Technology is the future of the trucking industry in many ways, one of which is mobile apps. There are a wide range of apps truck drivers can use to plan hauls, manage documentation, and make life easier on the road.
Explore these recommended smartphone apps to see how they can make your hauls more efficient, productive, and enjoyable.
Best Navigation & Route Planning Apps for Truck Drivers
Planning the most efficient routes and navigating through traffic, delays, and detours significantly impacts the amount of time you spend and how much you earn on the road. Find and navigate through the best trucking route with these apps.
1. Trucker Path
Price: Free (with in-app purchases)
Availability: App Store & Google Play Store
Trucker Path was designed for the trucking industry. It is the go-to route planning app among truck drivers, offering real-time information on weigh stations, road conditions, rest areas, parking availability, and more. The app also includes data on more than 7,000 truck stops in the US and Canada.
2. Google Maps
Price: Free
Availability: App Store & Google Play Store
A tried-and-true GPS app, Google Maps provides navigation along your planned route, offers traffic reports, shows you both a satellite view and street view of your destination, and allows you to plan your stops. While Google Maps is not designed specifically for trucking challenges, it’s an excellent road navigation tool.
3. Waze
Price: Free
Availability: App Store & Google Play Store
Waze is a powerful, community-driven GPS app that helps users navigate roads with real-time alerts for issues such as traffic, construction zones, crashes, police, and more. The app collects on-the-ground data on traffic to ensure you have the most up to date information possible.
4. AccuWeather
Price: Free (with in-app purchases)
Availability: App Store & Google Play Store
AccuWeather is one of the most popular weather forecasting apps on today’s market. Use AccuWeather to check the weather report and advanced radar along your route, get notifications for storm warnings, and benefit from the superior accuracy of this app.
5. GasBuddy
Price: Free (with in-app purchases)
Availability: App Store & Google Play Store
Find the cheapest fuel prices on your route with GasBuddy. With over 150,000 logged gas stations in North America, GasBuddy will sort gas stations by location, price, and other features (like restrooms), making it easy to find the best price. The app also allows you to track your gas usage, offers fuel efficiency recommendations, and provides a log for reimbursement and tax purposes.
Best Utility & Efficiency Apps for Truck Drivers
The truck driving industry has developed technology that truckers can use to save time and simplify processes. These apps can help you work more efficiently.
6. Drivewyze
Price: Free 30-day trial; monthly subscription fee
Availability: App Store & Google Play Store
With Drivewyze, you can legally bypass many weigh stations in North America, and the app is approved for use in over 40 states. When you approach a weigh station, Drivewyze will check its preclearance network to see if you can bypass the site, and the app will notify you whether or not you have to pull into the weigh station.
7. Weigh My Truck
Price: Free
Availability: App Store & Google Play Store
Weigh My Truck app, built by CAT Scale, is designed to simplify the weighing process. If you weigh on the CAT scale, you can then pay through the app and get both the receipt and the weight report via email.
8. Trucker’s Slide Calc
Price: Free (with in-app purchases)
Availability: App Store & Google Play Store
For help setting your trailer axles, use the Trucker’s Slide Calc app. When you enter your axle weights, the app will determine the best way to set your axles, calculate new axle weights, and try to balance the weight across all axles, prioritizing legality, so you can minimize delays.
Best Documentation Management Apps for Truck Drivers
Digitally manage paperwork and submit trip documentation with these helpful apps.
9. Dropbox
Price: Free (with in-app purchases)
Availability: App Store & Google Play Store
Dropbox is a cloud storage service that simplifies the file storage and sharing process. Using Dropbox, you can access your digital files across devices, share them with other parties, and backup files on the cloud.
10. CamScanner
Price: Free (with in-app purchases)
Availability: App Store & Google Play Store
With CamScanner, you can scan physical documents and save high-quality images, making it easy to upload and share trucking lease agreements and other trucking documentation.
Best Entertainment Apps for Truck Drivers
Truck drivers spend a lot of time on the road and need hands-free entertainment. During down times, between stops, and when the traffic is clear, use these apps to listen to music, podcasts, or audiobooks.
11. Spotify
Price: Free (with premium plan options)
Availability: App Store & Google Play Store
Spotify is an extremely popular music, podcast, and audiobook app. It can create custom playlists based on your listening history, and you can download albums or playlists to listen to when phone service is slow.
12. Pandora
Price: Free (with premium plan options)
Availability: App Store & Google Play Store
With Pandora, you can discover and listen to music, podcasts, audiobooks, radio stations, and more. To prepare for areas with low cell phone service, download your favorite playlists so you can enjoy them while you travel through dead zones.
13. Pocket Casts
Price: Free (with in-app purchases)
Availability: App Store & Google Play Store
Do you enjoy listening to podcasts? Pocket Casts is a popular podcast app with a clean, easy-to-use interface and a variety of features. You can get hand curated podcast recommendations and increase/decrease the listening speed to curate your ideal podcast listening experience.
14. Libby
Price: Free
Availability: App Store & Google Play Store
Through Libby, you can borrow audiobooks and more for free from your local library. Using your library card, you can log in, access millions of free audiobooks, and either stream or download titles. If your library has not joined Libby, consider using whatever app they have available to access audiobooks.
Join the Driving Team at BT Trucking
At BT Trucking, we are proud to serve the transportation community. Our family-owned business has been a leader in providing transportation logistics solutions to our customers since 1988. Mile after mile, we provide stability to and build long-term relationships with customers, vendors, and drivers across the Midwest and Southwest regions.
If you are interested in owning your own truck or applying to work as a driver, we can help. Our lease purchase program will start you down the road to success. We are dedicated to the safety of our drivers, and we are determined to provide you with the tools and support you need to succeed.
Complete an application or contact us today to learn more.
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