Jul 14, 2020 • Carriers

GPS Devices for Trucks

GPS Devices for Trucks

Truck GPS navigation devices are different than the one you might use in your everyday car or truck. The screens are usually larger, sturdier for everyday use, and offer more advanced, but necessary, features truck drivers need to safely and efficiently make it to their destination. Here are some of the most common GPS devices that Truckers use in this day and age.

1. Garmin dezl 770LMT

Cost: Approximately $450-$500

Description: 7” HD screen with glass display.

Features: This trucking GPS navigation unit features a truck and trailers services directory, customized trucking routes, lifetime map updates, weigh station alerts, traffic and weather information, backup camera compatibility, and Bluetooth capabilities for hands-free use.

2. Rand McNally TND 520

Cost: Approximately $400

Description: 5” display screen.

Features: This trucking GPS navigation unit features updates on weather, fuel pricing, traffic, and travel centers along with assistance tracking fuel and mileage logs.

3. TruckWayGPS – Model 720

Cost: Approx $150

Description: large 7” touch screen display, with 800×400 pixels.

Features: This trucking GPS navigation unit provides drivers with current and up-to-date maps, 3D maps, as well as free maps for the US and Canada. You can even enter the weight and directions for your truck so you can get the best route for the type of load you’re hauling.

For many drivers, a GPS unit on its own isn’t enough to give them the information they want or need. Many drivers like to use supplementary apps to ensure they have their location and approach nailed down. Apps like Trucker Path offer additional information and features that GPS units simply don’t have (for only $9.99 a month),such as more information on truck stops, best places for truckers to get food, best places to stay the night, updates on whether stops are open, and even ratings from other truck drivers on what these places are like.

By Aldous Aldwin

TagsTruck Truck Driver truck drivers Owner Operator trucking GPS truck GPS Trucker Path Trucking Industry truck stops Truck driver tips Owner Operators Technology Trucking Tips

