What phone apps do you use -- or are asked to use -- for this business?

Good Day,

I'm curious to hear from drivers what phone apps (with or without additional hardware) they use on a regular basis to assist them in their day-to-day business. Things like mapping, tracking, etc. Names of the apps too please.

Thanks.

 

google maps [for satelite&topo]
Truckerpath [for STAA routes and stops]
DAT [for loads]
Toll guru [for tolls]
FlyingJ app [for roller dogs]

I use the phones voice recorder app for quick verbal notes. And have bookmarked a few broker collections companies for checking on unknown brokers before signing ratecon.

 

Google Maps
Google Earth
Radar Express.
Pilot/Flying J
Find truck service
Truckerspath
Uber

 

Nothing.

IF the company cannot stand to do it the old paper and pencil way then we are not with that company. We make copies using a small scanner printer off it's own inverter and our paper. All of that goes in the courier system or US Mail to the HQ of company so we can be paid.

I own a smart phone which recently got replaced. And its mine. The data expenses belong to me as well. What that phone does or does not do is mine, away from work apps. They are just again going to have to do it he old fashioned way over the phone and satellite comms. Anything else is technological BS that has many flaws and unnecessary.

 

Trucker Path is terrible as a truck GPS. I don’t know why they charge for a service that is still under-development. The only legit and smartest truck GPS I’ve used was Telogis NaviGo in a Omnitracs/Qualcomm device. There is certainly potential in Trucker Path navigation, but I’d give them 2 years before I give them a dime.

If you have an iPhone, you can tell Siri, “Create a note.” Then Siri will ask, “What would you like the note to say?” The notes will be saved automatically to the Notes app.

 

Googlemaps app is hands down the best for current traffic. It's hard to believe people still use gps that doesn't have live traffic. Tracking apps: Macropoint, Project44, Four kites. Truckstop apps: Cat scale, Pilot/FlyingJ Loadboard app: DAT

 

If you use CAT scales regularly, download the CAT scale app to find all of their locations. Other apps, including Trucker Path, have old or inaccurate information about CAT scales. There is also Weigh My Truck app (by CAT scale), so you can pay for your scale ticket right from your phone. No more having to run into the truck stop and pay for it.

By the way, I now have truck air scales installed on my truck and trailer, so I don’t need to use scales as much anymore. There are some threads in this site and YouTube videos showing people how to install a generic air scale.

All Stays Truck & Travel app used to be the best trucker app years ago. Sometimes I use it when I’m struggling to find truck parking or truck washes for a washout.

The Weather Channel app comes in handy when determining the best truck route. This is especially true during winter. I’d rather drive 100 miles extra and make on time delivery than drive through some routes known for bad winter road conditions and even road closures like on I-80 in WY or I-84 in OR.

GasBuddy app is good for checking current fuel prices. I don’t use it much as I have NASTC. Every once in a while I want to check the fuel price on a truck stop that gives a 5 cent discount, but does not state the actual fuel price.

 

For me trucker path is about finding truckstops, walmarts and on occasion checking scale status. They do have current diesel prices on it too.

What trucker path does best is help me with a live reroute. I see stopped traffic ahead, i glance down.. Big red line on the map.. Okay does this ramp go to a state route thatll bypass the mess? Okay, im jumpin off. Just did it around the east side of asheville when 26 to 40 was plugged solid an hour ago.

What i cant stand about google maps on my droid is it tries to tell me what it wants to do instead of the other way around. It wont hold still. It takes finger pinching to zoom in or out. It tries to show me a dashboard sort of view when i want a birdseye, and after years, it still thinks today just might be the day that im looking for food, fun or trinkets which takes up a chunk of the screen.

Trucker path is like "i know you only have one hand, need me to let you do the thinking, and only care about roads and traffic. Here are my plus, minus and locate buttons right here where your only available digit can work them. I love the layout. Its just a tad slow loading.

 

Trucker Path fuel prices are so inaccurate or outdated that they should just remove them. They need to add a date and time when the fuel price was updated. This is what GasBuddy does.

I haven’t used Trucker Path as a navigation, so I can’t say much, but I currently use Google maps as a navigation, and I’m satisfied with its traffic alerts. You can be driving, and it will alert you of traffic congestions hours ahead, and it will also keep you posted on the status. Then if necessary, it will give you a new route that you can reject in 10 seconds or so. On my phone, every time Google suggests a reroute to save time, it will show me a bigger view of the map. It helps to know the area to know whether to follow the new route or keep the original one. Otherwise, a stop will be necessary.

The slow loading has to do with your cellular network. Trucker path runs fine on my end.

 

Youre probably right on that my $35/mo tracphone service has its limitations. I never punch in addresses for trucker path, just eyeball the map. Google will try its hardest to drive me off a cliff if im near one. But the voice commands and multistop mileage calculations are great for figuring rates and paper log miles.