What Are Some “must Have” Apps And Tech A New Driver Should Get?
Topic 34239 | Page 1
Definitely get the app for any truck stops your company lets you fuel at. I fuel almost exclusively at Loves and I can book my showers through the app and if there's a wait, I can wait it out in the comfort of my truck instead of standing around in the store.
You'll want the CAT Scale and its companion app Weigh My Truck so you find the nearest CAT scales and not only pay for the scale but have the digital scale ticket automatically emailed to you so you don't have to park and go inside if you don't need the hard copy.
Trucker Path is a great tool for researching parking places for your breaks. It'll show how many spots, the trend of when it usually gets full, and reviews of the place. It'll also show off-the-wall options you don't know exist, like a McDonalds with 5 or 10 spots behind it that allows overnight parking.
Those are the apps I use the most.
Technology makes trucking a lot easier, but I also can't recommend a physical atlas enough. I use Google Maps to guide my route but it's made for four-wheelers so I confirm it with the atlas, which shows low bridges and designated truck routes and more.
CAT Scale:
A network of over 1,500 certified truck scales across the U.S. and Canada found primarily at truck stops. CAT scales are by far the most trustworthy scales out there.
In fact, CAT Scale offers an unconditional Guarantee:
“If you get an overweight fine from the state after our scale showed your legal, we will immediately check our scale. If our scale is wrong, we will reimburse you for the fine. If our scale is correct, a representative of CAT Scale Company will appear in court with the driver as a witness”
Cat Scales:
A network of over 1,500 certified truck scales across the U.S. and Canada found primarily at truck stops. CAT scales are by far the most trustworthy scales out there.
In fact, CAT Scale offers an unconditional Guarantee:
“If you get an overweight fine from the state after our scale showed your legal, we will immediately check our scale. If our scale is wrong, we will reimburse you for the fine. If our scale is correct, a representative of CAT Scale Company will appear in court with the driver as a witness”
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.
Tech Hardware:
Garmin or Rand McNallys truck GPS
CB Radio,
Magnet ball mounts for phone
Optional wireless magnetic phone mount
Bluetooth Headset (Blue Parrot, Rand mcnally, etc.)
Extra USB cables, cig lighter plug ins.
Optional but highly recommend Verizon 5G wireless home internet.
Software:
Develop a deep understanding of how to connect Bluetooth devices. You may end up routing audio from phone to truck stereo, calls to headset, data to GPS and network to a dashcam all at once, it's crucial to know your devices idiosyncratic behaviors.
Develop a deep understanding oLive stream of NOAA all hazards radiof Google Assistant or if you like doing things the hard way, whichever one goes for Mac based units. Hands free is essential. More wrecks are caused by distracted drivers than anything else.
Fuel: flying J app, loves app, etc. Sync ypur company fuel card to the app for mobile fueling.
Weigh my truck, you never have to go inside again, Sync your company card to the app
Weather:
Windy App
Willy weather
Driveweather, real time route based forecast
SafetravelUSA app. Condensed collection of all states 511 apps
Wyoming wind reports and conditions
Your truck has NOAA all hazards radio, imperative that you utilize it, especially in NE, WY., SD, ND, CO Stormshield app, real time alerts, nice radar and forecast.
Sorry bout the typos.
Also, Smartshield, real time alerts.
One more wind trick. Google city's on your route, scroll don the results till you find Willyweather and click on it.
See the following pictures
OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Awesome! Thank you so far for some of the replies! Some of those apps the company is having us install on our company issued tablets, like the Weigh My Truck app for the CAT scales , which we will add our company issued driver card to so we can pay for the scales.
I think it was the Loves app actually I was referring to that lets you reserve a shower, see parking availability, fuel pump availability, etc. I think our company usually prefers Flying J or Pilot for fueling but I think that if Loves was an option, that’s fine too especially if they have that app drivers can use. So I’ll definitely have to get that one. So far these are all great suggestions and exactly what I was hoping for. Just overall stuff to make our lives on the road while working a little easier.
CAT Scale:
A network of over 1,500 certified truck scales across the U.S. and Canada found primarily at truck stops. CAT scales are by far the most trustworthy scales out there.
In fact, CAT Scale offers an unconditional Guarantee:
“If you get an overweight fine from the state after our scale showed your legal, we will immediately check our scale. If our scale is wrong, we will reimburse you for the fine. If our scale is correct, a representative of CAT Scale Company will appear in court with the driver as a witness”
Cat Scales:
A network of over 1,500 certified truck scales across the U.S. and Canada found primarily at truck stops. CAT scales are by far the most trustworthy scales out there.
In fact, CAT Scale offers an unconditional Guarantee:
“If you get an overweight fine from the state after our scale showed your legal, we will immediately check our scale. If our scale is wrong, we will reimburse you for the fine. If our scale is correct, a representative of CAT Scale Company will appear in court with the driver as a witness”
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.New Reply:
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Hello there,
I’ve just completed my first week of training for one of the major OTR and dedicated carriers here in the US and will be getting released solo very soon for OTR. So far, the first week went great and I’m very much so looking forward to getting out there and putting in some miles and making money!
I was wondering what tech and apps some of you experienced drivers have found helps you the most while out on the road. Like, I think Flying J or maybe Pilot has an app you can download (Android or iPhone) that lets you see different things for the stop you’re at (shower availability, fuel pumps, services, etc.) Stuff like that. What have you found to be the most useful apps you use daily to help with your job? What apps should I be downloading right now to help make my job as an OTR driver easier or just better?
Same thing for tech I suppose. Is there any cool new tech I should invest in? Thanks!
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.