Laptop for truck driving job

[Richard A. Franklin]

Jeffrey Martin wrote:

>Are you currently driving or a former driver?
>  
>
It is my current occupation. That is to say, I will be driving my truck 
when I am fully recovered from being rammed into the median on U.S. 69 
while driving my SUV in mid-December. Rather sore yet. It was enough of 
a collision to bend the frame on my vehicle. Hit by a kid on his way 
home from college in a Dodge Ram pickup pulling a horse in a trailer ... 
he was fine, the horse was merely spooked, and I suspect he had his cell 
phone glued to his face instead of watching the rather heavy traffic we 
were all in. The kid has a rodeo "scholarship". Really. I couldn't make 
that up.

Mostly, I move military folks and their families from one base to 
another. (It has been interesting to hear what some Captains, Majors, 
LTCs really think about Bush, but cannot say openly ... it is part of 
their contract as commissioned officers to not ever publicly criticize 
their commander in chief) I also transport equipment to restaurants that 
are under construction ... all of this in 48 states, D.C. and an 
occasional threat of having to drive into Canada. But I digress.

>I'm going to be starting the 4 week school in Kansas City Kansas in a week.
>
>One trucking company I looked up on the internet had internet access
>through the satelite link in the truck.
>
>How does one deal with so many providers. I suppose you have to buy a
>card for all of them.
>  
>
http://www.tonservices.com/hisp_home.htm This is available in about 300 
truck stops, which may not sound like much, but then again, there are 
not that many places where I care to stop for the night; and these are 
almost all very clean, fairly modern facilities. I tend to park under 
the lights, as the creepy, slithering creatures of the night tend to 
bother the people parked in more remote places (a truck alarm is a good 
idea). Anyway, I also started to find a fair number of "free" wireless 
connections at truck stops.

Avoid truckstop.net for wireless service. They are historically 
inconsistent, and the company is currently suing Sprint, saying Sprint 
failed to properly install hot spots, and Sprint is withholding service 
until they get paid.

BTW, I run my appliances, including the laptop, off of a power inverter. 
There are many ways to do this correctly, and many ways to fry your 
truck's electrical system, or your appliances, or both. See your truck 
dealer for details, or go to an old, well established C.B. shop. Some of 
the better ones sell power inverters, satellite TV, and other good 
things, and know how to install them properly if you don't. Still, a 
Kenworth, Freightliner or Peterbilt ... or whatever dealer, may be the 
most qualified to assist you with your power needs.

Good luck and safe travels! I will be happy to address any questions you 
may have about truck driving off list.

Rick