SKOKIE, IL - Rand McNally's John McAvoy, director of engineering, was appointed to the Global Positioning System Technology and the Designated Truck Route System Task Force by John J. Cullerton, Illinois Senate President.

The task force has been appointed pursuant to Public Act 96-1370 to consider advances in and utilization of Global Positioning System technology (GPS) related to routing information for commercial vehicles.  The Task Force shall submit to the Governor and General Assembly a report of its findings and recommendations for legislative action necessary to accomplish one or more of the following goals: (1) improving public traffic safety, (2) preserving roadway infrastructure, (3) addressing advances in GPS technology relating to truck routing, and (4) producing an accurate statewide designated truck route system through effective enforcement of Section 15-116 of this Code. The report must be submitted no later than January 1, 2011.

The act that created the task force was sponsored by Senators Michael Frerichs and John O. Jones; Representatives Jay Hoffman, Lou Lang, Dan Beiser, William Black and Jack McGuire.

Consumer-grade or car GPS navigation may be inappropriate for commercial-sized vehicles. Such devices do not take into account road designations required for safe navigation by larger vehicles.