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Best Free (and Low-Cost) Apps Every Truck Driver Should Have

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When you spend most of your time behind the wheel, a good app can make the difference between a smooth trip and a stressful one.  

 

Whether you’re planning routes, checking weigh stations, finding a place to park, or managing your health, there’s an app for just about everything. Many of the best tools are completely free or available at a low cost, making them a great addition to your everyday routine. 

 

Keep reading to learn more about some of the best apps every truck driver should consider downloading before hitting the road. 

 

GPS and Route Planning Apps 

A dependable GPS app is the foundation of any driver’s toolkit. While most smartphones come with built-in navigation, truck drivers need more specialized options that account for height limits, weight restrictions, and hazardous material routes. 

 

SmartTruckRoute 2 is a popular app designed for truck drivers. It uses truck-specific data to plan safe and efficient routes, avoiding roads where your rig might not fit or be allowed. It also provides real-time traffic and weather updates. While the app offers a free trial, full access costs a few dollars per week or month, depending on your plan. 

 

If you prefer a completely free option, Google Maps and Apple Maps still work well for general navigation and local routes, especially when combined with your own knowledge of truck-friendly roads. Many drivers also use Waze, which relies on user updates to report traffic jams, accidents, and hazards in real time. 

 

Weigh Station and Inspection Checkers 

Knowing what’s ahead can save a lot of time and stress. Apps that track weigh stations and inspection sites help you stay informed and compliant. 

 

Weigh My Truck, created by CAT Scale, lets drivers pay for and receive scale tickets right from their phones, saving time by avoiding the need to park and walk inside. 

 

Trucker Path is another essential tool for weigh station information. It provides real-time updates from other drivers about whether weigh stations are open or closed. The app also includes parking availability, fuel prices, and truck stop reviews, making it an all-in-one resource. 

 

Rest Stop and Parking Finders 

Finding safe and convenient parking is one of the toughest challenges on the road. Fortunately, several apps help drivers locate open spaces and plan rest breaks more easily. 

 

Park My Truck, developed in partnership with the National Association of Truck Stop Operators, shows available parking at participating rest areas, truck stops, and other facilities across the country. 

 

Truck Parking Club is another favorite among drivers looking for reliable parking solutions. The app connects drivers with private property owners who have extra space for trucks, providing safe and legal places to park. You can reserve spots in advance, see real-time availability, and read reviews from others who have stayed there.  

 

Fuel Price Trackers 

Every penny you save at the pump adds up over time. Apps that monitor fuel prices can help you plan stops and stretch your fuel budgets further. 

 

GasBuddy remains a favorite among drivers for finding the cheapest fuel nearby. It allows users to report and compare prices in real time, and frequent contributors can earn rewards and discounts. 

 

For professional drivers, Fuelbook is especially useful. It tracks over 12,000 diesel prices at truck stops across North America and includes information about discounts, accepted payment cards, and amenities. Both apps are free, though Fuelbook offers premium upgrades for fleet management. 

 

Health and Fitness Apps 

Life on the road can make it difficult to stay active and eat well. Health and fitness apps can help drivers track progress, stay motivated, and find creative ways to exercise during breaks. 

 

FitOn and Nike Training Club both offer free workout plans that don’t require special equipment, which makes them ideal for parking lot or rest stop workouts. You can choose from short strength, stretching, or cardio sessions that fit into busy schedules. 

 

For tracking steps and activity levels, Google Fit and Apple Health work seamlessly with smartphones and most smartwatches. These apps also log sleep, heart rate, and nutrition goals to help you stay balanced on long hauls. 

 

If you’re looking to improve your diet, MyFitnessPal allows you to log meals and snacks to monitor calories and nutrients. It’s free, with optional paid features for more detailed insights. 

 

Logbook and Compliance Tools 

Staying compliant with Hours of Service (HOS) regulations is essential for every driver. A reliable electronic logging app helps ensure accuracy and makes inspections easier. 

