Back to list5 apps every truck driver should have
The apps on our smartphones have made our daily lives much easier, haven’t they? We use them to order food, buy new shoes, manage our bank accounts or find a coffee bar nearby. But they can make our jobs a lot simpler, too.
Drivers have hundreds of apps to choose from, that can make their days on the road more comfortable and more fun. We did some research and selected 5 apps that should be on every trucker’s smartphone.
#1 Book the best parking spots with Truck Parking Europe
Cost: free.
Available for Android & iOS.
Every truck driver knows how frustrating it can be to reach a truck parking after a long day on the road, just to find out that there is not a single spot available. Parking your vehicle somewhere along the entrance is not an option, so you are forced to drive to the next stop with your fingers crossed, hoping for the best. Thanks to Truck Parking Europe, one of the most popular apps amongst European truck drivers, those scenarios are over. The app enables drivers – or even better, their planners – to book a spot in advance, so that they do not have to worry about the availability. Truckers can find a spot based on their own preferences, with all the specific accommodations they need, and even check ratings and comments of other users.
#2 Maximise your driving hours with Trucker Timer
Cost: € 4,14 euro
Available for Android only.
Trucker Timer is designed for truck drivers that do not want to get fined driving abroad. Many European countries have different rules when it comes to driver’s hours. Trucker Timer is a tachograph and driving log app that makes sure they are in order with all the regulations of the country they are passing through. The application will help them track their driving hours and alert them when they are about to break local fatigue violations. It shows a clear graphical countdown for each rule, so the driver always knows exactly how much time he has left. His driving activity is summarised and can be sent to a planner in one simple email.
#3 PTV Navigator is a route navigator, specifically for trucks
Cost: free.
Available for Android only.
There are plenty of navigation tools out there, but not all of them suit the specific need of truck drivers. At PTV, they realised that truck drivers expect more from navigation software. That is why they developed PTV Navigator. The app not only guides truck drivers to their destination, it also warns them for low bridges, narrow roads with no opportunities to turn around and every other thing that could get a large truck into trouble. PTV Navigator takes all the restrictions a loaded truck has into account when planning a route, so drivers can avoid toll roads or residential areas. No more detours that cost time and money, only roads that are 100% freight traffic proof.
#4 Waze: join the navigation community
Cost: free.
Available for Android & iOS.
There is probably no need to introduce this one. Waze has been one of the most popular navigation and traffic apps around, if not the most popular. Their secret? The fact that Waze is community-driven, makes it a great tool to get accurate and up-to-date navigation and traffic info. For anyone who is using Waze, sharing is caring. By uploading local traffic info like jams, accidents, unexpected hazards or road works, you contribute and help other drivers to avoid delays.
#5 Trucker: the all-in-one truck driver app
Cost: free.
Available for Android and iOS.
Trucker is an app that combines many great tools for truck drivers. Need a place to park for the night? This app will help you find a free parking spot along your path in seconds. Want to know if the next service station is nice and quiet or totally overcrowded? The colours green, yellow and red indicate just how busy it is. Trucker also shows you real-time traffic updates, sends out notifications when bad weather is coming up, enables you to rate the places where you stop for a nap or a snack and lets you see where your fellow truckers are enjoying a nice cup of coffee.