Best Wi-Fi for truckers

Before the internet permeated every facet of daily life, long-haul truck drivers didn’t need to consider having access to a Wi-Fi network. But things have changed drastically since entering the digital age, and staying connected is easier than ever.

Truckers now use the internet to communicate with each other, navigate, follow traffic and weather reports, keep in touch with loved ones and stay entertained during long hauls. But what’s the best Wi-Fi for truckers? We’ll go over several options below.

Internet for truckers

• Cellular data
• Mobile hotspots
• Public Wi-Fi 
• Satellite internet

Mobile Wi-Fi for truckers

Using your phone’s cellular plan is likely the most practical solution to staying connected on the road, especially if you have an unlimited data plan. With an unlimited data plan, you’ll get access to a set amount of premium high-speed data each month. Once you exceed that limit, you’ll still have access to data, it just won’t be as fast.

Top mobile carriers like Verizon, T-Mobile and AT&T have widespread nationwide coverage, so using your cellular data while driving can actually give you a pretty stable internet connection in most areas.

5G

5G cellular connections are all the rage for mobile connectivity. 5G is faster and more reliable than its 4G predecessor, and carriers like T-Mobile and Verizon are extensively expanding their 5G coverage. T-Mobile has the best 5G coverage of the top mobile carriers, covering over 50% of the country.

4G

Where 5G coverage isn’t available, your carrier will likely rely on 4G coverage. Carriers are still expanding 5G, but 4G is widely available nationwide. Verizon offers the best 4G coverage in the U.S. at around 70%, but their 5G footprint reaches less than 20%.

MVNOs

If you don’t want to purchase a mobile plan from one of the bigger carriers, you can choose a cheaper plan from a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). MVNOs do not have their own network but provide mobile service using another carrier’s network.

Some popular MVNOs include Visible Wireless, which uses Verizon’s network, and Mint Mobile, which uses T-Mobile’s network. These plans are often much cheaper than those from a top carrier like AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile, but they provide the same coverage.

Top unlimited cellphone plans

Mobile hotspots for truckers

A mobile hotspot uses cellular signals to create a Wi-Fi network for your devices to connect to. You can often use your phone as a mobile hotspot since many high-speed data plans come with hotspot data, but there are also physical hotspot devices you can use.

Popular unlimited hotspot plans from mobile carriers

*Plus taxes and fees.

MiFi

You can also purchase a portable Wi-Fi hotspot and use it to create a Wi-Fi network for your devices. Often called MiFi, these hotspots are not built into your smartphone but are separate physical devices you can connect to. Many mobile carriers sell them, or you can purchase them from online retailers like Amazon.

Keep in mind that whichever hotspot you decide to use, you need a data plan to go with it. Unlimited data plans usually come with a set amount of hotspot data for you to use each month, but if you use a MiFi device you will need to purchase a data plan separately.

Public Wi-Fi for truckers

Public Wi-Fi is definitely the most affordable internet option for truckers on the road since it’s free. You can access free Wi-Fi networks from places like travel stops, restaurants, libraries and gas stations. While it is free and easy to use, public Wi-Fi is a far less reliable internet option since availability and connection strength will vary. It’s also the least secure method of accessing the internet.

Truck stops with free Wi-Fi

Here are a few truck stops that offer free Wi-Fi: 

• Pilot Travel Center
• Love’s Travel Stop
• TravelCenters of America 
• Petro Travel Center

Satellite internet for truckers

Sometimes cellular service won’t cut it, especially if you’re a trucker driving in more remote areas of the country. This is where a satellite internet connection can prove very useful. Satellite is the most widely available internet connection type, and almost 100% of the U.S. has coverage from a satellite provider.

Some satellite providers like Viasat and Hughesnet partner with trucking companies to provide satellite internet access. Check with your trucking company to find out if you have access to one of these satellite providers.

Starlink is another satellite internet provider that offers portable connection options through its Starlink Roam packages. Geared towards RVers, campers and travelers in general, Starlink Roam has unlimited data and consists of a portable satellite dish that you can bring with you on the go.

Starlink also offers its Mini Roam package, a 50 GB plan with a portable dish that fits inside a backpack. According to Starlink, this is more for weekend travelers or backup internet use. One caveat with Starlink to keep in mind: it has some of the highest equipment fees of any internet provider, so make sure you do your research before committing to a plan.

*Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Save $25 per month for 6 months. Offer not valid on 15 GB plan. After 6 months, plans revert to the standard monthly fee. New residential subscribers only. Limited-time offer. Other terms may apply. Video streaming services with minimum speed requirements may not operate properly. Last updated 08/30/24.

**Only available in select areas. Visit buy.viasat.com to check plans available in your area. If your data usage is trending to exceed the “typical usage” of a residential user on our network, you may have reduced priority during times of network congestion resulting in slower speeds. Typical usage currently means usage trending to not exceed 850 GBs in any 30-day period. The typical usage amount will vary based on network demands. Please visit www.viasat.com/legal for more details. Speeds are “up to,” are not guaranteed and will vary. Viasat Unleashed does not require an annual contract, which means there is no minimum service term commitment. You will have a month-to-month service term, which you may cancel at any time without an early termination fee. 08/30/2024.

***Pricing per month plus taxes for length of contract. Additional fees and terms may apply. Pricing varies by location and availability. Pricing in South Dakota shows at $90/mo. All prices subject to change at any time. May or may not be available based on service address. Speeds may vary. As of 08/30/24.

Tips for choosing the best internet for truckers

When choosing the right internet plan for your truck, you must first determine how much bandwidth you’ll need and what exactly you want to use your internet connection for. Consider these factors before choosing a plan:

What are you using your connection for?

This is one of the most important questions you have to ask yourself before choosing a plan. Do you need an internet connection for navigation, staying in touch or entertainment? Using your connection for navigation will require more bandwidth than social media or staying connected with friends and family. The same goes for entertainment—streaming your favorite show is going to require a certain amount of bandwidth and can use up your data quickly.

Learn more about the internet speed you need.

Location

This is a more challenging factor to consider since your location will always be changing, but if you know the majority of your time will be spent traveling through remote areas, this could limit your options. Remote areas may have little to no cell service, so your mobile phone or hotspot data plan may prove useless in this case, and public Wi-Fi could be scarce.

If you don’t want to explore satellite internet options, this is something you will have to deal with, but you can research providers’ coverage areas to get an idea of where you’ll have service.

Value

Mobile internet can be tricky, but there are ways to get the most bang for your buck. Using your phone for your internet connection is easy and convenient, and will be cheaper than subscribing to a satellite internet provider like Starlink. Need more data? Weigh the pros and cons of upgrading your plan.

Staying secure while on the road

The main internet security concern you’d have on the road is when you connect to public Wi-Fi networks. These networks are far less secure than a personal plan through your mobile carrier or internet provider.

When connecting to a public Wi-Fi network, avoid accessing sensitive personal information and use antivirus software. Using a VPN is a great way to add a layer of security while you browse, and there are even some free options available.

Learn more about how to stay secure while using public Wi-Fi.

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