Best Internet Options for Truckers

Cellular data is the most common way for truckers to stay connected on the road. With the right cell phone plan, you can stay connected to trip-planning apps, dispatchers, music, friends, and podcasts while driving and do a limited amount of streaming during off hours. If you’re a heavy data user, a cellular phone plan probably won’t give you enough data and you should get a mobile hotspot or 4G LTE portable internet.

But not all cellular plans work as well on the road. T-Mobile’s network is great in urban areas but is unreliable in rural areas where AT&T and Verizon have coverage.

Another thing to watch out for is how much hotspot data a cellular plan offers. Many claim to be unlimited but if you read the fine print they offer an unlimited amount of slow data (that is too slow to use for streaming or gaming) and a limited amount of full-speed data. Verizon and AT&T are both guilty of this, but since their networks are so robust they’re still preferred by most truckers.

If you use a lot of data, you’ll want an internet source in addition to your phone plan. You'll need a mobile hotspot or a 4G LTE internet plan. You don’t want to be stuck without service when you have a breakdown, or be unreachable when your family has an emergency.

Mobile hotspot devices deliver the best internet experience for truck drivers because you can add a mobile hotspot data plan to your current cell phone plan for a relatively low fee (Verizon charges $20 per month for customers who already have at least one phone line through Verizon).

Mobile hotspot devices aren’t infallible—you’ll be driving in areas without a phone signal sometimes. And sometimes you won’t have a signal at remote truck stops or rest areas in mountain passes. But mobile data is still more reliable than any other kind of portable internet you can get.

If you’re driving through a lot of no service areas, get a signal extender to use with your hotspot or cell phone. You can use a signal extender to stretch service areas a few miles and get slightly better service away from cities.

The Verizon MiFi M2100 mobile hotspot device is a great option for truckers. It gives you access to priority Verizon data, which has the widest coverage area of any cellular network. It also has a long battery life (it’s good for up to 24 hours of usage per charge). If you already have a Verizon Unlimited phone plan, you can add an extra line for this hotspot for just $20 per month—although this low priced data plan gives you only 15 GB of high-speed data. Upgrade your data plan to Verizon’s $150 per month plan and you will have 150 GB of data for hours and hours of streaming and video calls every month.

You can use your Verizon MiFi M2100 mobile hotspot to connect laptops, gaming consoles, and other devices to the internet while you’re away from home. Just know that your internet connection will work only in Verizon service areas.

If you have cell service with AT&T, it makes sense to get a mobile hotspot through AT&T (since carriers offer discounts for second lines). AT&T has a strong nationwide network, like Verizon, and will give you maximum connectivity while on the road. You’ll still drive through dead zones where there isn’t service, but it won’t be as many dead zones as you’d drive through if you were on T-Mobile or Sprint.

The NETGEAR Nighthawk MR1100 4G LTE mobile hotspot router has good battery life (up to 24 hours, like the Verizon MiFi). It’s a good way to connect multiple devices to the internet while you’re on the road or at layovers.

If you’ll be using your mobile hotspot device exclusively to connect a laptop to the internet, the Verizon Global Modem USB730L is a handy plug-and-play portable modem. It doesn’t connect as many devices as the other options we mention, but it’s well suited to single laptop use. As a bonus, it works in over 200 countries, so if you’re driving loads to Canada or Mexico, you can use it internationally (although varying data rates apply).

If you just need to occasionally get Wi-Fi on a laptop, you can skip the mobile hotspot and use the personal hotspot feature on your mobile phone instead. You’ll just need to make sure you have hotspot data as part of your cell phone plan.

To create a hotspot, go to Settings > Personal Hotspot and turn it to “on.” You’ll then be able to pick up the internet signal from your phone on another device, such as a laptop. On your laptop, click on the network icon and scroll down to your phone connection. Select your phone’s name and type in the password you’ve previously set on your phone. This will share your phone internet with your laptop.

Keep in mind that mobile phone plans allow only a limited amount of data use for a personal hotspot—usually between 15 to 20 GB per month. For more information on how to use your mobile phone as a personal hotspot, check out “Should You Use Your Phone for Home Internet?”

If you have serious data needs while on the road (like a gamer in the passenger seat), 4G LTE internet is something to look into. Connecting with 4G LTE internet will give you much more data than any other type of internet you can get on the road. Most 4G LTE home internet plans give you 400 GB or more per month—which is much more than you’ll get with a typical mobile hotspot.

There are a few limitations to 4G LTE internet though. It works only in areas with mobile phone service (of course). You’ll also need to keep the router plugged in while it’s in use (there isn’t a battery option), which should be fairly simple in a sleeper truck.

To get 4G LTE internet service, you’ll have to pay for the router/modem up front and then pay for monthly service. The advantage to this type of service is that you can take it with you on the road and also set it up at home.

There are dozens of 4G LTE internet providers around the country that will give you good wireless internet service for around $100 per month. Some of them run on Sprint or T-Mobile networks, which won’t offer very good coverage. Opt for a 4G LTE internet provider that runs on Verizon or AT&T networks for the best coverage on roads and highways across the country. Most 4G LTE providers are MVNOs (mobile virtual network operators), so it can be hard to find out which networks they operate on. Check this list of MVNOs in the US to find out which network a particular 4G LTE internet provider operates on.

A cell phone signal booster can extend your cell phone’s signal beyond the normal service area. This means less time in no-signal areas where you’re cut off from communication and the information you need to get your job done. If your regular routes are taking you through no-signal areas or you’re a long-haul trucker taking long trips, we recommend getting a signal booster for safety and reliability.

Truckers and delivery drivers of all types rely on Wi-Fi. Long-haul truckers and local delivery drivers use Wi-Fi to pick up jobs, file delivery reports, get navigation and road condition updates, and to stay in touch with friends and fellow truckers along the way. CB radios are still used by truckers in some parts of the country, but they’re used mostly for camaraderie and local information. 

Good Wi-Fi also helps truckers stay connected to friends, family, and fellow truckers. Trucking requires long days at the wheel and most of your workweek spent away from home, day and night. Reliable Wi-Fi means you can contact people when you need them and when they need you, and that gives you peace of mind.

A few trucking companies provide a satellite internet connection in their rigs, but it’s slower than Wi-Fi in most areas and expensive to get set up. Others provide mobile phones, hotspots, or other internet options for their drivers, but most truckers are on their own finding the best solutions to stay connected to the internet while on the road and during 18-hour layovers.

Truckers will get the best internet experience with cellular data—mobile networks are made to be mobile, after all! If you need more data than you can get from your phone plan alone, get a mobile hotspot from Verizon or AT&T. And if you’re part of a trucker team and you really eat through a lot of data, a 4G LTE internet plan will give you loads of data at an affordable price.

Steer clear of Sprint, T-Mobile, Boost, US Cellular, and any other mobile provider other than Verizon or AT&T because they just don’t deliver adequate coverage for truckers. You’ll want Verizon or AT&T for the best coverage outside metro areas.

1. Abbott, Tyler, “Best Cell Phone Coverage 2020,” September 2020. Accessed October 1, 2020.