Do you carry a computer in your truck?

[Racer X 69]

That seems odd... I have had great luck with my Verizon card so far... (knock on wood)

Verizon claims to have more coverage coast to coast than AT&T. I do find with my AT&T wireless air card that I get ZERO network coverage in most parts of North Dakota, some parts of Montana and South Dakota, and of course absolutely no service at all in Canada. But I can use my Flyin' Hook frequent fueler food stamps to get 'net access when I stop at the F/J and if I am near a McDonald's they offer free wi-fi.

 

[snowflake]

last summer I am out sunbathing and my cell rings.......what are you doing a lost truck driver ask.......I m sunbathing why???....he pauses and says do you have your computer with you???:help:....so I have is permentely attached......there is only ONE place I don't take it! and yes I have it in the truck......always checking TCH balances, Mercer load board, fuel prices, and trip planning and sattelite imagest to help fin our way in the dark when you can NOT read them teeny tiny rod signs that are put up on the OPPOSITE side of the road you are going down.....

 

[Jmurman]

I'm definitely taking one with me when I head out. I'm sure that google, maps and the dvd player will be worth it for sure.

We have Cingular for our phone service, and hopefully will be able to change to Verizon and get a 3g wireless card.

 

[freedhardwoods]

I have had a laptop in the truck for a few years. I use it for mapping and have Verizon broadband for internet. It really helps finding some of the job sites I go to in the middle of nowhere on county roads. Verizon costs $60/mo and it is very rare to find somewhere without service. I use it to check on weather updates, road conditions and other things also. I work for a private carrier and only haul their material. The steel coils we bring back to the plant need to stay dry, but I don't tarp if it isn't going to rain.

But be very careful that you use a truckers edition of any map program. Standard map programs are designed for 4 wheelers, they do not show over-limit roads and no truck routes....

I have used a standard mapping program ever since I started carrying a laptop in the truck. I have rarely run into a problem, but I have been driving for 30 years. If you are new and don't know any of the roads, it might not work so well.
With my job a truck mapping program would just about be worthless. Many times I deliver to job sites on restricted routes.

I always use PC Miler for routing and miles. Why log more miles than you need too? This is what they check you with...

The company I work for doesn't check miles that way. I get paid odometer miles no matter what route I take. Log and pay miles have to match.