Industry Voice - The Trucking Fitness Company <em>Trucker Path gets up close with The Trucking Fitness Company, whose mission is to help truck drivers exercise consistently while on the road so they stay behind the wheel longer and retire on their own terms. We're honored to talk to their Founder, Mark Manera and discuss what The Trucking Fitness Company is all about.</em> <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/03/202103-BLOG-TP-IndustryVoice-TheTruckingFitnessCompany-3.jpg" alt=""] <h3><strong>TP: Tell us a short story about you.</strong></h3> I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri and have been passionate about health and wellness my whole life. I grew up playing baseball and started doing Crossfit once my baseball career ended. Crossfit really ignited my passion for health and wellness. Which also inspired me to go to Physical Therapy school. <h2></h2> A little trivia: my favorite TV shows are Shark Tank, The Bachelor, and Survivor. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>TP: What made you decide to get into health/fitness and specifically for the trucking industry? </strong></h3> In my 5th year of Physical Therapy school, I had a clinical rotation in a small town in southern Missouri. Through that experience, I worked with a lot of truck drivers in the clinic. I saw the good and the bad of the trucking industry. And a lot of the bad aspects of the industry came from the reason why they were in the clinic in the first place, their health. After experiencing that and having a lot of long conversations with those patients who were truck drivers, I was inspired to start The Trucking Fitness Company. I wanted to give drivers everywhere a chance to fight back. Give them a chance to live a healthier life on the road. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/03/mark-manera-truckinfit2.png" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>TP: Ever tried driving a truck? </strong></h3> I have not driven a truck before and I don’t have my CDL, but I’ve spent plenty of time in a truck. I’m very open to the fact that I’m not a truck driver, but I think there are a lot of advantages to that. I have spent countless hours talking to drivers. I’ve listened to their stories, their struggles, and have asked them for a lot of feedback on our program and how we can make it easier for them to do while on the road. I have taken all of that information and combined it with my background of physical therapy/health and wellness to create something really special for the trucking industry. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>TP: What are the common habits that a truck driver should change?</strong></h3> I think there’s a mindset problem for a lot of truck drivers. And I don’t think it’s their fault for having this mindset, but moreso a cultural problem within the trucking industry. A lot of drivers don’t make their health a priority because they think it’s impossible to live a healthy life on the road. It’s become so much of a norm in the truck industry that poor health seems to be a part of the job description. And I’m here to change that. <h2></h2> Truck drivers need to do two things: <li> Take action. Just find a way to get started. You don’t have to have a perfect plan, you just need to take the first couple of steps in the right direction. You’ll figure out the rest of the plan as time goes on.</li> <li>They need a support system. Life on the road is lonely at times. And when you’re on your own, you need to find ways to create accountability in your life. One example of this is having a deep conversation with a close friend or significant other about your struggles and the reasons why you want to make a change in your life. Then they can help you stick with those changes and stay consistent during the tough times!</li> <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/03/202103-BLOG-TP-IndustryVoice-TheTruckingFitnessCompany-2.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>TP: Tell us something about The Trucking Fitness Company. How did it start? </strong></h3> The Trucking Fitness Company was born out of the experiences I had while working with truck drivers in a physical therapy clinic. I saw the struggles they go through and the lack of support they have with their health while on the road. So, I decided to do something about it. We are the best health and wellness solution out there for truck drivers. And we take a lot of pride in the fact that our program was built for truck drivers. No one else. <h2></h2> Our goal is to meet you, a truck driver, where you’re at and give you the easiest starting point possible. We want to take away as many barriers that have stopped you from starting in the past as we can. We’re going to make it easy for you to lose that 30lbs, get more energy to play with your kids, and fight back so you can retire on your own terms. We do that through our easy to use app directly on your phone that gives you a daily 20-30 minute workout that you can do in or just outside of your truck with no gym or fancy workout equipment needed. We give all our members a free resistance band and that’s the only piece of equipment you’ll need! Also through our app, we help drivers build healthier lifestyle and nutrition habits while helping you stay consistent with daily messages, 24/7 access to a coach, and putting you into accountability groups with other like minded drivers. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>TP: What do you think are the obstacles/barriers of truckers into getting a proper fitness routine? </strong></h3> There are a ton of obstacles that drivers face while on the road: <h2></h2> <li>Being behind the wheel 8-11 hours a day</li> <li>Limited food options</li> <li>Lack of a community</li> <li>Poor sleep while in their truck</li> <li>No access to a gym or help on how to get started</li> <li>The stigma within the trucking industry that truck drivers can’t be healthy</li> <li>Lack of confidence in their health</li> <li>Feel down/depressed about where their health and wellness is currently at</li> <li>Feeling like they can’t do anything about it</li> <li>Anxious about the future and how long they are able to work for/how long their career will be</li> <h2></h2> Medical/health problems <h2></h2> <li>Life expectancy of truck drivers is 16 years less than the average population</li> <li>85% are overweight</li> <li>48% are obese</li> <li>2x higher risk of becoming obese compared to the average adults</li> <li>1 in every 7 has Type 2 Diabetes</li> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>TP: What are the benefits of your program for truck drivers? Is there an age limit?</strong></h3> Our program gives truck drivers the chance to take back control of their health. We have a wide variety of drivers in our program from new truckers who don’t want their health to go down the same path they see other’s at the truck stops have gone down to 40 year vets who want to retire on their own terms. There’s no age limit to our program. We have a program for all fitness levels and want to help! <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/03/202103-BLOG-TP-IndustryVoice-TheTruckingFitnessCompany-4.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>TP: What are some notable breakthroughs or improvements from Truckers that subscribed to your program? </strong></h3> We have had some awesome transformations throughout our time working with drivers. My favorite stories are the ones where I can tell they’re in it for the long haul. The most recent story I can think of is one of our drivers, who for a while was struggling to make it stick and dealing with some family/job problems. She made the commitment to make a change in her life, started doing our workouts daily and lost 9lbs in the first two weeks. I’m not sure how much weight she has lost in total by now, but I can tell you that I see her posting her workout almost everyday. Something has clicked for her and this is going to be a lifelong change! <h2></h2> <h3><strong>TP: What are some quick fitness tips that you would like to share for truckers?</strong></h3> There’s no perfect plan. Instead of spending so much time planning up this perfect routine, put your shoes on and get moving. Just like driving, you don’t get very far with your health and fitness goals without actually moving. So, if you feel like you’re at a loss with exactly what to do, find a coach or program like ours that you can follow. If you have an activity that you enjoy and can consistently do while on the road, like go for a walk, do that! <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2021/03/mark-manera-truckinfit.png" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>TP: How can truckers subscribe to your fitness program? </strong></h3> Our goal is to make it as easy for truck drivers to start exercising as possible! You can get set up and start your first workout in less than 5 minutes by visiting this <a href="https://truckinfit.com/ourprogram/">LINK.</a> <h2></h2> And because we love all the people at Trucker Path so much, if you use the code <strong>“TRUCKERPATH”</strong> at the checkout, we will give you 20% off your first month! <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h4>By Aldous Aldwin</h4> <h3></h3> <h3></h3>

