Need help finding truck stops? There’s an app for that. Want to find the fastest route to your destination? There’s an app for that, too.
Even the most seasoned drivers can use trucker apps to make their lives on the road just a little bit easier. And statistics show that truckers are embracing mobile technology.
According to a survey from uShip, which surveyed over 6,000 owner-operators:
- 20% of truckers no longer use laptops on the road
- 20% use social networks to stay in touch with friends and family
- 33% use apps to monitor weather, traffic and gas prices
- 37% use their smartphones to book loads
- 35% use their phones to bid on loads
- 57% use their phones to conduct daily business
Truckers are using apps to find the best gas prices, plan their routes, bid on loads and stay connected with their loved ones while on the road.
What Are The Best Truck Driver Apps?
Apps can be useful management tools, but finding ones that are intuitive and user-friendly can be a challenge. Here are some trucker apps that don’t suck.
Trucker Path
Trucker Path is the most popular app for drivers. From finding the best truck stops to weigh station statuses, parking availability and fuel price comparisons, the app is a robust solution for drivers.
Drivers can also take advantage of the Trucker Path load board, where they can find available loads.
Trucker Path GPS allows you to plan ahead, find nearby restaurants and hotels, locate low-clearance bridges and even find a wash locator.
The Trucker Path app is available on both Android and iTunes.
Keep Trucking
The Keep Trucking app is ideal for small fleet operators, and allows you to keep track of your fleet in real-time. The intuitive app even allows you to view the breadcrumb history of the vehicle for any day you wish.
Along with tracking, the app allows you to automate IFTA fuel tax reporting and keep up on maintenance. The app keeps track of fault codes and alerts you any time an issue pops up.
Keep Trucking is one of the most reliable and easy-to-use electronic logging devices for smartphones. Pricing varies, but there is also a free option available. The free app does not include the device, which eliminates some of the extra features the service offers.
With the free app, you get: GPS tracking, log auditing, messaging, reports and electronic DVIR.
Two paid options are available:
- ELD Starter at $20 per month. This package includes everything the free app offers and the electronic logging device.
- ELD Plus at $30 per month. This package includes everything the ELD Starter package offers as well as: IFTA fuel tax reporting, idle time tracking, driver scorecards, vehicle diagnostics and geofencing.
The app is available on Android and iTunes.
CoPilot Truck GPS
CoPilot Truck GPS is the best trucker GPS app out there. Built with truckers in mind, the app offers:
- Distraction-free guidance
- Offline GPS
- PC*MILER routing
- Resequencing to provide optimal routes
CoPilot calculates the most efficient routes based on your vehicle, load type and routing parameters. There are also additional settings available when transporting hazardous material. Using your truck’s height, length, weight and axle, the app can find the best road type for the truck.
The distraction-free guidance includes both 3D and 2D maps as well as lane arrows for easy navigation of even the most complex of intersections.
The route planning feature is robust. Drivers can choose between three routes and offers multi-stop planning for trips (up to 52 stops).
CoPilot Truck GPS can be installed on both Android and iOS devices.
Truck Stops, GPS – Road Hunter
Road Hunter is more than just a truck stop locator app; it’s an app that can provide:
- Severe weather alerts
- Find low clearance bridges
- Alerts on upcoming weigh stations and their statuses
The app provides truckers with detailed information about each truck stop, including:
- Parking availability
- Diesel prices
- Nearby restaurants
Road trip planning is also available.
The free Road Hunter app is available on the Google Play Store and iTunes.
Transflo
Designed for truck drivers and carriers, the Transflo app is fully configurable. Carriers can manage their load workflow. Drivers can capture and send images that preserve quality while compressing size.
With Transflo, users can:
- Send and receive notifications
- Manage loads
- View mobile payments
- Scan billing documentation
- Find trailer locations
- File accident claims
- Capture digital signatures
- Reserve parking spaces
Transflo makes it easy to send and receive high quality documents while you’re on the road. The app is available on iPhone and Android devices.
Fuelbook
The Fuelbook app helps you find the best diesel fuel prices at more than 7,000 truck stops. All prices are displayed on a map in an easy-to-view format.
Along with fuel prices, the app also helps drivers find repair shops and roadside assistance services, and truck stop specials. Live parking status and GPS check-in is also available.
The Fuelbook free app is available for download on the Google Play Store and the iTunes store.
Waze
Waze is a social networking app that truckers can use to help other drivers find the best routes. Users can share traffic updates to help others save time on their commutes, and share updates on fuel prices.
Waze will not only help you find the best route to your destination, but also:
- Provide real-time traffic updates
- Let you know if police are nearby
- Update you on construction delays
If there are delays on your route, Waze will automatically find a new route to save you time on your commute.
Waze is free, and compatible with both Android and iOS devices.
