Jun 15, 2015

Trucker Path is the highest rated trucking App on iTunes

At the bottom of Trucker Path’s page in the iTunes App Store, you’ll find four other Apps listed under the Customers Also Bought header. It was no surprise to us that, for “latest versions”, our App was the hands-down winner in customer ratings – by a margin of Five stars to Three over the second-highest rated App. What did surprise us was the time and thought one reviewer invested in sharing the story of his own path to trucking – and to the Trucker Path App.[/p]

Read one user’s inspiring path to trucking. And our App!

On behalf of everyone at Trucker Path, thank you, S. Scott McClure (AKA “Ditch Digger”). You’re an inspiration to us all.

“What did we do before gadgets and gizmos?” Scott writes. “Technology has changed the commercial transportation industry tremendously over the years. I have only been driving a commercial vehicle a few months now. I am just amazed at how much technology seems to have changed the face of trucking.”

Scott wasn’t always a trucker

“I was a paramedic 25 years before I started driving a truck,” Scott continues. “I had the privilege of seeing the face of emergency medical services change from paper reports to paperless systems over the years.”

… but trucking was clearly in his blood

Scott explains: “Some of my best friends’ parents have been truckers all their lives. My dad was a diesel mechanic on big trucks until he passed in 1986.”

How technology has changed trucking over the years

“The industry has [evolved] from map books and paper logs to GPS systems, paperless trip documentation and computerized driving logs just over the past 10 years or so,” says Scott, “from what I understand by talking to other longtime truckers.”

Like any industry with a more mature workforce, trucking hasn’t always been particularly welcoming to new tools and technologies, Scott notes. “Yes, there are some who hate technology and some who are thankful. I, for one, am thankful for the advancements in technology.”

A few thoughts on Trucker Path

Scott concludes, “It’s Apps like yours that make life on the road so much easier, and less time-consuming. I would recommend this app to anyone either just starting as a commercial truck driver or to a seasoned professional that has been at it for decades.

“Thank you for providing applications such as this to make life on the road just a little easier! Sincerely, S. Scott McClure (A.K.A. “Ditch Doctor”).”

And again, thank you, Scott, for such inspiring and heartfelt words.

We want to hear your story!

If you’d like to share your thoughts and experiences with our readers, we’d love to profile you on our blog. You can either click here to email your contact info (and best time to call) to Francis – our Content Director – or you can send us your info via private message through our Facebook page. NOTE: Francis will NOT share your contact info with anyone else. Thanks again for your support, and Happy Trucking!

SUMMARY: iTunes users have rated the Trucker Path the best App of its kind for truckers. Online reviewers applauded its new feature for “updating available parking”, and “the fact you can update scales”. And one satisfied customer took the time to share how our App makes life on the road easier for him.

