National Truck Driving Jobs Blog

The first cell phone in history was invented by Martin Cooper, the first call being made April of 1973. The phone weighed 2.5 pounds, had no display and its only features were dial, talk and listen. Nowadays cellphones are about 4.8 oz. and with the help of applications, can do just about everything. With thousands of apps available to download, there is an app to fit just about any need. There are even apps out there designed specifically for those with truck driving jobs.

Some of those apps, like the “Trucker” app, designed specifically for iPhones, include a wide variety of features. The “Trucker” app includes features such as weigh scale locator, lowest fuel price locator, mileage calculator and much, much more. This application has just about everything a truck driver could need. Although, a downside to this app is that it is only available for iPhones.

There are, however, plenty of truck driver apps out there designed for other varieties of smart phones. A few examples of these apps are; My DAT® Truck Stop and the ExpeditersOnline.com Forum App. With the My DAT® Truck Stop app, getting around a new location just got a lot easier. The features include a locator that will locate and navigate you to a nearby truck stop, the closest Wal-Mart and it can even direct you to the closest set of CAT Scales. The ExpeditersOnline.com Forum App helps truck drivers stay connected to the trucking community through the EO forum, news feeds and private messages. 

The number of truck driving apps is still limited compared to some of the other genres, but there are plenty of apps to provide great features for your truck driving job.  The trucking industry is quickly growing and with the leaps and bounds of technology, there will always be some new feature for truck drivers to enjoy.

To look at the variety of trucking apps available, visit https://market.android.com/search?q=trucking&so=1&c=apps, and to learn more about the trucking industry and how to get involved, NationalTruckDrivingJobs.com.

Imagine driving your truck down a deserted road during a hot, hot day. You have your air conditioning blaring and you are making good time when your truck starts to shake and it becomes harder to accelerate. Immediately, you pull over and pop the hood, finding some minuscule problem that can be easily fixed with the right tools. The only problem is you don’t have any tools. Now what do you do?

There have been countless accounts of truck drivers stuck on the side of the road with problems that can be easily fixed, but end up costing the driver a lot of money. From being stranded on the road losing time that is money, to paying a tow truck and a mechanic to repair your truck, precious dollars are lost. To keep this from happening to you, there are certain tools many veteran truck drivers take on the road that you might want to consider purchasing.

One of the most important tools to have on the road is a flashlight. As Murphy’s Law will tell you, a truck will often break down during the darkest time at night just to inconvenience you. Some drivers also use head lamps to free up their hands while working on their truck.

Tool kits are another must for many truck drivers. You can get the kits in various sizes to meet the needs of your truck and even get multiple kits in differing sizes. Keeping small spare parts such as belts and plugs is also a good idea.

Carrying emergency medical supplies in your truck will also be helpful not only for yourself, but for others as well. Being a truck driver, you sometimes have the opportunity to be the first person on hand during an accident. There are many truck drivers out there who have saved lives by simply being there and preforming basic first-aid. 

The last item many truck drivers never leave home without is duct tape. The uses for duct tape are endless; you will amaze yourself with what you do with it. Duct tape is the all-around, universal tool for just about everything.

These are only a few simple items that will make your life as a truck driver easier. Some other items include; scissors, single use cameras, gloves, food (it is not always possible to stop somewhere) and a few gallons of water and oil. While having a stockpile of emergency items does take up room in the limited space of your cab, they are worth it. A truck driving job can be unpredictable and it is always good to be prepared.

Imagine driving your truck down a deserted road during a hot, hot day. You have your air conditioning blaring and you are making good time when your truck starts to shake and it becomes harder to accelerate. Immediately, you pull over and pop the hood, finding some minuscule problem that can be easily fixed with the right tools. The only problem is you don’t have any tools. Now what do you do?

There have been countless accounts of truck drivers stuck on the side of the road with problems that can be easily fixed, but end up costing the driver a lot of money. From being stranded on the road losing time that is money, to paying a tow truck and a mechanic to repair your truck, precious dollars are lost. To keep this from happening to you, there are certain tools many veteran truck drivers take on the road that you might want to consider purchasing.

One of the most important tools to have on the road is a flashlight. As Murphy’s Law will tell you, a truck will often break down during the darkest time at night just to inconvenience you. Some drivers also use head lamps to free up their hands while working on their truck.

Tool kits are another must for many truck drivers. You can get the kits in various sizes to meet the needs of your truck and even get multiple kits in differing sizes. Keeping small spare parts such as belts and plugs is also a good idea.

Carrying emergency medical supplies in your truck will also be helpful not only for yourself, but for others as well. Being a truck driver, you sometimes have the opportunity to be the first person on hand during an accident. There are many truck drivers out there who have saved lives by simply being there and preforming basic first-aid. 

The last item many truck drivers never leave home without is duct tape. The uses for duct tape are endless; you will amaze yourself with what you do with it. Duct tape is the all-around, universal tool for just about everything.

These are only a few simple items that will make your life as a truck driver easier. Some other items include; scissors, single use cameras, gloves, food (it is not always possible to stop somewhere) and a few gallons of water and oil. While having a stockpile of emergency items does take up room in the limited space of your cab, they are worth it. A truck driving job can be unpredictable and it is always good to be prepared.

It was just another night as truck driver Stewart King drove along the deserted highway, making good time an hour ahead of schedule. When he first saw the red glare of taillights shining through the dark, he thought it was a simple reflection from a road sign. But then he remembered seeing a motorcycle pass him on the road earlier.

King decided that to be safe, he would pull over and check the side of the road. Getting out of his truck, King pulled out his cell phone and let the dim blue glow guide him along the shoulder of the highway. Approaching a ditch, he noticed a dark figure.

King quickly ran to the shadow and found 28-year-old Kyle Webb lying beside his crashed motorcycle in critical condition. King quickly called 911 and kept the injured motorcyclist awake until the paramedics arrived. According to the response team, had King not stopped, Webb would have most likely bled to death.

Kyle Webb, a husband and father of three, was immediately rushed to the hospital where he had two surgeries and an emergency leg amputation. After being released from the hospital, Webb attended an honor reception where he officially met the truck driver who saved his life.

"For two weeks in the hospital I thought about what to say to someone who saved my life, and I couldn't come up with anything to let him know my gratitude," Webb said. "I wanted to say something, but I was speechless."

King, who is somewhat self-conscious at his new found fame resulting in the accident said, "I considered myself as a citizen trying to help him out. I was always taught you don't ever leave anyone stranded. If more people stopped to help other people, the world would be safer."

Through his actions, King has pushed truck drivers into a positive light. The adverse image is fading, being quickly replaced by heroics and acts of selflessness by truckers everywhere. Truck drivers are a necessary part of the American community, and Stewart King’s actions have helped to reaffirm that fact.