 

Motive (formerly known as KeepTruckin) is one of the most trusted names in electronic logs. The app automatically tracks driving hours, alerts you to upcoming breaks, and stores inspection reports. It integrates with electronic logging devices for fleets but can also be used by independent drivers. 

 

BigRoad is another user-friendly option that offers both a free logbook and a paid version with additional compliance tools. It’s simple to use and keeps all records organized in one place. 

 

 

 

Wondering about other ways to stay ahead of the curve in the transportation industry in 2025? Be sure to check out more posts on our blog and connect with us on social media! 

10 Suggested Truck Driver Apps

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10 Suggested Truck Driver Apps

“I know a great app for that”! That’s a pretty common thing to hear whenever you’re trying to find a new way to be more efficient or focused about some aspect of your life. There are literally hundreds of thousands of apps available for your mobile devices, with more being added daily. We’ve put together a list of a few great truck driver app suggestions to make your life easier.

Truck Driver Apps to Make Driving Easier

1. Waze

Waze: one of the largest travel and traffic app, with over 100 million downloads. Maps are user-updated minute-to-minute. The app gives the most current traffic conditions and potential reroutes due to traffic jams or road closures. In changing traffic conditions, Waze can keep you moving instead of wasting time sitting in traffic jams.

2. Gasbuddy

Gasbuddy: this is a great app to help you keep your gas expenses low. This app provides very timely user-sourced information about gas prices in your current location. As well as locations that you’re planning on stopping at further down the road. If you are given incentives to keep gas prices low, this app and a little extra planning helps you save!

3. TruckerPath

TruckerPath: for help finding weigh stations, rest stops, and amenity info at those truck stops. Considered by some as the most versatile apps for truckers, it can also give weather updates and provide opportunities for truckers to communicate with each other out on the road.

4. Camscanner

Camscanner: This app can help make it easier to keep track of all your receipts that you accumulate while out on the road. You can scan receipts and easily save to the cloud rather than risk losing paper copies. This scanning app works any time, anywhere, without the need for any additional equipment. It’s a great truck driver app that will help keep your expense reports accurate.

Truck Driver Apps to Make Life Easier

5. Keep or 6. Evernote

Keep or Evernote: these apps are very useful for keeping track of to-do lists, reminders or other notes that you  might normally write in a portable notebook. Collect information and keep everything in a handy app for access across all of your mobile devices. Quickly create practical notes like grocery lists or new music to download. It can even save more detailed notes to help you keep your thoughts organized if you’re thinking about writing a book!

7. Skype

Skype: this app has been downloaded literally billions of times. This app helps you keep in touch with family and friends while out on the road. It allows you to have a video chat, rather than just a phone call or text conversation. Skype is also is a great tool for messaging, screen-sharing, and file sharing. You can use this app to help plan date nights or be a “virtual” part of family activities that you might otherwise miss.

8. Headspace

Headspace: we highlighted this app a while back and had great response from some drivers. This app is beneficial to reduce anxiety and boost mindfulness & happiness at any point in the day. If you need a quick 2-minute stress-reliever, or a longer, more soothing session to help you sleep, Headspace is a great app for your overall mental health.

Lastly, we’ll mention a type of app that can help you spend LESS time on your phone. If you think you’re wasting too much time online, one of these could be beneficial to you. With the increase in the amount of time people spend on their phones every day, these types of apps are also gaining popularity.

9. Flipd or 10. ScreenTime

If you think you’ve got an issue with the amount of time you’re spending on your phone, or on social media, you can try either Flipd or ScreenTime. These tools help you track your online time. You can also block selected apps from being used during set hours of the day.

It seems every day there’s a new app created to help you in one way or another. Some are great for making life easier, others are great for keeping in touch. And still others that are simply ways to play games or help pass the time. We hope this short list of recommended truck driver apps is helpful to you. If you’ve got a suggestion for a great app for another trucker to try out, mention it in the comments section below, or drop a link on our Facebook page here. We’d love to share your great ideas with other drivers!

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