Robert Phillips spent much of his career in the tech industry, most recently working for a global touchscreen and control-systems automation company that specializes in creating simple user interfaces that control large, complex systems with minimal friction.
When the company decided to relocate, Phillips did, too — just not with the company. Instead, he sought to quench his thirst for adventure. Shifting his career to the cab of a truck, he became an owner-operator in 2022 before joining J.B. Hunt in a regional driving role so he could spend more time with family and devote more attention to a new project.
“The idea grew out of problems I repeatedly encountered on the road, particularly the need for drivers to juggle several apps and devices just to plan and safely complete a route,” he said. “We're trying to keep the driver's hands off the navigation system as much as possible and on the steering wheel.”
Highway Miles is a free commercial truck GPS and route planning app for iOS and Android. It provides unlimited-stop optimization, offline maps, live route sharing, live weather radar, traffic and incident information, low-clearance data, Spanish-language support, street view, route-through or avoid-point controls, and parking, fuel and weigh station information — all while accounting for the truck’s profile: height, weight, length, axles, trailer, cargo and hazmat.
All of this is available on one screen.
“One app consolidates tools drivers often juggle across several services while keeping the full navigation product accessible in a free tier,” Phillips said.
The full version of the app is free, featuring a small banner ad at the bottom of the screen that doesn’t interrupt usage or impact function. Users can choose to pay an optional $5.99 monthly subscription fee that removes the ad.
Cross-app navigation
Phillips said he didn’t set out to find a better GPS app when he got behind the wheel, but in using the big-name providers as a trucker, he spent as much time navigating between apps as he did navigating the route-planning process.
“Drivers — no matter what they're using, Rand McNally, Garmin — they're also almost always using Google Maps to some degree,” Phillips said.
He said drivers commonly use one system for commercial navigation while using Google Maps for its satellite and Street View features to visually plan the best way to maneuver their tractor-trailers around a delivery site. Then, they have to navigate to a separate app to see what weather lies ahead at their destination. All of that is integrated into the Highway Miles app.
Field testing in real time
The initial concept of Highway Miles was born in 2024, and the app was released publicly about three months ago. Phillips’ son, Justin Phillips, left a lead programming position in 2025 to develop the platform on the back end while Phillips tested it in real time behind the wheel.
During a recent video call, father and son were in their typical work environments: Justin behind a computer and Robert in the driver's seat of his truck.
Robert Phillips shared with CCJ that a new feature would be released on the app this week.
“By the way, Justin, that does work well. That works beautifully,” he said. “I give Justin real-time feedback. He'll make an update, or we'll talk about something we want to add; he'll implement it, and then I will literally live-test it. I don't feel that we would be as successful as we are if I had been relying on other drivers to test it for us.”
That immediate feedback is what Phillips said will keep him on the road for another eight to 12 months or until the core features of the app are fully developed and all the bugs are squashed.
Future feature creation
The app currently displays real-time weather and alerts along a driver’s route, from present location to selected destination, with the option to view hourly weather updates at the destination. Phillips said alternate route suggestions for weather avoidance are coming soon. Rerouting already exists in the event of traffic delays.
The app also includes live weather radar, and Phillips said he plans to have 511 data integrated before winter so drivers have access to live road conditions such as ice and flood warnings. The collection of real-time public transportation, roadway and traffic safety data, which is managed by state and regional transportation departments, also shares traffic incidents, construction zones, road closures, commercial vehicle restrictions, traffic cameras and digital signage.
The feature Phillips said will be released this week provides estimated times of arrival among multiple destinations.
“When a driver selects a point of interest such as a truck stop, rest area or business along their route, they will be able to see the ETA information to that point of interest without losing the visibility of the ETA to their primary stop,” Phillips said. “When they tap the ETA information to the point of interest, they can choose to see the location in Google Street View, edit the stop to reorder it, remove the stop or see details of that stop, including contact information if it's available.”
In other navigation apps, he said the ETA to the destination tends to disappear, only sharing ETA for the next stop.
“I always wondered why nobody was doing this,” he added.
Toll information, as well as fuel card integrations, will also be added in the future, Phillips noted, adding that plans are in the works to partner with a company that would enable drivers to find hotels along their route and book through the app. The platform is already partnered with TruckParkingClub.com so drivers can find and reserve paid parking.
Phillips said artificial intelligence functionality for smarter navigation and voice activation will be added. For example, the app could recognize a driver’s previously traveled route, suggest stops, and be activated with the wake-up phrase “Hey, Highway Miles.”
“That's the future, and I believe that is the future of the industry as well,” he said.