Mar 04, 2021 • Community

How to Grow Your Hard Earned Money in Trucking [p]There are at least 3 ways to "grow" one's hard earned money in trucking:[/p] [p]1. earn more for what you do as a trucker;[/p] [p]2. earn a second income from the cab of one's truck; and[/p] [p]3. put your money in an investment that lets it grow while you're driving. [/p] [p]The majority of truckers are paid by the mile or by the task, meaning that they are trading their time for money.[/p] [p]There are a lot of "time wasters" associated with trucking, including: [/p] <li>detention at shipper and receiver locations;</li> <h2></h2> <li>waiting for loads;</li> <h2></h2> <li>road construction; </li> <h2></h2> <li>bad weather and storms; </li> <h2></h2> <li>bottlenecks and congestion; </li> <h2></h2> <li>mechanical breakdowns;</li> <h2></h2> <li>accidents (both preventable and not preventable); and</li> <h2></h2> <li>time that the Hours of Service regulations force truckers to wait without getting paid.</li> <h2></h2> [p]Seek to reduce or eliminate as many of these time wasters as possible.[/p] <h2></h2> [p]Regarding earning more money for what you do, you can:[/p] <li>make yourself available to drive during all hours when you legally can drive;</li> <h2></h2> <li>develop a good relationship with those in your trucking company who assign loads, including your driver manager;</li> <h2></h2> <li>develop good relationships with mechanics in your trucking company's shop, so that they will perform maintenance or repairs on your truck in a timely manner; </li> <h2></h2> <li>be friendly with everyone with whom you come in contact, including guards and lumpers; </li> <h2></h2> <li>work for a trucking company that values your experience and will pay you accordingly; and</li> <h2></h2> <li>perform with excellence all of the tasks assigned to you, so that you will develop a good reputation and be worthy of getting more miles or being assigned higher paying tasks.</li> <h2></h2> [p]Seek to pay off all that you owe as you buy things, so that you don't have to pay credit card interest.[/p] <h2></h2> [p]If you don't have a budget, begin by using our "spending diary" (free download) for a minimum of 30 days so that you track where you are spending money.[/p] [p]From there, set up a budget, including what you save.[/p] [p]When the time is right, put your savings into:[/p] <li>either an interest-bearing account of some kind;</li> <h2></h2> <li>or investments that are most likely to grow.</li> <h2></h2> [p]Two ways to save more money as a trucker include:[/p] <li>preparing and eating as many meals as possible in your truck; and </li> <li>resisting the urge to spend money on non-critical things. </li> [p]We provide 35+ free downloads through our site.[/p] [p]To get them instantly by email, sign up through the form on the page listed below and confirm your subscription: <h2></h2> <a href="https://www.truck-drivers-money-saving-tips.com/free-downloads.html">https://www.truck-drivers-money-saving-tips.com/free-downloads.html</a>[/p] [p]On behalf of my husband Mike and me, we wish all professional truck drivers safe travels and lots of money saving opportunities on the road.[/p] <h2></h2> <h2></h2> [p][b]By Vicki Simons[/b][/p] <a href="https://www.truck-drivers-money-saving-tips.com/">https://www.truck-drivers-money-saving-tips.com/</a>

Jan 08, 2021 • Carriers

How Does Trucker Path Work? <em>If you're reading this then you have probably just started using <a href="https://truckerpath.com/trucker-path-app/">Trucker Path</a> or may have forgotten the many awesome features of our app. Don't worry, we've got you covered.</em> <h2></h2> Millions of truckers rely on Trucker Path to find information on truck stops, parking updates, and truck specific routing while over the road. We're proud to be serving the largest and most active community of truckers. Inside the Trucker Path app, you'll find tons of useful tools made for trucking, but we've rounded up the 3 core features: <h2></h2> <h3><strong>FIND TRUCK STOPS</strong></h3> Find and navigate your path to thousands of truck stops, discover the amenities, and read through the reviews left by visitors. <a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/Emailer1-1-1.jpg"><img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/Emailer1-1-1-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5103" /></a> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>GET REAL-TIME INFORMATION</strong></h3> Find truck stops and rest areas and get their available parking spots in real time, crowdsourced by the thousand of truckers each day. <a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/Emailer1-2.jpg"><img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/Emailer1-2-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5104" /></a> <h2></h2> Similar to parking, you can also see whether a weigh station is open or closed in real time. They are updated daily and help you plan routes accordingly. <a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/Emailer1-3.jpg"><img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/Emailer1-3-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5105" /></a> <h2></h2> <h3><strong>MAKE TRIPS PLANS</strong></h3> Plan entire trips spanning multiple days with our Trip Planner. Simply enter your pick-up and drop-off locations, any midway stops, and our map will do the rest! See truck stops and places along the way, and get routes made for your truck dimension. <h2></h2> <a href="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/Emailer1-4.jpg"><img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/07/Emailer1-4-300x300.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="300" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-5106" /></a> <h2></h2> Try it out yourself. Start using Trucker Path now by clicking this <a href="http://vip.truckerpath.com/gold-member?utm_source=email&utm_medium=nurture-interest">LINK.</a> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h4>By Aldous Aldwin</h4> <h3></h3> <h3></h3>

Jul 03, 2020 • Carriers