Do you need a cell phone?

its beancounting. It's where you get more concerned with saving money than making money. Everyone knows the more efficiently you the driver communicate with shippers and receivers, the more efficient you will be with your time. More time, more money.

 

You should have a cell for emergencies.I bet 99.9% of the members here carry a cell.If you send a message to your dispatcher you have a brk down or whatever.it could be hrs before you here back .

 

You never know when a cell phone, or a CB will save your butt. Better to have one and not need it than to need one and not have it.

 

Years ago we got along fine without all the technology we have now. Freight /food/fuel/medicine/building materials etc still got delivered. But , in today's world it seems we have become really dependent on that technology to live our lives.....Handy and convenient cell phones are that...had my own and a company cell too while I was working. They are becoming necessary in short order too ...for the simple reason that the old pay phone grid has all but disappeared. Communication is the most important facet in our world today. To the OP....keep your phone....there will be a time when it will become invaluable to you. Better to have it and never need it...til the times comes that it could save your life......or someone else. That's a really small price to pay too.

 

Ditto on what has been said here. A phone today is priceless. If you are looking at saving money right now, look at your road expenses. Meals, junk food, drinks etc. These are things you can control the cost of by being a smart shopper. Prepare meals at home and freeze them. Dollar stores, Walmart are way cheaper than the truck stop rip off. If you are a O/O the fastest way to save IMO is to slow down. Just 2 MPH can mean hundreds of dollars a month. Using top quality products will save you in the long run, don't buy cheap crap parts or products and expect them to last.

 

Heck a smart phone can be a good life saver on top of it. Theirs tons of trucking apps out there that are pretty dang useful. On TAs app, you can reserve your showers through it and it lets you know when your shower is ready as opposed to waiting inside.

Not to mention theirs plenty of truck stop apps, cat scale apps, and even truck wash apps. Can make things a lot easier then God forbid having to talk to someone. *shudder*

 

Cell phone are not required, but they are a nice thing to have to keep in touch with family and friends

 

get a straight talk phone just get one that run on the Verizon network find one where the map is red and it is on Verizon the most you would pay is 45 a month and u get unlimited everything

 

Tax deduction for company drivers depends on how much you use it strictly for business. I know we all take the deduction, but if you get audited you have to prove it.

 

OnStar is cell based service. I don't think OnStar would be too handy for class 8's. OnStar used to use Verizon towers