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The Truckers Trip Planning App includes the Hours of Service App – ETA Calculator but the two key differences in one versus the other is the tools available and whether you have the time and internet resources available to use them.
Remember this first. The Truckers Trip Planning App was originally released in 2016 to answer the three main questions that you need to answer before accepting loads so that you can run acceptable loads rather than having the stress and financial difficulty of running unacceptable loads. "Planning Ahead for Hours of Service Breaks" is an integral part but is not the primary reason for which the Truckers Trip Planning App was built. Now that we have that in it's proper perspective;
Remember This:
Company Drivers only need to know if they have the hours of service required by a load and whether or not they can deliver the load on time. Of course Lease and Owner Operators need to answer those questions as well but most importantly, Lease and Owner Operators need to know if running the load would result in a profit or a loss to their bottom line.
The Truckers Trip Planning App For Company Drivers have the tools to answer the first two questions but it also has the tools for planning how you will run the load (planning your rest breaks has always been a part of this!), tools to handshake with the SmartTruckRoute II App (If needed) for navigation, traffic, and weather alerts, and the tools to maintain your personal Expenses and Accounting.
The Truckers Trip Planning App For Lease and Owner Operators have the same tools as the Truckers Trip Planning App For Company Drivers but also have the tools necessary for answering the third question as to whether running the load would result in a profit or loss to their bottom line. These tools include the Operating Cost Per Mile Calculator to show the Lease and Owner Operator the rate a load must pay in order for them to pay their bills, the Truckers Trip Sheet to see the actual revenue generated by the load, and the Load Profitability Sheet which shows the Lease and Owner Operator useful information that guides them towards the decision as to whether they should accept the load.
Breaking out the Hours of Service App - ETA Calculator was actually a request from a Dispatcher from US Express who wanted to ensure that he was assigning loads to his drivers that they could successfully run. While honoring this suggestion, and looking at it from the perspective of both the Dispatcher and the Driver, it was realized that the tool should be standalone and available when nothing else was. This is the key difference between the Truckers Trip Planning App and the Hours of Service App - ETA Calculator and the key reason why you should have both! In that regard, here's when you should use them:
If you have the time and the resources such as internet service is available, you should always use the Truckers Trip Planning App and all of it's available resources so that you can take advantage of the overall plan and it's concepts to ensure your success. However, when all you need is a quick answer about whether you have the hours of service for a load and whether you can deliver the load on time, then you should use the Hours of Service - ETA Calculator. Why?
Because, first of all you don't have to worry about whether you have internet or not and you really only need to put in limited information to get the answers you need.
Here's how you do that (Watch the video to see what I mean):
Assuming that you have added the icon to your home screen, Simply click on the "icon" to open the app.
1. Select to "Reset and Plan a New Load".
2. Select your "HOS Preference" and click "Done".
3. Update your "Hours of Service Recap" "Save it" and Click on "Dispatch",
4. Select the "Number of Stops",
5. Add the "Number of 1/2 Hour Fuel Stops".
6. Set the "Average number of Hours for Load/Unloads" at each stop,
7. Add the "Distance to your Pickup",
8. Add your "Appointment Date and Time",
9. Add the "Distance to any Additional Stops",
10. Add the "Distance to your Final Delivery",
11. Select whether you will travel "East or West" and add "How many Time Zones You Will Cross",
12. Click on "Check Your ETA's",
13. Read the "Hours of Service App - ETA Calculator" and compare it to your "HOS Available" and your "HOS Gained and Available" after the Load,
14. MAKE A DECISION AS TO WHETHER YOU WILL HAVE THE HOURS TO RUN THE LOAD AND WHETHER YOU CAN DELIVER THE LOAD ON TIME!
Both the Truckers Trip Planning App and the Hours of Service App - ETA Calculator is available for sale. However, on the Stores you will need to purchase them separately. When you purchase the Company Drivers or Lease and Owner Operator Truckers Trip Planning App on the website, the Hours of Service - ETA Calculator is free. So in reality, you're getting the Truckers Trip Planning App at a 30% discount and saving even more on the cost of the Hours of Service - ETA Calculator! This is a no-brainer!
What are you waiting for? Download the Truckers Trip Planning App for your driving arrangement TODAY!