saved route. Some of my longer trips have 20 or more route points and Hammer handled them easily. When works, it is a 5 star app.

Right now it does not work at all. It actually crashes so hard I need to do a soft reset to get my iPad to function. This is particularly frustrating, as my ELD is through my iPad as well. I have tried to use it in portrait and landscape mode. With and without extra stops (no added points renders it useless to me). And I have uninstalled and reinstalled it multiple times. All to no avail. I hope it works again some day, but I can not continue to try to test an app that crashes my whole system.

by Csmart Hater

Helps to avoid non truck routes but better have google maps on as well , this thing will display a huge sign telling you to exit but will display a huge box right on top of the exit and covering your map to see where you going not to mention it needs contant data or it would go crazy and freeze oh and sometimes you driving south then you exit to eat when it’s time to get on the highway it tells you to get north so u have to reset it and itllgo back to hammering and to top it off today no matter what address you put in it it just sayng thar “couldn’t find a route for your destination “ no matter where i go all day it’s been like that soooo definitely not reliable

by JV Virginia

Easy to use good app good features but can’t trust it to keep you on a good route more than once so if you get a good one save it immediately.

Get rid of carpool lane recommendations because ...never in a truck.

Please look into making it possible to adjust the recommended routes by dragging your route line. (used to be able to do on Mapquest) this would be more helpful than any other upgrade.

Most times a good route but rarely will it give you a great route. When it does you’ll close Hammer to take care of something before you go, then and open it, input the same destination and bam you’re route is completely changed. Now the shortest route option is 30-70miles longer than the previous route provided and we added some fun skills challenges at the end like a u-turn on a 2 lane rd. or some sight seeing through a small town before we run you back onto the same hwy you just got off of and have you take the next exit.

Good luck trying to adjust your trip after the recommendation is given. Hammer is stubborn.

It’s like oh you liked that route did you well how about we don’t go that way again. ever.

Please add the hwy exit numbers to the standard rd name description during the route instead of waiting until you get too close to the exit to take your eyes off traffic.

Please make the roadway tags a little larger they stay way too small and don’t enlarge no matter how much you zoom in.

Good app will keep using.

by Zeusman4u

Thank you developers! Finally what I was looking for.
Better than my garmin dezl. Use it in conjunction with my Dezl just in case but so far works very well. Word of caution tho, don’t entirely trust for low bridges. My Garmin Dezl and Hammer sends me towards a low bridge near me as well unfortunately. Better routings and finds businesses by names. Satellite view and the ability to manually set entrance pinpoints. So far, so good.
Edit: Sorry to say I had to take a star away due to that it at times wants me to reroute down small residential neighborhoods. My garmin rerouted in a safe manner.
I think this app gps has a ton of potential but maybe just updates will help.

by Dababster

I use this sparingly and typically for short runs to confirm a truck friendly route. This GPS app repeatedly gives routes that are longer and less efficient then other truck friendly routes I can find. As an example a North to south run from Wahpeton, ND to Greenville TX. The this app app only gives one option that is 1101 miles long 17+ hrs. I can travel this run in just over 16 hrs and spend more time on truck friendly state highways and interstates running 1,063 miles. In routes running West to East along I-80 the this app app always wants me to get off I-80, get on Indiana state hwy 30, then travel back North to get on I-80 again. Time consuming and inefficient.

by Preacher X

I love the trip time accuracy and the routing. Both are phenomenal for any gps, much less a free one. However, turn-by-turn audio alerts and directions leave a lot to be desired. Directions lack clear display or exit numbers and target interstates, which is common to almost all current gps. Vocal cues also lack clear identification of what exit to take and which road is the target. This is all well and good for rural areas but intense interchanges can be problematic and require a glance down to see where to go…maybe. This is a safety concern under those conditions and represents the only real gripe I have with the whole application.

by Russrob84

Hammer will keep you from going the wrong way such as saying you cannot fit a trailer over 50 through certain mountain rodes, many other apps say “ good to go” but not this one. Says “cannot find safe route” or something like that. No other app does that that I have seen. Thank for the free live saving app!! Only rated 4 stars because for some towards beginning and end of route always has you do a drive through a neighborhood to “turn around” when you could just make a right or left at the stop light at the main intersection with plenty of room.

by RonB 523

I’ve been using Hammer for a few months now when I’m going somewhere off the beaten path. It has proven to be very helpful and more times than not it gets me right to my destination. It’s my preferred trucker gps app to use thus far out of the few others I’ve tried. I do notice that sometimes it tells me to take the cars ramp on the NJ turnpike rather than the one designated for trucks but that happens rarely. So as long as you know better as the driver you should be ok...I’m really looking forward to landscape mode as others have already mentioned, that will be a big improvement! Also another more soothing option for the voice would be great too, it does sound very robotic. But overall it’s a great free tool to have as a truck driver and I’m trusting it will continue to get even better as time goes on. Thanks!

by Fatflopper

It would be very helpful if exit numbers were included on the upcoming actions written at the top. As well as direction highway is running. For example. It may show that in 5 miles you need to take exit on the right for i35, but what if both exits are on the right? It should read “in 5 miles take exit 15a for i35 south. It currently, only gives you the exit number and direction verbally with only a few seconds notice. I’ve taken the wrong exit a few times in the Dallas area. Not a place to make mistakes in a big truck.