NOAA Weather Radar
The NOAA Weather Radar app helps you keep track of the weather in real-time, so you know what to expect and which routes to avoid.
The app includes real-time weather radar images, severe weather warnings and the local forecast. With this app, bad weather will never take you by surprise.
When severe weather is nearby, the NOAA app will send you a push notification, letting you know about rain, snow, clouds and stormy weather.
With the touch of a button, you can bookmark different cities and locations. The app makes it easy to switch between bookmarked locations.
The NOAA app has both a free and a premium version. The premium version allows you to receive alerts for an unlimited number of locations.
No matter whether you’re on an Android device or an iPhone, you can download this app.
Gas Buddy
Gas Buddy’s handy app allows drivers to save money at the pump by telling you when and where to buy gas at the lowest price.
Just enter your location, and the Gas Buddy app will tell you which nearby station has the best prices. The search results can be sorted by price, brand, location and amenities (like restaurants and restrooms), which makes it highly customizable.
The app will also send you alerts for price hikes, so you can fill up your tank before they raise the prices. There’s also a daily drawing that gives you a chance to win $100 in free gas.
The Gas Buddy app is available for Android and the iPhone.
My Fitness Pal
Maintaining a healthy weight and exercise routine is hard when you’re on the road all the time. Bad food choices are everywhere, and you’re stuck sitting in a truck all day.
The My Fitness Pal app can help you stay on the right track or make changes to your daily routine. Through the app, you can log your meals each day to keep track of your calories, fat and other macronutrients. You can even scan the barcodes of the foods you eat to log all of the nutritional data automatically.
Along with your daily meals, you can also log workouts to stay motivated and help you lose weight.
My Fitness Pal’s app is free for both Android and iPhone devices.
Calorie Counter from FatSecret
If you’re not a fan of My Fitness Pal, the Calorie Counter app may be the better option for you. Free to use, the app allows you to keep track of your calories and diet with the push of a button.
What sets the app apart from the competition is its high level of accuracy.
FatSecret’s Calorie Counter app allows you to keep a food diary, so you know what you’re eating and how many calories you’re consuming. It also offers Fitbit and Google Fit integration as well as a barcode scanner. It even has image recognition, so you can take a photo of your food and automatically log its nutritional information.
Along with all of these features, you’ll receive detailed reporting as well as goals for your macros, calories and nutrients.
If you need help staying on track with your diet, Calorie Counter is a great option. Get it on iTunes or the Google Play Store.
iExit Interstate
The iExit Interstate app allows you to see what amenities are available at the next exit, such as food, restrooms, gas stations and more. The app uses your device’s location and displays upcoming exits in real-time.
While simple in nature, iExit is powerful and allows you to find businesses near the next 100 exits on your route. You can also search for rest stops, amenities (like truck parking), deals and more.
With the iExit app, you’ll always know what’s ahead. Get it on iTunes or the Google Play Store.
AudioBooks
With the AudioBooks app, truckers can search, download and listen to millions of books from virtually any genre. Thousands of the titles in the AudioBooks collection are completely free to listen to.
The app allows you to either stream or download books to listen to while you drive. The automatic bookmarking function saves your place across the platform’s entire library, so you never lose your place.
AudioBooks is a great app for truckers who love books, but don’t have the time to read. The app is free for download on Android and iPhone devices.
BigRoad Trucking Logbook
BigRoad is the top electronic logbook for truckers and owner operators. The app, which is compliant with FMCSA regulations, makes it easy to track your hours of service.
Rule sets for Canada and the U.S. are supported.
BigRoad will calculate your time for you, so you don’t have to wonder how much drive time you have left. The app will also notify you of violations and errors, so you can make changes and avoid expensive out-of-service time or and fines.
With the touch of a button, you can send your inspection reports and logs to your fleet manager. The app also allows you to capture and send supporting documents for added convenience.
The BigRoad Trucking Logbook app is available on iTunes and Google Play.
Cost Per Mile Expense Calculator
Need help keeping track of your trucking costs? Cost Per Mile is the app for you. Simply enter your total miles, your income, and your fixed and variable expenses. The app will then use those figures to calculate your cost per mile.
This app is ideal for owner operators who need to ensure that each load is worth the time and effort.
The Cost Per Mile Expense Calculator app is only available for Android devices.
Skype
Want to stay in touch with friends and family while you’re on the road? Skype allows you to video chat with your loved ones for free.
You can also send video, voice and photo messages. One simple swipe allows you to capture videos and photos.
Skype is free to download and use, and is available on the iTunes and Google Play stores.
uShip Mobile
uShip is the largest mobile transportation marketplace on in the world. The app version includes everything the desktop version of uShip offers as well as a user-friendly interface.
With the tap of a button, you can find, bid and book shipments. You can also view your shipments in the app and even get paid through uShip payments.
Saved searches help you get access to the most effective routes.