Top Apps For Drivers
Our Most Popular
One of our most popular posts over the years has been our “Top Apps For HGV Drivers” post.
Seeing as we posted it in 2015, we thought we should give it an update with our favourites as of 2018.
1. CoPilot (Navigation)
Use this app to turn your mobile or tablet device into a SatNav system.
So what? I hear you ask. What makes this app different is that maps are downloaded to your device, so there is no need for an internet connection for it to work. Very useful when you’re delivering to the darkest depths and it also means you can use it without eating into your monthly data allowance.
Using Google Maps to navigate can use up to 600kB per minute. At this rate you would get through a 2GB data allowance in just a week’s worth of driving.
There is a car, caravan and truck version (car only on Windows Phone), both of which you can try for free. The truck version has some handy features such as route optimisation and routing based on your vehicle’s size/load.
The paid-for version comes in at £64.99 for UK & Ireland or £89.99 for the whole of Europe. Once you’ve purchased the maps, you get free updates for life and you can transfer your account between devices (e.g. if you upgrade your phone).
Downloads:
2. Spotify (Entertainment)
A very well-known app, and our top pick of the music-streaming services available.
What makes it so good? For a start, you can use it absolutely free! Sack off the radio and you can enjoy the music you want to listen to, when you want to listen to it.
The free version comes with adverts once every half-hour (much less than most commercial radio stations) and you have access to over 30 million tracks in their database.
If you want to use all the features and get rid of the adverts, the subscription is £9.99/month. This lets you listen add-free, skip songs as often as you want, create your own playlists and download your favourite songs to your device so you can save your data whilst listening.
Did you know? You can also get a “family” subscription. It’s £14.99/month and gives you up to six “premium” accounts (same as the £9.99 ones). Spotify’s T&Cs say that all users have to be living at the same address, but they have no way of checking this.
Downloads:
3. Vehicle Smart (Information)
We like this app as it makes it quick and easy to check, among other things, the MOT and Tax information for any vehicle by simply punching in the registration plate, which can be particularly useful if you’re frequently swapping vehicles.
It’s completely free to use too, which is always a plus! In-app purchases are available which can offer extra information such as whether a vehicle has been stolen or written off.
Downloads:
4. RadioPlayer (Entertainment)
Whilst there are some trucks fitted with DAB – we’re still a long way off it being the norm.
This handy little app turns your phone or tablet into a DAB & Internet radio – giving you access to significantly more stations than are available on FM/AM. It’s also free to use.
Downloads:
No Android version available for this app but similar apps are available.
5. Adobe Scan (Tools)
Need to keep copies of parking, toll and meal receipts? Got paperwork to give back to the office, but could do without the clutter of keeping it all in the cab?
Adobe Scan is a free app that lets you scan almost anything using your phone’s camera and turns it into a PDF which is compatible with pretty much any computer, tablet or phone anywhere.
If you need to find something in particular, it also lets you search any text you have scanned using clever text recognition technology.
Downloads:
6. Daily Defects (Tools, Android Only)
Unfortunately this app is only available on Android, although there are equivalent iOS apps available in Apple’s AppStore.
We particularly liked this one as it offers the ability to attach pictures to a defect and then export the check to a PDF for emailing straight to your transport manager. It also keeps a record of your check in case you get stopped by DVSA.
It’s completely free to use, but you do get the odd ad pop up on screen.
Downloads:
No iOS version available for this app but similar apps are available.