5 Real-World Truck Routing Challenges Solved with HERE Routing API v8
Truck routing is more than just “navigation for bigger vehicles”. It’s a complex system of regulations, constraints, and real-world challenges that impact everything from delivery times to driver safety. Weight restrictions, low bridges, border regulations, and access limitations all come into play—often changing from one route to the next. That’s where HERE Truck Routing comes in. By factoring in truck-specific attributes like vehicle size, cargo type, road restrictions, and even local laws, it ensures that drivers get more than just a route—they get the right route. In this blog, we’ll explore 5 real-world truck routing use cases, complete with sample API requests, to show how HERE Routing API v8 helps fleets move smarter, safer, and more efficiently.
1. Access and weight restrictions at border crossings
Some countries have restrictions on weight limit at border crossing. Depending on the weight carried by the truck, it might be okay to pass through that border or take an alternate route.
Example API Request (HERE Routing v8):
Car:
https://router.hereapi.com/v8/routes?
origin=49.118422,18.016446&
destination=49.052114,18.265899&
return=polyline,summary,actions,instructions
&transportMode=car
&departureTime=any
&apiKey=DEFAULT_API_KEY
Truck with 7 ton weight:
https://router.hereapi.com/v8/routes?
origin=49.118422,18.016446&
destination=49.052114,18.265899&
return=polyline,summary,actions,instructions&
transportMode=truck&v
ehicle[grossWeight]=7000&
departureTime=any&
apiKey=DEFAULT_API_KEY
Truck with 18 ton weight:
https://router.hereapi.com/v8/routes?origin=49.118422,18.016446&
destination=49.052114,18.265899&
return=polyline,summary,actions,instructions&
transportMode=truck&
departureTime=any&
truck[grossweight]=18000&
apiKey=DEFAULT_API_KEY
2. Crossing a heavily restricted city - Budapest:
The fastest route is through the city, which a passenger car can take without any restrictions. Budapest has strict weight restrictions so a 40-ton truck needs to go around the city.
Car:
https://router.hereapi.com/v8/routes?
origin=47.497908,18.803432&
destination=47.641169,19.508508&
return=polyline,summary,actions,instructions&
spans=notices&
transportMode=car&
departureTime=any&
apiKey=DEFAULT_API_KEY
Truck without parameters:
https://router.hereapi.com/v8/routes?
origin=47.497908,18.803432&
destination=47.641169,19.508508&
return=polyline,summary,actions,instructions&
spans=notices&
transportMode=truck&
departureTime=any&
apiKey=DEFAULT_API_KEY
Truck with 40 ton weight:
https://router.hereapi.com/v8/routes?
origin=47.497908,18.803432&
destination=47.641178,19.508493&
return=polyline,summary,actions,instructions&
spans=notices&
transportMode=truck&
departureTime=any&
truck[grossweight]=40000&
apiKey=DEFAULT_API_KEY
3. Explosives and flammables forbidden in the city
The fastest route through the city is restricted for vehicles carrying explosive or flammable cargo. Therefore a car or a truck with poisonous cargo can take that route, and a truck carrying explosives or flammables must go around.
Car:
https://router.hereapi.com/v8/routes?
origin=52.320497,20.914124&
destination=52.120768,21.099786&
return=polyline,summary,actions,instructions&
transportMode=car&
departureTime=any&
apiKey=DEFAULT_API_KEY
Truck with poison:
https://router.hereapi.com/v8/routes?
origin=52.320497,20.914124&
destination=52.120768,21.099786&
return=polyline,summary,actions,instructions&
transportMode=truck&
vehicle[shippedHazardousGoods]=poison&
departureTime=any&
apiKey=DEFAULT_API_KEY
Truck with explosives:
https://router.hereapi.com/v8/routes?
origin=52.320497,20.914124&
destination=52.120768,21.099786&
return=polyline,summary,actions,instructions&
transportMode=truck&
vehicle[shippedHazardousGoods]=explosive&
departureTime=any&
apiKey=DEFAULT_API_KEY
Truck with flammables:
https://router.hereapi.com/v8/routes?
origin=52.320497,20.914124&
destination=52.120768,21.099786&
return=polyline,summary,actions,instructions&
transportMode=truck&
vehicle[shippedHazardousGoods]=flammable&
departureTime=any&
apiKey=DEFAULT_API_KEY
4. All types of hazardous materials restricted around a lake
As transporting any hazardous materials is restricted on the road bordering the lake, a truck with any type of hazmat needs to take a detour.
Truck without hazmat:
https://router.hereapi.com/v8/routes?
origin=52.166809,13.494562&
destination=52.112235,13.672403&
return=polyline,summary,actions,instructions&
transportMode=truck&
departureTime=any&
apiKey=DEFAULT_API_KEY
Truck with radioactive cargo:
https://router.hereapi.com/v8/routes?
origin=52.166809,13.494562&
destination=52.112235,13.672403&
return=polyline,summary,actions,instructions&
transportMode=truck&
vehicle[shippedHazardousGoods]=radioactive&
departureTime=any&
apiKey=DEFAULT_API_KEY
5. Height restriction under a railway track
The fastest route includes going under a train line, where the tunnel height is 3.5m. If a truck is taller than 3.5m, it needs to take a detour via another railway crossing.
Truck 3.5m height:
https://router.hereapi.com/v8/routes?
origin=51.088716,17.045455&
destination=51.130037,17.078791&
return=polyline,summary,actions,instructions&
spans=notices&
transportMode=truck&
vehicle[height]=350&
departureTime=any&
apiKey=DEFAULT_API_KEY
Truck 4m height:
https://router.hereapi.com/v8/routes?
origin=51.088716,17.045455&
destination=51.130037,17.078791&
return=polyline,summary,actions,instructions&
spans=notices&
transportMode=truck&
departureTime=any&
truck[height]=400&
apiKey=DEFAULT_API_KEY
Conclusion
These are just a few of the extra challenges truck drivers face compared to passenger cars. With HERE Truck Routing, you get routes that are legal, safe, and optimized for your vehicle—helping you avoid surprises and stay on schedule.
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