Logbook Software

Has anyone used logbook software? The one I came across looks pretty slick.


Don

 

I like DDL, Driver Daily Log, it's nice and easy program. Can be as easy or as complex as you need.

Mark

 

And, that would be ......

 

Ya check out DDL. I will never go back to paper logs.

 

FYI

We tested several over the years (DDL, TruckersHelper, ProMiles) and settled on this one for simplicity and price: http://www.dieselboss.com/software/eclipse_logbook.htm

It does not do accounting or load management or those extras that some versions of the DDL do and so forth. But it's been extremely easy and rock-solid as far as an HOS log program and most of the DOT people are either familiar with it, or actually using it themselves to audit your logs. Free to download and use for the first month too, so there's no mystery as to how it works for you before having to buy.

 

I have tried out several "LogBook" programs over the past dozen years (or so), I might have even tried "Eclipse" as well.

I couldn't specifically remember "trying" it, so I downloaded and "tried" it.
I immediately noticed a couple things:
First; You say "Eclipse" is "extremely easy" and rock solid. While this may be true, the file size for DDL was 3.1MB (for ALL of it's functions) while the filesize for Eclipse was OVER 10X that amount, or 35.2MB.
Eclipse ALSO adds several DLL files to the computer, while DDL does not.
All in all, for all of the FUNCTIONALITY included in DriversDailyLog, given it's much smaller download size and the fact that it does not change the Computer by adding (or changing) DLL files (which can be shared, corrupted, damaged or deleted by another program), DDL is a far superior product.


A little transparency here: I have been a BETA Tester of DDL for over 14 years, and have a FREE life-time subscription.

 

Agree

Agree.

I'm not a coder, but I suspect that the DLL's are necessary to satisfy the connection to the GPS. I have used it for about 9 months with no corruptions or even crashes at all. But I guess stranger things have happened. I can only report on my experience with a particular program.

Agree to disagree.

 

I initially reported that DDL download was 3.1MB.
I guess my fat fingers got in the way of my lack-o-caffine.
DDL download is 1.3 MB , so it is about 3% the size of Eclipse.
DDL also, does not have an "included" GPS utility although they DO offer a FREE GPS utility download.

 

I've actually never seen a program that would run all of the required processes that a log would need, and NOT install lots of files. So I just installed the "lite" trial version of the DDL and logged the event using a "process monitor."

Here are some points of clarification:

- the DDL "lite" version was indeed a 1.3M download, but it was a "packed" file containing the actual program and installer.
- when I ran the install, it unpacked and installed 24 files into the "drivers daily log folder" and a couple of dozen more into the windows and the Windows registry.
- 6 of the files that it installed were .dll files into that DDL folder and a few more into Windows actually.
- Once it was finished the program actually occupied 4.5 megs in the DDL directory and a little bit more in the Windows folders. I have no idea how much more it would be for the full version or the GPS capability add-on of course.

This "lite version" was definitely a smaller download as you said, but as far as the files that were installed there were lots of them and several were dll's. Once Windows XP and higher came out, I haven't seen any dll's "corrupted, damaged or deleted by another program" actually but anything is possible with Windows. I remember this was sometimes an issue with Win 95. 98, and ME though.

 

When I get the time, I will LIST the utilities offered by DDL and compare it to what "Eclipse" offers.