Top 5 Gadgets for Truckers

In this week’s blog, we’re counting down the top 5 gizmos that improve the driving experience for those who spend hours on the road. 

5. Portable refrigerator/freezer

When you’re on the road for 360 days a year, constantly eating out can be both very expensive and unhealthy. By purchasing food from the grocery store and storing it in their cab, HGV drivers are able to save up to 40-79% on meals when compared to going to fast food restaurants. Buying a portable refrigerator is therefore a great investment for truckers! 

Plus, there’s nothing better than cold drinks and ice creams on a swelteringly hot day. The portable freezer is a surprising addition to the top 5 gadgets – but it’s definitely one of the most useful purchases a HGV driver could make. 

4. iPad

iPads and other tablet devices have become an essential all-in-one entertainment tool for drivers. Apple’s versatile tablet computer enables you to listen to music, stream television and play games – perfect for alleviating boredom during downtime on long trips.

With a high resolution screen perfect for browsing the internet and a top quality camera ideal for calling family members on FaceTime – the iPad is a must-have device for all truckers. Do you have one on your Christmas list this year? 

3. Dash cam

A dash cam is a huge asset to truckers everywhere. The camera serves as a second pair of eyes, as its data can be accessed to prove who is at fault in the event of an accident. 

When choosing a dash cam, you will find that there are various options on the market and many important features to consider before purchasing. The first thing to note is storage – where your footage goes once recorded is incredibly important; some save a finite amount of footage to internal micro SD cards – others are internet-connected and automatically upload footage to the cloud, eliminating the need for manual retrieval. 

Another aspect to consider is the different ways in which your dash cam is situated in your vehicle. Is it a suction cup or adhesive? We recommend the latter – these offer quick, easy and secure installs. 

The most important feature of any dash cam is video quality – this is critical when reviewing footage. For optimal quality, search for dash cams with a wide-angled lens or wide dynamic range (WDR) that offer full high definition videos. Consider FHD or HD 1080p video if you want best-in-class resolution strong enough to read licence plates and detect whether eyes are open or closed.

2. Hands-free kit

Smart phones are an intrinsic part of life in 2020 – and as addictive as they are, it’s absolutely crucial that you don’t touch your mobile device when driving! You can get 6 penalty points and a £200 fine if you use a hand-held phone when driving – you’ll also lose your licence if you passed your driving test in the last 2 years.

The best solution is to attach your phone onto your dashboard – this will enable you to easily see GPS routes. Keeping your mobile in direct line of sight can help you focus more on the road and drive efficiently without getting distracted. The smartphone mount is a great tool, but remember, no texting!

Whether their kits included an ear piece or a speaker on their dashboard – a recent survey has shown that the majority of truckers rated their hands-free systems in their top 3 favourite gadgets. Definitely a gift most HGV drivers wouldn’t mind finding under their tree! 

1. TrackTrans

Now that you’ve got your phone in your windshield mount, you’ll need some good apps. 

This is where the TrackTrans comes in. 

TrackTrans have devised a powerful cloud-based, easy to use Transport Management System and a convenient ePOD app, enabling you to operate your business from wherever and whenever you need to. With a new year of industry challenges ahead – there has never been a more important time to ditch spreadsheets and embrace automation. 

Unlike the majority of suppliers where the business model is centred around high monthly subscriptions, TrackTrans offers a far more flexible and attractive pricing alternative with a fee per job that can accommodate fluctuating customer demands. This makes it the perfect Christmas gift for any haulage firm!