Published: May 17, 2008 08:58 pm         

Local truck rental firm goes high-tech with GPS navigation

Blair Businesses owner Paul Blair says moving can be a stressful and emotional time for many people. The last thing you want is to get lost or run out of gas because you don’t know where gas stations are located.

“Reaching the destination should be easy and worry free,” said Blair, who operates Budget Truck Rental at his location at 421 Ragland Road in Beckley.

Blair says Budget has gone high-tech and has become the first truck rental company in the nation to offer Global Positioning System navigation.

“We’re very excited to be the first consumer truck rental company to bring GPS devices,” he said. “This will make moving that much easier.”

The GPS device, “where2,” is fully portable and can be used in any Budget truck, according to Blair.

“It’s available with any type of rental, including one-way, local and commercial rentals,” he said.

The device offers points of interest, such as ATM locations, hotels and motels, as well as restaurant and gas station locations.

“It’s a simple user interface with three-dimensional maps, audible turn-by-turn directions that are spoken in multiple languages and Bluetooth hands-free calling capability,” said Blair. “It’s a pretty awesome device.”

The device, built by Garmin, a leader in GPS technology, provides service superior to other GPS units in the industry today, Blair says.

“It has a tutorial for customers, MP3 player capability and much more,” he said.

Blair says husbands no longer have to argue with their wives about stopping and asking for directions.

“You instantly become a navigation expert with the GPS device,” he said.

Quantities of Budget Truck Rental where2 GPS units are limited, Blair added.

“People seem to really like them and the cost is very affordable,” he said.

The GPS device can be rented for $11.95 per day or $59.75 per week, according to Blair.

Blair adds that customers paying with cash cannot rent the device.

“It must be purchased with a debit or credit card,” he said.

The device is also not covered under any damage waiver or insurance product sold by Budget Truck Rental.

“The customer is responsible for the unit,” Blair said.

The device also comes with a power charger for the truck, window suction cup for windshield attachment, a customer warning tag connected to the power charger cord, a carry case and a user guide with an internal tutorial.

“This device just makes moving easier and more manageable,” Blair said.

For more information or to make a reservation, call the Beckley location at 252-9219.

Additional information can be found online at budgettruck.com or by calling 1-800-GO-BUDGET.

— E-mail: fpace@register-herald.com