Top Apps For Over The Road Truckers
One of the most important things to consider when starting over-the-road driving is how to make life more comfortable during those times away from home. With phones becoming a lifeline for people, the multitude of apps available has allowed for an easier time on the road, controlling everything from entertainment to daily tasks.
So, which apps are the best for new or experienced truckers? Here are a few of our favorites you might want to download before hitting the road.
Entertainment
Music Streaming – Whether it’s Spotify, Apple Music, or Pandora, each of these music streaming services offers a library full of songs and podcasts to choose from, along with the option to create playlists. While Apple Music is only available to those with a subscription, Spotify and Pandora both have free and paid versions available.
Movie and Show Streaming – Netflix may be the most known service for this, but many other options have come to light in recent years, including Hulu, Disney+, Max (Formerly HBO Max), and AppleTV. These services offer older shows and movies as well as ones that are currently being made, with Hulu offering a live tv option.
Communication
Social Media – Facebook and Instagram are great for sharing photos and social updates, showcasing the places you’ve been and where you’re headed next, and allowing you and your loved ones to keep up with each other. Along with updates, Facebook is a great place to communicate and network with fellow drivers. By joining groups, you can share tips and tricks of the road and find support for issues you may be facing.
Bonus: Meet fellow US Truck graduates and stay up to date with the latest in the trucking industry by following us on Facebook!
Video Chat – Face-to-face connection is important while you’re out on the road. This has been made even easier with cell phones, as the iPhone has FaceTime built in, and Android users can download the Google Duo app. For those that don’t have access to either of these, Zoom is a great alternative.
Work-Life
Trucker Path – Trucker Path is the best all-in-one app, giving drivers information about truck stops, weigh stations, parking, and more. There’s also a large community of users on the app, giving you access to more than 800,000 other drivers to chat with.
Waze – Waze is a navigation app that uses your location and contributions from its drivers to give you real-time traffic and road condition updates, including accidents and hazards. This ensures that you’re always taking the most efficient route to your destination.
GasBuddy – While finding the cheapest gas is the primary focus of the app, GasBuddy also notifies drivers when the price of diesel is about to spike so they can fill up before. The app can also let you know where stops with food and showers are and occasionally reward you with free gas coupons based on your actions within the app.
MyRadar- This free weather and radar app informs users of temperatures and conditions that they may encounter. There’s also a detailed hurricane tracker, animated live radar, and you can get notified at least two hours in advance if rain is on its way.
Lifestyle
MyFitnessPal – Eating healthy and staying active can be hard while on the road. MyFitnessPal allows you to track your meals and exercise. Users can scan barcodes on food and drink products, making tracking easier and giving you detailed information about the nutrients within them. The basic services on the app are free, but there is also a premium option available for a monthly fee.
Mint – Keeping track of your bills, bank accounts, and credit score has never been easier. Mint allows you to link all your bills and bank accounts to one place in order to get an overview of your financial health.
Technology has become increasingly important over the past decade, making our lives and careers easier with every advancement. These apps, along with many others, offer a multitude of different ways to increase productivity, preparedness, and connection.
