Handheld device ban: how about tablets or laptops used as a phone?

hand held cell phone ban, does anyone make a pad, notebook etc that could be hooked to a headset and also function as a phone? Just looking to try an condense my electrical hardware.

 

Just get a smartphone. Smaller than a tablet, can do everything a tablet does, and it's a phone. By the way if you read the law as it is currently written the hands free only applies to using the phone itself, it does not apply when using the GPS.

 

I am really surprised that no one has made the ultimate machine, part tablet, smartphone, kindle, ipad, and TV receiver that does everything.

 

Yeah, I already have a Samsung Galaxy SP, it works good but I really need a bigger screen, I know that it is not a "phone" that you would want to be carrying around talking on walking down the street.

But just for in my truck it would replace a phone, a garmin, a laptop, and if I could hook up a scanner/ printer I would never have to wait in line again to send or rec. faxes. It could all be done from my truck.

 

Funny you mention that, because that's almost exactly how I'm running now. My laptop sits on a stand right beside my drivers' seat. From my laptop I run the following: Microsoft Street and Trips to help with route planning; Skype for making calls to dispatch or the customer; my logs are done on Eclipse Logbook (yes, it's legal per the FMCSA); I use Transflo's standalone app for scanning my paperwork; and I have an HP "All-In-One" printer/fax/scanner/copier riding shotgun in the passengers' seat.

I use a Virgin Mobile Mifi2200 to get internet access (Sprint and Verizon also have these, and Verizon's plan seems to be better for really heavy users); and, since I have my own internet access, I often refer to the truck route-only map on Layover.com to double-check my routes. If I need a permit from the company (or if I have to pick up a relay in which the previous driver forgot to leave the BOL) I usually have the company scan the paperwork and email it to me - I can then print it out on the All-In-One machine.

I also have a 7" Sylvania tablet. When I get a load assignment I usually email it to myself; when I go to a customer for pickup, instead of a paper notebook (which I always seem to be losing), I can boot up my tablet and have all the info right there. The tablet also has Skype so, if there's any issues, I can call dispatch right there. It's sort of a combination notepad, cellphone, map, email device and internet browser all rolled into one (at least, that's how I use it...)

If you're going to do something similar then I STRONGLY suggest investing in an external hard drive for backups - computers can, and sometimes do, fail (I had to replace my laptop last year because of an issue with the internal voltage regulator circuit). Also, carry a couple of extras paper logbooks on board (again, the computer logs are 100% FMCSA legal - but, if your computer kicks the bucket, you're obviously SOL and illegal if you don't have a "plan B").

Just make sure to take ###### good care of your computer; after all, you're running so much of your business from it in a situation like this.

 

Appreciate the info, we actually take a pic of our BOL's and then email them to the office, but the reason that I wanted the bigger screen was so that I would NOT need the laptop.

I could put something like drivers daily logger on the notepad and a screen that size allows me to scan on loadboards for freight, which is hard to do a screen as small as the phone.

I really like the size tablet/notebook rather than the laptop.

Stan

 

Then you'll be pleased to note that everything I'm doing with the laptop can just as easily be done with a tablet. The printer/scanner/fax/copier (HP 4500) I have can be used with your tablet or laptop via a wireless connection, so that should also cut down on the number of cables you have running through the cab. I can definitely see the advantage of having the smaller form factor of a tablet rather than a huge honkin' widescreen laptop.

The thing to remember about tablets is that you definitely get what you pay for. I got my 7" Sylvania while Petro was having a clearance sale (it was about $100). I got it just to play around and see what the fuss was all about. I could still perform most of the functions with it that I'm doing now with the laptop, but it would take a bit of hacking; for some reason, some lesser third-party manufacturers have issues with getting access to Google's and Android's app stores, necessitating the need for finding some workarounds. Don't go too cheap on getting the tablet; you'll save yourself some headaches down the road.

 

Thanks again, I am thinking I really want a 10" screen so I am considering the Samsung product since I am already familiar with how their phone. A tec head, I am not, so simplier, better for me. LOL