Trucking is a tough job, but there are a lot of tools and resources out there than can make a trucker’s life easier. From navigation units to calculators and weather watchers, truckers have a chance to take advantage of lots of tools that streamline the way they work. We’ve compiled 100 of the best of these resources here.

News & Blogs

Go beyond CB chatter with these news and blog sites. You’ll get connected with insightful commentary and news about topics that affect truckers.

  1. Trucking Jobs: Get the latest information on trucking employment here.
  2. State DOTs: State DOT sites offer lots of information that’s useful to truckers. Check out this link to get connected with the state you’re looking for.
  3. Life on the Road: For stories, opinions, and analysis of current events in trucking, check out this blog.
  4. Truck Talk: Learn about the latest in Australian trucking news and resources here.
  5. Trucker Talk: Find out about new corridors, trucking employment news, tales from the road, and lots more on this blog by truckers, for truckers.
  6. Diesel News: Stay up to date on what’s going on with diesel by reading this blog.
  7. Truck Info: This site delivers headlines that relate to truckers.
  8. Trucking Blog Network: Get the latest in opinions and information on the trucking industry and lifestyle from all around the world on this network.
  9. Truck Trader Online: Learn about new products, trucks, and news for truckers on Truck Trader Online.
  10. Mexico Trucker: Get news about the Mexican trucking industry on this blog.
  11. RoadKing: This site for long-haul truckers has industry news, technical articles, and human interest stories.
  12. Adventures in Trucking: Enjoy the scenery and lifestyle that this husband and wife team discusses.
  13. Jean Catudal’s Blog on Trucking: Find commentary and political news about the Canadian trucking industry in this blog.
  14. Mickey’s Heavy Haul: Get photos and commentary from this trucker who specializes in big loads.

Calculators

Whether you’re trying to figure out gas mileage or shipment size, this collection of calculators is sure to come in handy.

  1. Rand McNally Mileage Calculator for Palm OS: Palm Piloting truckers can take advantage of this map maker’s mileage calculator. Check it out with a free trial.
  2. Fuel Usage Calculator: Find out how much fuel you’re using and just how much it costs by using this calculator.
  3. CSG Calculators: This site has lots of calculators for truckers, from fuel consumption to potential driving time.
  4. Tank Volume Calculator: Determine the capacity of any tank by entering simple dimensions into this calculator.
  5. Idling Calculator: Use this calculator to estimate how much fuel you can save from reducing idling time.
  6. Shipment Measurements: Measure the cubic dimensions of non-palletized freight with this calculator.
  7. DieselBoss QuickCalc: Use the QuickCalc to make daily log entries without having to do the math. You’ll be able to figure out miles traveled as well as average speed.
  8. WebMiler: Use this full-featured service to track mileage, routing, and save mileage summary reports.

Gadgets

Get super-functional on the road with these cool tools. They’ll make it easy to find your way, stay awake, or just keep yourself entertained.

  1. Magellan GPS: Check out Magellan’s GPS units for navigation that offers routing, turn-by-turn directions, and more.
  2. UMPC: Ultra-Mobile PCs give you the functionality of a full laptop computer in a much more compact device.
  3. Logitech Digital Pen: Take digital notes on the road and upload them to your computer automatically with this device.
  4. Doze Alert: Prevent yourself from napping on the road by putting this gadget on your ear. It will emit a buzzing sound when your head tilts forward.
  5. Laptop Stand: Put your laptop in the copilot’s chair and it will be conveniently close to you at all times.
  6. Radar Detectors: Visit this page to get an introduction to radar detectors as well as a discussion on their legality for truckers.
  7. Talking Road Whiz: With this device, you can get distance, directions, and driving time to thousands of services located near major thoroughfares.
  8. Vu Qube: With the Vu Qube, you can watch satellite TV on the road.
  9. CB Radio: What rig would be complete without a CB radio? Visit this page to get information on devices, accessories, codes, terminology, and more.
  10. Protek-dor: Use this product to protect yourself while you’re sleeping in your truck at night.
  11. V-Cast Mobile TV: You can get broadcast-style TV on your cell phone using Verizon’s service.
  12. Satellite Radio: Check out this page to get the lowdown on satellite radio service.
  13. Tripp Lite Power Inverter Outlet: Get access to three outlets at once by using this gadget to transfer power from your truck.
  14. Garmin Navigators: Check out Garmin’s line of portable street navigators for mapping and navigation that’s always there.