Where are the best truck stops, and how do you find them? [p]In the summer of 2014, [a href="http://bit.ly/1J9KBEa"]Talking Truckers[/a] published a list of the six truck stops that appeared on the most Top Ten US Truck Stops polls published online.[/p] [h2]Yep, there’s an app for that![/h2] [p]Those truck stops (in alphabetical order) are:[/p] [ul] [li][a href="http://iowa80truckstop.com/"]IOWA 80[/a] (Walcott, IA)[/li] [li][a href="http://flagstaff.littleamerica.com/travel-center/gas-and-fuel-prices"]LITTLE AMERICA[/a] (Flagstaff, AZ)[/li] [li][a href="https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=MORRIS+TRAVEL+CENTER+truck+stop+illinois"]MORRIS TRAVEL CENTER[/a] (Morris, IL)[/li] [li][a href="http://www.sappbros.net/travel-centers/"]SAPP BROTHERS[/a] (Sydney, NE)[/li] [li][a href="http://www.thesouthoftheborder.com/"]SOUTH OF THE BORDER[/a] (Hamer, SC)[/li] [li][a href="http://www.primmvalleyresorts.com/whiskey-petes"]WHISKEY PETE’S[/a] (Primm, NV)[/li] [/ul] [p]That said, our search for websites for the six winners above highlights the difficulty of answering the question posed in this piece’s headline. Given the revenue generated by a well-run truck stop, you’d probably think all six would have easy-to-find websites. You’d be wrong.[/p] [p]In fact, one of the six (Morris) didn’t even have a single page dedicated to it on TA /Petro’s website, while Whiskey Pete’s page in the Primm Valley Casino Resorts site mentions nothing about the truck stop itself.[/p] [p][b]So how do you find good truck stops?[/b][/p] [p]We’ve already demonstrated the problem with relying strictly on the Internet for ratings. There are still huge gaps in the information published online. Which is why, until very recently, there was only one [i]mostly[/i] reliable source of information. Word of mouth. We say “mostly” because opinions can vary widely – and what one driver considers good may not be remotely important to another driver.[/p] [p]At the same time, Word of Mouth isn’t always available where you need it, when you need it.[/p] [p][b]What if there were an app for that?[/b][/p] [p]That’s exactly what the founders of the Trucker Path app asked themselves when they started development of its Trip Planner feature – which shows users every major truck stop along whatever route they type into its extremely user-friendly interface.[/p] [p]Truck stops are displayed either as pins on a map or in List View – which displays results from the closest to the farthest along your route, by miles, and includes each truck stop’s address [i]and[/i] user rating. Tap on a truck stop’s listing, and you’ll find the following information and / or options:[/p] [ul] [li]Current fuel price[/li] [li]Directions[/li] [li]Phone / fax / web address[/li] [li]Parking availability and parking load history[/li] [li]Scales? Y/N[/li] [li]Showers? (# available)[/li] [li]Wi-Fi Internet[/li] [li]ATM[/li] [li]Bulk DEF[/li] [li]Tire care? Y/N[/li] [li]TRANSFLOW Express[/li] [li]RV dump station? (# available)[/li] [li]Overnight parking? (Y/N)[/li] [li]Truck parking spots[/li] [li]Nearby restaurants with distance & directions from truck stop[/li] [/ul] [p]And on top of all that information, the app features user ratings on thousands of those truck stops. Programming, for instance, the 146-mile trip from Birmingham to Atlanta yields 26 truck stops. Not to mention three Weigh Stations and one Overnight Parking lot. The app also lists route-side truck washes, rest areas and Walmarts.[/p] [p]So remember: The next time somebody tells you they’re having a hard time finding good truck stops, you have a ready response: “There’s an app for that.”[/p] [br][p][i]SUMMARY: An overview of the best US truck stops, from the developers of Trucker Path – rated one of the best Apps for truckers. Among its many features, the app helps truckers find open weigh stations and nearby TRANSFLO.[/i][/p]

May 11, 2015

How to find better freight brokers. And carriers [p]There’s a reason most Independent Owner Operators have relationships with freight brokers: They don’t have the time and resources it takes to find a steady stream of loads, in addition to time and resources it takes to haul a steady stream of loads. That’s not even counting the time and resources it takes to [i]manage[/i] loads from point to point.[/p] [h2]There’s a better way than Load Boards to get the information you need[/h2] [p][b]How many drivers have time for [i]that[/i]?[/b][/p] [p]Lisa Lowery with Birmingham, Alabama-based [a href="http://www.baggettservicesinc.com/"]Baggett Services[/a] – where revenues today are more than ten times what they were before 2010 – points to the sheer volume of busy-work she handles for drivers.[/p] [p]“Number one would be cold calling,” she says. In other words, building a strong network of quality customers who need the kind of freight shipped that pays well. One of Baggett’s main sources for quality loads over the past few years has been the commercial Aerospace industry. Not the easiest market to crack, but certainly a very good one, once you’ve proven yourself.[/p] [p]Another time-consuming task would be building and maintaining a Rate Matrix. For those of you who aren’t familiar with the term, a Rate Matrix is a hauler’s per-mile price on a state-by-state basis. It’s a relatively new concept to the industry, but one that more and more shippers require from brokers as a reference point when comparing prices for loads. And naturally, the more brokers have to compete on price, the less time and energy they can afford to dedicate to service – and the more valuable a broker’s computer-automated support becomes.[/p] [p][b]We have the technology...[/b][/p] [p]“In just the past year alone, our business has become a lot more computer-driven,” says Lowery. And while the percentage of truckers with smartphones and tablets rose, according to [a href="http://www.ccjdigital.com/"]CCJ[/a], from 30 % in 2011 to 80 % by the end of 2014, “most drivers still aren’t that interested in using technology to manage the kind of work we do for them every day.”[/p] [p][b]... so what’s wrong with the technology?[/b][/p] [p]One big reason drivers may be reluctant to rely more on technology for their business is the number of bad stories connected to Load Boards. The main reason for that? Lack of reliable information, through Load Boards, about Brokers. And, for that matter, about Carriers.[/p] [p][b]The future? Better information for everyone.[/b][/p] [p]Charlie Myers – a 35+ year industry veteran and President, from 2002 to 2008 of Getloaded.com – believes the industry’s future is in the Marketplace concept, where quality information is freely available to everyone interested in connecting online. “Trust is a huge issue in our business, and information is the key to building trust.[/p] [p][b]Trust, but verify![/b][/p] [p]“In the ideal online marketplace, both parties benefit. Carriers should be able to see what loads a broker has, and brokers should have easy access to critical background info on carriers that’s published by the government – from their CSA scores to their safety ratings and insurance coverage. Most importantly, in that marketplace, [i]everyone[/i] has the opportunity to offer candid ratings and feedback about their working experiences.[/p] [p]“That kind of Open Information environment has a great way of attracting quality partners, and driving out the people who give our industry a bad name,” Myers continues. And while the overwhelming majority of brokers and carriers are honest business people, just about anyone in the business has been burned at least once.[/p] [p]How long before the marketplace concept takes hold? Stay tuned.[/p] [br][p][i]SUMMARY: Advice for independent carriers looking to expand their network of quality brokers and shippers, from the developers of Trucker Path – an App which is now accepting members to its Truckloads trucking marketplace.[/i][/p]

