AUSTIN, Texas, Nov. 16, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- uShip.com, the global online transport marketplace, today released the results of its third annual mobile usage survey, giving insights into how over-the-road truck drivers are using their mobile phones, apps and other wireless devices for business. In addition to showing increased mobile dependence, the survey shows significant shifts in use of smartphone GPS navigation over traditional GPS units and a greater appetite for social media and apps via mobile.
uShip Mobile Survey Insights Summary
- 7 in 10 are conducting more business via mobile devices than they did in 2011
- More than half of drivers say their phone already has or could replace their GPS device on the road
- Nearly twice as many US truck drivers use Android phones over iPhones; 1 in 4 uses a basic feature phone
- Over half of all drivers say the 2012 texting ban has not changed their behavior on the road
- Text messaging (79%), Internet/email (65%) and camera (55%) rank as the most popular features
- 26% now use their mobile device for social media, up from 13% in 2011 and 19% in 2010
- 43% now use apps, a jump of 16% over 2011 and 10% over 2010
- Nearly 1 in 2 (47%) are now more likely to buy a tablet for business, up from 1 in 4 (26%) in 2011
Smartphone Navigation vs. GPS Navigation
Data suggests there's a growing trend towards using a single device on the road – for business, navigation, entertainment and communication – ultimately putting smartphone GPS navigation and on-the-dash GPS units at a crossroads:
- Over half of drivers say their mobile phone's GPS has "already have replaced" or "could replace" their GPS unit
- 53% use their mobile phone's GPS feature more than (36%) or equal to (17%) their traditional GPS device
- 47% say they'll "never" give up their GPS device
- 52% now use their mobile phone's GPS feature -- up 24% from 2011 and 22% from 2010
"The 2012 uShip Mobile Usage Survey surprisingly shows smartphone and GPS devices on a bit of a collision course, especially as mobile phones expand their feature versatility, especially with apps and social media," said Eddie Peloke, vice president for mobile, uShip. "Study findings also coincide with uShip mobile app trends, which has seen 3000% increase in downloads – in the hundreds of thousands -- over the past year alone."
Along with the uShip app for iPhone and Android smartphones, uShip offers a mobile uShip website that can be accessed from "regular" cell phones, representing about 1 in 4 transporters. uShip also offers Phone & Text Alerts, as well as uShip Tracking that allows carriers to post Facebook-like status and location updates so that customers can check the status of their deliveries.
Started in 2010, uShip's mobile study is unique in that it tracks year-over-year mobile trends – not just a single point in time – of a cross-section of active transporters on uShip, ranging from commercial carriers to small-fleet owner-operators to hot-shot drivers. Over 26,000 drivers were surveyed between Oct. 17-30, 2012.
About uShip
uShip.com is the world's largest and most trusted transportation marketplace primarily serving the freight, household goods and vehicle shipping markets. Consumers and businesses can compare and book upfront quotes, name their own price or receive auction style bids from thousands of customer-reviewed Transportation Service Providers, ranging from independent owner-operators to the largest freight carriers and brokers. Launched in 2004, Austin, Texas-based uShip operates globally with localized sites in 18 countries and regions on five continents, including North America, Europe, South America, India and Australia.