Software

Independent truckers and fleet managers have to corral lots of information. These software packages make taking care of business easier, whether you need help with accounting to maintenance reminders.

  1. Nautilus In-Cab: This program has options for income and expense tracking, customer contacts, and navigation.
  2. Dr. Dispatch: This transportation software makes it easy to streamline your business, featuring accounting, confirmations, reports, and more.
  3. Freight Capital: Use Freight Capital’s service to get paid immediately for delivered loads instead of waiting for individual customers to pay their invoices.
  4. Choice Technologies: ChoiceTRAK has editions for both small business and enterprise, offering essential functionality for each.
  5. TATEMS: Ensure that your fleet is always up to date on maintenance with this software.
  6. Rotella Software: This dispatching software makes it easy to automate repetitive data.
  7. Freight Management Systems: Freight Management Systems offers logistics software with functions from dispatch to accounting, as well as internet-based applications.
  8. ROADVision: Use this software to manage your trucking business from rating and billing to fuel tax and mapping.
  9. Comply Guard: Stay in compliance with D.O.T. regulations with this package that includes log auditing, drug testing, qualification tracing, and more.
  10. Safe Freight: Get fleet management, asset tracking, security, wireless communications and more with Safe Freight.
  11. Aljex Software: With Aljex, you’ll get brokerage, tracking, inventory, and lots more.

Find Work

Whether you’ve got your own rig or are in search of a trucking firm to work for, these boards make it easy to get connected to the work you want to do.

  1. 123Loadboard: Use 123Loadboard to find loads, freight, and trucks.
  2. 1800Drivers: Search this job board for employers that are looking for a specific job type with experience and equipment.
  3. eTrucker Jobs: On eTrucker, you can choose which companies can see your resume and determine what kind of job you’re looking for.
  4. Roadside: This resource point offers a resume posting service and job search.
  5. CDL Jobs: Find truck driving jobs and review truck company profiles on this job site.
  6. uShip: Bid on loads in this auction-style marketplace.
  7. DieselBoss Job Board: Check out this job board to find detailed job listings and post a profile.
  8. LoadFinder: Get real-time posts of available loads with free mileage, routing, and travel forecasting.
  9. Class A Drivers: Find trucking jobs in your state on this job board.
  10. Internet Truckstop: This freight matching service is one of the largest and has lots of tools to help you find loads.

Service

When you’re on the road as much as truckers are, it’s inevitable that you’ll need to stop for service, rest, or entertainment at some point. These resources help you locate repair shops, weigh stations, and other useful places for truckers.

  1. DieselBoss Rest Areas and Weigh Stations: Search this database to find rest areas and DOT scale weigh stations on the road.
  2. Roadside: Find roadside assistance, repair service, road conditions, weather and more on Roadside. This site is available on mobile phone WAP service.
  3. CAT Scale Locator: Use this search to find the CAT scale that’s nearest to you.
  4. DieselBoss Database: Check out this database to find repair shops, service locations, and sales for big rigs.
  5. Streets and Trips Map for Truckers: Use this map with Microsoft Streets and Trips 2007 to find truck stops, low clearance Wal-marts, weigh stations, rest areas and more.
  6. NTTS: Check out this truck and trailer services breakdown directory for help when you need it.
  7. DieselBoss Truck Stop Directory: Find truck stops with WiFi hot spots, showers, and more, searchable by location.
  8. Blue Beacon Truck Wash Locations: Find a place to get your truck washed on the road with this list. You can download versions in Excel, comma separated values, and plain text.

Navigation & Trip Planning

For truckers, time is money. That means that you’re on a constant search for the most efficient route from point A to point B. Use these tools to help find the best way to get there.

