Profile For Ed J.

With so many great suggestions, there isn't time to thank everyone individually.

it doesn't surprise me that there was a heavy-handed reason why finding a truck/rest stop enroute was unavailable as I drive solo. it's ok to press buttons on the device during certain circumstances, but unacceptable during others. and it's ok for a driver to scramble for a place to shut down as their hours of service expire. it seems rather hypocritical of them.

I tried the truckerpath app and it didn't work. the installer 'could not parse the file'. gingerbread is an ancient OS and I am lucky that this phone has benefitted me as much as it has. I haven't got a clue as far as phones go. I guess I would go with android and galaxy. I also like the thought of being able to replace the battery with a spare if that is available, though I hear that ability is no longer available. phones are becoming like cars. they are deliberately made to throw away.

I also think it's worth it to go with a phone service that provides the ability to 'hotspot/tether'. I would like to use a laptop to access street view and google earth. this company likes to send me to places with NO way out (trucks not allowed and NOT the place to pickup or deliver), so I don't trust them.

thanks for the replies

Hello Errol V,

yeah, I need to get in to see the virgin mobile people, where I get service. I am also considering other providers, but virgin has been excellent to me.

thanks for the reply

You've got that right, Phoenix. at least a much more recent and powerful phone with capabilities.

I was also wondering if a laptop might be able to receive wifi and be helpful out there. to blow up a map and zero in on locations, not to mention using google earth and street view might be priceless.

thanks.

Patrick R and Chris L, I will be looking for that app. unfortunately, I have an ancient phone that installing is more miss than hit. I am looking into getting another phone and keeping this one for peace of mind.

Tractor Man, answering that would be like choosing between the pretty teacher and the one that always gives you food.

Phoenix, nice. I will definitely try that. I will write it down and bring it to work and probably know more about the device than anyone in the building. maybe this is the fix.

thanks for the replies

hello,

to be fair, I am also posting this inquiry on other good forums.

recently I started a job with a popular trucking company after attending an independent trucking school and orientation/mentoring with the company.

part of the job requires use of a qualcomm which includes a navigation function and I am having problems with this navigation function.

the company sends me wifi data of the next trip: 1. the place where I get my load 2. usually a place to get fuel 3. the place where I drop my load

unfortunately, the data does not include truck or rest stop locations.

during my mentoring, my mentor was able to use the qualcomm navigator to find truck stops by using a path similar to this (this is a touch-screen and he 'clicks' on the following icons):

points of interest > trucking > truck or rest stops > close, along the way, or near destination

I should have paid closer attention, because I have never been able to attain this ability. when I am using the navigation to go to pick up a load, the 'points of interest' icon is greyed out and unusable. I have to literally turn the truck off (the engine) in order to find truck stops (then the 'points of interest' icon is not greyed out), and occasionally the truck stops it offers me are almost 300 miles away. I am NOT receiving quality service from this device in regards to truck stops.

when I first received the truck the battery was completely dead and I think the qualcomm may have been damaged. the company thinks I probably just don't know how to use it. I have no problem with them showing me what I am doing wrong, just as long as I can find a place for the truck when my hours are ending. but for now, I am here asking for experience, expertise, advice, and suggestions.

1. I need to know what I could be doing wrong with the qualcomm navigation, or

2. what kind of device could I buy that would find truck stops. how do you guys find them (besides already knowing about them from your years on the road).

3. would a laptop help at all?

thanks for your experience, expertise, advice, and suggestions.