Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/74547
VOICES Phone fray 52 48 Smartphones are whipping the Department of Transportation in the battle for the atten- tion of the motoring public, wrote PennCo Transportation crude oil and windmill blade hauler Martin Groseclose on Overdrive's Facebook page. He was responding to June news of the U.S. DOT's strategy for dealing with the epidemic of four-wheeler distracted driving. Nothing less than the "com- plete removal of cellphones" by "making them against the law," Groseclose wrote, would work. Bans against use while driving "should have been put in place as soon as they came out," he added. "Too late now – people are used to using them everywhere." Mike Nagy put the It's neck and neck between the two smartphone technol- ogy giants among fans of Overdrive's Facebook page. Readers weighed in on the merits of the iPhone and the many Google Android-powered devices on the market. "This one I want to follow," the first commenter said of the debate, "com- ing from a guy with a 'flip phone' and a Blackberry for work that I do not like!" Given that both operating systems and relevant devices are available with all but one of the major carriers, notes Mobi Wireless Management partner Brandon Hampton, the choice is partly about navi- gation preference. "The iPhone has just one main nav button," he says. "Android devices have four." War on distracted driving responsibility for safety on the pros: "The only solution will be increased vigilance. Not on the part of law enforcement, but on the part of the profes- sional drivers." DOT's efforts were largely aimed at convinc- ing states to enact and enforce bans on handheld cellphone use and texting behind the wheel. Notable is a $2.4 mil- lion grant to support California FREE IFTA APP FOR ANDROID The SimpleIFTA app makes tracking state-by- state mileage and fuel purchases easy. You might consider it as an alternative to other apps that automate the mileage-tracking process using the phone's GPS — and a lot of the battery. "Enter your odometer when you start the fi rst trip of the quarter," the programmers say. "Enter again when you cross state lines, and fi nally at the end of the quarter." When you stop to fuel, just enter the gallons purchased — the app knows what state you're in. The U.S. DOT wants states to do more to prevent handheld cellphone use. and Delaware participation in DOT's "Phone in One Hand, Ticket in the Other" pilot enforcement effort. Facebook to keep up with news. What smartphone app is most useful to you? "The hang-up button. I use Pat Shores Lynchburg, Va. Driver for Hittman Transport Services " plan on using the GPS apps soon. "I've only had it three days, but I Roy Butler West McAllen, Texas Owner-operator leased to Great White Trucking " 8 | Overdrive | August 2012 use any apps. I don't have time. Most of the things I use are on my GPS. Michial Dixon Dallas, Texas | Owner- operator leased to Freight Buzz " "I've got a smartphone, but I never Android users, scan the QR code with your phone to download the free app. addresses ... I use the navigation to get estimated mileage, and I use Pandora for the radio. "I use Google a lot for finding Mike Rindahl | Wichita, Kan. | Driver for Frank Bell's Trucking "