Is a fancy Smartphone necessary OTR

Always helps to get on internet to check out addresses, truckstops, etc. You can make it with flip phone and current truckers atlas, but i prefer smartphone.

 

In my opinion a smart phone is a 100% necessity for Trucking..

Google Maps
Truckers Path
Uber

Yes you should invest in a smartphone right now

 

There isnt any reason to not have one. I have 2, a personal and a business.
My personal one is an S7 that I paid cash for and the other, I honestly don't know. It's a Motorola but it's rebadged for every carrier, but it's way lesser than the S7. I paid $80 for it and pay $50 for 5 gigs of data and unlimited minutes with Verizon.
I got it for the coverage.
My S7 is through Sprint, unlimited data for 60$. Almost zero coverage in alot of spots up north(Montana, north dakota, western south dakota)

The S7 is a great phone, but the other does everything it can do, maybe a tad slower and the display isnt as sharp. But for a $600 difference is price, the S7 isnt THAT far ahead to be worth that much

 

Satellite maps have saved my booty more than once on a vague address or bad directions. I'm as frugal as they come, but yesterday my smartphone finally died and I dropped $600 on a new one without batting an eye. Cheaper than a tow.

 

Believe it or not video existed prior to smartphones.

 

I'm really not trying to be a Richard. But this is all but laughable. I survived just fine for several and I do mean several years without a cell phone period, or GPS , or any other fancy gadgets. Granted they do make the job much easier now days. But NO a smart phone is not a absolute necessity. LOL.... today's drivers.... SMH.

 

Wanted to also mention I went several years without a smart phone using nothing more then a flip phone up till maybe 4 years ago. Only reason I care anything about a smart phone now. Is for banking and paying bills while on the road. Oh and the occasional visit to TTR

 

Necessary? Maybe not. Nice to have and a great tool? Absolutely.

Just being able to "scan in" load paperwork for payment, without having to get to a jammed up truck stop that has Transflo and is at least an hour away, before payroll cutoff - that alone makes them worth it.