by Neek182

I like Hammer a lot. I wanted to get something to compare routes with my old Rand Mcnally because it’s not the most reliable. Hammer tells me whether or not my other GPS is trying to take me off the highway unnecessarily. The interface is easy to use, and I really appreciate it being completely free. If I had to say, this GPS has about 90% accuracy. I don’t recommend this being your only truck navigation. But between this, google maps, my Rand Mcnally, and my 3 years trucking experience and knowing which roads are safe to go down, it’s very useful. Wouldn’t recommend for beginners to solely use this. But I really do appreciate the free tool that’s generally safe to rely on. Thank you so much!

by Q-BANO

This is a must have if u drive anything that’s big n heavy Even some of you who pull your boats might want to give it a shot. I drive a quad Dumptruck n sometime a hot shot with a forty five foot trailer. I delivery ship containers. And most of them are purchase by home owners who use them for storage n the back of there homes they live on small road that are not suitable for big vehicles. Hammer has save me from getting into a jam a few times. Like not being able to turn around because the neighborhood are to small. It tells you things like that as well as keeping you on a truck route.

by Byan9812&

I drive for a Limousine Service and I’ve been waiting for a free navigation app where you can put the dimensions of your vehicle you’re driving. Some days I drive a 56 passenger motorcoach some days I drive a 43 passenger Freightliner. I’ve been caught in situations where other GPS’s have taken me to a bridge where there is clearance height issues. this app will navigate you around that and give you the best route for the type of vehicle that you’re driving, not just truckers but other professional drivers as well.

by Андтрей

Finally someone did truck route planner gps for truckers. Thank U so much, it helps a lot. It would be nice if U could make it like in the inRoute, if I don't use gps then i can just look in to maps and the arrow will be always in centered. For example: i put several points i did a route but I don’t want to use gps i just want to look from the top which U don’t have that option. If You’ll have time plz look at the inRoute app to see what I’m talking about. I’ve been using Hammer for 5 years really good app.

by FNUIRCY

So I’ve jumped back in the drivers seat and stumbled upon Hammer. It’s great in so many ways but wish there was a way to adjust the max speed I drive as it’s like any other gps app I use that bases everything off the posted speed. So having an ETA would be closer to what’s shown in the screen. Also like Waze or google maps for instance you can mark to police if you see any or even mark construction or slowdown, etc... but you can’t on Hammer but wish you could. Maybe it’s in the works. Overall still a great app

by Chea & Boog

This is my go-to app. It’s accurate 99% most of the time. Rarely, it’ll have me get off a highway exit only to get back in the highway, but this has happened to me with all the GPS’s I’ve tried. They’ve also updates how & how many truck stops/diesel stations show on the map. All this isn’t bad for a free app that I can use on my iPhone and tablet. I also really like the variety of route options given to a destination.

Complaints:
1) I wish this would alert me to weigh stations (opened/closed) on my route.

by Jallaudin

Started driving big rigs over the road recently and Hammer was recommended by a dear friend which came in real handy. Been experiencing some issue lately as in Hammer unfortunately crashes once it’s set to a specific route and you look for travel centers through the route itself. It’s been over two days I’m experiencing this issue hope the developer fixes the issue so Hammer can get 5 star rating from me and many others.

by Ezragberg

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” Is all I can say. Finally Hammer I wished for , I am all over the place and heavily rely on nav, “the eye in the sky” is what I call em’. I drove rideshare for many years and trust me there is nothing more important then having a good navigation, with all the road closures and parades and craziness in NYC you just can’t take chances… working now with all different types of heavy and tall box trucks… it can be a real hard time avoiding “car only roads”….”clearance” and so much more. Without this app I would be lost, pun intended. Seriously, love Hammer, helps me more then you can imagine, INSANELY cool features… when Hammer is running I feel part of a “kind and helping” community. Thanks this app!!

by PatrickFconn

Stumbled across Hammer and found it to be a solid, well designed and functional item. I usually use Google maps and recently purchased a Garmin truck GPS.... However if you're without an aftermarket truck GPS or aren't using GPS 14 hours a day daily, this IS the BEST substitute going. Set truck, trailer length and weight as well as number of trailers and freight / hazmat, height permits etc etc. Satellite view, optional 3d and live traffic... It's an excellent back up and calculates sensible safe routes

🇺🇸🇺🇸👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸

by Davidbrv

I wish you can change the icon like for a semi truck or a car, be nice if you show the weather on your location and have the option to take pictures at the end or your destination like business,truck stops and more but is ok for a free app good job guys

by Smileyme2

So far, this seems to be the best phone navigation app I’ve found. It’s not always correct and right now it’s saying “Route cannot be calculated. Check route options.”
Never rely completely on any GPS.

Rick

by Don't Update This App

I have been using Hammer for two weeks now and love it and its use of 3 different routes you can choose from when you put your destination in has not steered me wrong yet love it great app

by FuerzaNegra

Been using this in beta for a month now. Honestly at first it needed a bunch of tweaking and now it’s almost perfect. If you are an OTR driver Hammer is for you.