May 18, 2015

Facebook friends comment on our parking lot status feature [p]Not long ago, Trucker Path officially announced the release of our Truck Parking Lot Status Updates feature. [a href="https://www.facebook.com/TruckerPath/posts/676574665822152"]That post[/a] generated 748 likes (and counting) – the most of any announcement this year, by a margin of nearly 200. It also generated 65 Comments (and counting!) from our Friends.[/p] [h2]Check-out how our app is now helping these users![/h2] [p]First, special thanks to everyone for your Likes and your comments. We’ve read them all. We love all the kind words so many of you offered, and we genuinely appreciate all of your suggestions. And yes, we even appreciate the complaints – because you’re helping us make Trucker Path App better for you.[/p] [p]Here are a few comments we thought you might find interesting, followed by our responses:[/p] [p][b]Sandi (from Vallejo, CA)[/b][/p][p][i]The [updates] are awesome!!! I loved the app BEFORE the changes. Best and most used app on my phone. These changes will make it even better. Love it! By the way, this is a great app for anyone who loves a trucker. My husband calls me all the time, asking me to check this app because he is currently driving and doesn't have reception, but needs to know where the nearest TRANSFLO is. Or the number of overnight parking spots at the next stop, the closest weigh station, etc. He tells me all the time, I keep him running smoothly. Thank you. :0)[/i][/p] [p]– Thank you, Sandi. And please feel free to send us any ideas or suggestions for making the app even better for you, and your husband![/p] [br] [p][b]Ross (a dirt-bike enthusiast)[/b][/p][p][i]It looks like you guys got it all together now. Success is inevitable, the snowball affect has started. Good for you, I supported the app when it started and I still do, use it every day. Overall very good job. But I've already shared with all the people I know who drive a truck, so stop sending me the “Share” pop-up.[/i][/p] [p]– Duly noted, Ross! By the way, love your Yankees hat. Are you a fan?[/p] [br] [p][b]Leroy (from Houston)[/b][/p][p][i]I love the app. It’s really great with finding fuel and low clearance stuff like that. Need to update Weigh Station info faster. Always slow to update.[/i][/p] [p]– We agree, Leroy. And that’s where you can help! Whenever possible, remember to report a weigh station’s Open / Closed Status. We’ve tried to make it as easy to report as possible, but we welcome your suggestions for improving that feature.[/p] [br] [p][b]Eric (from Reese, MI)[/b][/p][p][i]I update scales and parking all the time.[/i][/p] [p]– Eric, users like you are the biggest reason why so many people love our App. Thank you from everyone at Trucker Path.[/p] [br] [p][b]Raymond (from Smiths Grove, KY)[/b][/p][p][i]Love this app. Wish we could’ve had this technology 30 years ago.[/i][/p] [p][i]– Great news: We’re putting the final touches on Trucker Path’s time-travel feature, and we’d like to enlist you as a Beta Tester. You can expect a call from us sometime in mid June, 1985![/p] [br][p][i]SUMMARY: The developers of Trucker Path – the best App for truckers (company drivers, owner operators and independent carriers),available as a free download for Android and iPhone – are proud to announce the release of a new feature which helps truckers find parking at truck stops, rest areas and overnight parking lots.[/i][/p]

Jun 10, 2015