Fuel for Thought

Truck Tech To Traverse Today's Thoroughfares

Whether you have a newer truck, an older classic truck or anything in between, you can step into the 21st century with your dash electronics. Many of you may already know, but for those of you who are unaware, you can add a screen to your dash (dashmount or window mount) to have Android Auto or Apple CarPlay in your truck. 

You can find a myriad of choices for screen sizes and additional capabilities. Even the most basic unit not only gives you the ability to use Android Auto or Apple CarPlay in your truck but they also come with a wired backup camera that can also be used for a dash cam. As you go up in price, you will find units that have a built-in dash cam and the backup camera as well as multiple mounts and micro SD cards included. Many units that have the built in dash cam have all the same features of a stand alone dash cam like parking monitor, G sensor (shock sensor) and loop recording.

While truckers should not rely on apps like Google maps for their truck specific routing, using Android Auto or Apple Carplay alongside your truck specific GPS can give you additional information that you can use along your trips. A truck GPS does a good job of getting you from Point A to Point B, but the windshield should be the final decision about routing. Follow the posted route signs rather than blindly follow any GPS or map app. However, a tool like Google maps can assist you with what I have found to be better traffic reports and road hazards than a truck GPS can offer. Using Android Auto on a separate screen, rather than your phone screen, can give you additional info without the hassle or illegal practice of grabbing your phone while driving. 

These Android Auto/Apple CarPlay devices also allow you to make and receive calls, read texts aloud, work with Google Assistant and Siri. Although you may not need it or want to use it (you can turn off many features), they have built in speakers and FM transmitters (I found these features subpar to what I already have in the truck).

If you already have this type of screen in your personal vehicle, then you are familiar with how they work. Adding one to your truck to use in conjunction with your truck specific GPS can be quite useful. 

If you have a music or audiobook app on your phone, these devices can play your music or books through your truck speakers, headphones or their own built-in speakers while giving you track or chapter info right alongside your navigation app on the same screen.

It may be just another gadget to some, but for others it can be a useful tool during those long hours of driving everyday.

Everyone wants to know about the cost, I found these on Amazon for as little as $40 and as high as $150, depending on the features you want included. They are wireless for transmitting from your phone and to your truck radio, they only need power for the monitor itself (12 volt). I did not need or use the camera on the unit I bought, but the camera also needed a power supply and the camera was wired, not wireless.

Do you need it? Not really. Should you buy one? Depends on your wants. Is it useful? Absolutely. 

The bottom line: If you like technology and like finding ways to make life a little easier on the road, it is a nice addition to the truck. It runs on bluetooth, so just about any radio in a truck today will have the capability to connect with one of these devices.

What new technology does is create new opportunities to do a job that customers want done.

- Tim O'Reilly

See you down the road,

Greg