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18 • January 15-31, 2021 Business<br />
THETRUCKER.COM<br />
There are a variety of apps available to help simplify trucking tasks<br />
Cliff Abbott<br />
cliffa@thetruckermedia.com<br />
Back in 1988, a company called Qualcomm<br />
began marketing a communications device to motor<br />
carriers that revolutionized the trucking industry.<br />
With the device, dispatchers could send load and<br />
other information directly to drivers, who could also<br />
make entries about the progress of the loads.<br />
Some drivers loved the new technology that<br />
saved them the time and trouble of communicating<br />
by pay phone. Others reviled the devices,<br />
which not only allowed the dispatcher to contact<br />
them at any time but actually tracked and reported<br />
their truck’s movement.<br />
Fast-forward three-plus decades, and it’s a<br />
different world. Almost every driver now carries<br />
a smartphone capable of performing many more<br />
functions than those old satellite units. Verbal,<br />
written and even video communication methods<br />
are now available to every driver, and with the addition<br />
of available apps, those devices have even<br />
more capability.<br />
A search of the Apple store or Google Play<br />
turns up dozens, possibly hundreds, of apps designed<br />
to make life easier for those on the road.<br />
There are far too many to list in this article, but<br />
every driver should have an idea of the different<br />
types of apps that are available — most of them<br />
at no cost.<br />
GPS apps that help drivers to plan and complete<br />
trips have been around for a while, but truckers<br />
know many of them can’t account for the size,<br />
weight and dimensions of a tractor-trailer. Some<br />
Fleet Focus<br />
drivers purchase separate GPS units specifically<br />
made for trucks, while others rely on phone apps.<br />
It’s a plus when the GPS app adds other functions,<br />
such as route planning, identifying fuel or<br />
rest stops, and more.<br />
The information provided here is intended to<br />
inform drivers of the types of apps that are available,<br />
but not to endorse or recommend any particular<br />
app. Drivers are encouraged to carefully<br />
review the information provided at download,<br />
keeping in mind that many apps perform multiple<br />
functions that could duplicate another app.<br />
Another thing to consider is battery usage.<br />
In order to track location, some apps run<br />
constantly and can drain smartphone batteries<br />
quickly. Others connect at intervals, minimizing<br />
battery usage.<br />
Trucker Path claims to be the top trucknavigation<br />
app and has been installed by millions<br />
of drivers. It offers a free GPS component<br />
that the maker claims is faster and better<br />
than traditional GPS systems. It also offers<br />
routing and parking information, and more.<br />
The app has been reviewed more than 50,000<br />
times with an average score of 3.7 (out of 5).<br />
Trucker Tools claims to offer 17 separate tools<br />
for drivers, including a truck-stop guide, a routing<br />
optimizer and the ability to book loads, plus the<br />
iStock Photo<br />
A search of the Apple store or Google Play will produce dozens, possibly hundreds, of<br />
apps designed to make life easier for those on the road.<br />
ability to track those loads if the broker requires<br />
it. It has been downloaded hundreds of thousands<br />
of times and reviewed by more than 2,600 people<br />
with an average rating of 4.1.<br />
Road Hunter offers routing, a truck-stop<br />
guide, weather information and a load board.<br />
More than 100,000 have downloaded the app,<br />
which has a 4.4 rating after 2,000 reviews.<br />
Quite a few states participate in “511”<br />
apps that provide traffic and construction information<br />
from that state’s DOT. Some provide<br />
video from traffic cameras throughout the<br />
state and even video from cameras mounted<br />
on snow plows for a look at severe weather<br />
road conditions.<br />
Some apps concentrate on parking, with some<br />
allowing drivers to report on the number of available<br />
spaces once they arrive.<br />
TruckPark helps you find and reserve parking<br />
at numerous locations. Parking is said to be<br />
b Hazards from page 17 b<br />
trucking — but manufacturers that have been<br />
closed or slowed due to COVID-19 restrictions<br />
can’t produce at normal levels.<br />
Then there’s the capacity issue, exacerbated<br />
by a driver shortage. Currently, the amount of<br />
available freight is greater than the number of<br />
trucks available to haul it, causing freight rates<br />
to rise. Carriers are responding by purchasing<br />
more trucks, but finding drivers for those trucks<br />
is tougher than ever.<br />
A number of CDL schools have been closed<br />
or have downsized due to the pandemic, cutting<br />
back on the number of drivers who are entering<br />
the market. At the same time, experienced drivers<br />
who were laid off or furloughed during the pandemic<br />
aren’t coming back as planned; many of<br />
them have retired or moved to other occupations,<br />
b Cashless from page 17 b<br />
entry to process commercial traffic faster.”<br />
The move also allows more officers to be<br />
available for enforcement duties instead of<br />
secure and safe, which often means there’s a fee<br />
to park. Still, the ability to enter a destination, day<br />
and time and receive information on available<br />
parking is a benefit. You can reserve and pay for<br />
your parking spots before you get there. Truck-<br />
Park has recently partnered with FuelMe, a fueldelivery<br />
company, to offer fueling services when<br />
parked at TruckPark locations. This allows you<br />
to bypass the fuel island and go directly to your<br />
reserved parking space, having your truck filled<br />
while you relax.<br />
Trimble offers a COVID-19 Safe Haven app,<br />
although what the app has to do with the pandemic<br />
is questionable. It provides information on<br />
truck stops, rest areas and other parking areas and<br />
allows input on whether these sites are open or<br />
closed, or if parking spaces are available.<br />
Electronic logging devices, or ELDs, are big<br />
business, and they can be expensive. Fortunately,<br />
See Apps on p19 m<br />
including driving for local delivery services.<br />
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s<br />
(FMCSA) Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse,<br />
which became effective in January<br />
2020, has resulted in the loss of thousands of<br />
drivers who have refused to complete a returnto-work<br />
program after testing positive or refusing<br />
to test.<br />
The FMCSA’s current consideration of allowing<br />
hair-follicle testing for drug use, pushed<br />
by trucking organizations, will undoubtedly<br />
increase the driver fallout. The legalization of<br />
marijuana in a growing number of jurisdictions<br />
is becoming the “elephant” in the drug-testing<br />
room as drivers question why the use of a legal<br />
product during their off-duty hours should be a<br />
condition of their employment.<br />
While economic forecasts for the trucking<br />
industry in 2021 have generally been favorable,<br />
there are enough potential negatives to impact<br />
the narrative. Stay tuned. 8<br />
having one or more of them make a long drive<br />
from a remote port of entry to a financial institution<br />
to deposit the cash and checks collected.<br />
ADOT is also working to develop a new<br />
commercial permitting system that will support<br />
the move to cashless and touchless that is expected<br />
to be operational by the end of 2021. 8
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