  1. MapQuest: With MapQuest Mobile, you can use a web-enabled phone to get directions on the go. You can also download applications for a fee.
  2. Truck Miles: Run trips and get maps made for truckers on this site. You’ll also be able to estimate your total profit for the trip.
  3. TourSolver: Schedule routes with TourSolver, and you’ll be able to export to your calendar, navigation system, and more.
  4. Rand McNally: Rand McNally offers a mobile navigator, street finder, and traffic application.
  5. CoPilot Truck: Turn your laptop into a GPS navigation system with CoPilot Truck. You’ll get spoken dock-to-dock directions.
  6. Google Maps: On Google Maps, you can get directions anywhere as well as real-time traffic and delay estimates for 30 major US metro areas.
  7. Map & Guide Truck Navigator: This navigation software offers a cost-effective guide to routing in eastern Europe.
  8. Tiger: Use the US Census Bureau’s Tiger Map Service to find interstates, parks, railroads, zipcode points and more, all with an available latitude and longitude grid.

Road & Weather Conditions

Construction, traffic, and hazardous weather can make a major dent in your route’s efficiency. Stay up to date on the conditions with these tools.

  1. Safe Travel USA: With Safe Travel USA, you’ll get access to weather forecasts along your route in the upper midwest as well as Georgia and Nevada.
  2. Beat The Traffic: Use Beat The Traffic to find out about live traffic conditions, create routes, find travel time, and construct alternate routes that will help you beat traffic.
  3. Road Conditions: With Truck Miles, get lnked up to road conditions all over the US on this site.
  4. National Traffic and Road Closure Information: Use this database to find closure information for the US.
  5. DieselBoss Weather Map: Get weather information for any extended metro area in the US on this map.
  6. The Cyber Truck Stop Roadcams: Find links to road cams in a variety of US regions on this site.
  7. Weather.com: For interstate forecasts, radar, and more, check out Weather.com’s driving section.
  8. Intellicast: On Intellicast, you can get road conditions on their highway list as well as weather updates and a travel outlook.
  9. AccuTraffic: AccuTraffic offers weather forecasts and traffic conditions for the US.

Fuel

With fuel costs rising every day, it’s critical for truckers to get the latest information on filling up. These tools offer pricing information for a variety of truck stops and other service stations, so you’ll always know where you can get the best deal.

  1. DieselBoss Fuel Report: Get this report for an aggregated list of prices for leading truck stop diesel prices. You’ll also get a fuel surcharge report.
  2. Flying J Pricing: Get pricing for individual Flying J locations as well as updates on their level of supply.
  3. Truckloadrate: Find route-specific fuel prices as well as accurate diesel fuel costs to carry a lane.
  4. Love’s Fuel Prices: Find pricing for Love’s Travel Stops, searchable by state.
  5. MapQuest Gas Prices: Locate the cheapest gas prices anywhere in the US, Canada and Mexico using MapQuest’s tool.
  6. Travel Centers of America: Get retail prices for Travel Centers of America here.
  7. Pilot Travel Center Complete Pricing List: Locate cheap fuel from Pilot as well as current promotions on this site.
  8. Speedway: Look up pricing by zip or city on Speedway’s website.

Mobile Connectivity

Nearly all of these highly useful resources are available exclusively online, which is a problem for most truckers, as cabs are generally not hooked up to the Internet. Here are solutions to fix that problem and get mobile access while you’re on the road.

  1. Verizon Wireless National Access: Verizon’s service makes it possible to access the Internet from just about anywhere in the nation.
  2. Truck Stop Wi-Fi: Getting Started: Get the lowdown on getting connected at truck stops here.
  3. Ground Control: Stay connected on the road using Ground Control’s portable and in-motion systems.
  4. Targus WiFi Scanner: Use this device to detect hotspots without booting up your computer.
  5. Helio Hybrid: Helio offers a mobile virtual network, so you can use it to connect with the Internet all over North America.
  6. Foolproof Hotspot Security: If you’re going to connect to a hotspot on the road, make sure you’re safe by following these tips from a fellow trucker.
  7. Mobile Wireless Antennas: Boost your ability to connect to wireless networks with these antennas.
  8. Sprint Mobile Broadband: Get Sprint’s AirCard, and you’ll be able to connect to the Internet from anywhere.
  9. CellFlex: Get online using your cell phone with CellFlex.
  10. WiFi Finder: Use this map to find WiFi at campgrounds, truck stops, and rest stops along your route.