Split screen image; left image showing an iPhone in an IntelliSkin GDS Dock mounted to the windshield of a semi-truck. Left image is a close-up image of a new PACCAR dashboard ELD screen.

Supporting the Companion Device and the Next Generation of Trucking Technology

The commercial truck dashboard is evolving—and creating new opportunities for how fleets equip their drivers.


PACCAR recently announced PACCAR Connect, a factory-integrated platform bringing touchscreen displays, telematics, and fleet applications to Peterbilt and Kenworth Class 8 trucks beginning in early 2027. With access to compatible applications through the Virtual Vehicle ecosystem, the platform can reduce the need for separate aftermarket devices in the cab.


For fleets using supported electronic logging device (ELD) applications, this creates an opportunity to move ELD workflows onto the dashboard and reconsider the role of the driver’s mobile device. A dedicated tablet may give way to a smaller, portable smartphone serving as a “companion device.”


For RAM® Mounts, that workflow is a natural fit: keeping mobile devices securely mounted in the vehicle and ready to go when the driver steps outside.

Split screen images; left image shows a closeup of a cupholder mount inserted into a cup holder of a semi-truck with the dashboard area behind it. Right image shows a man outside of the same semi-truck tapping on the companion device screen.

What Is a Companion Device?

A companion device is a mobile device that supports the driver’s work alongside the truck’s integrated technology. In this setup, the dashboard handles compatible ELD and other in-cab applications, like from RAM® partner, Platform Science, while a fleet-issued smartphone travels with the driver.


Depending on the fleet’s applications, that phone can support:

  • Vehicle inspections, including capturing photos and documenting defects.
  • Push-to-talk (PTT) communication with dispatch, yard personnel, and other drivers.
  • Calls to customers, receiving facilities, and maintenance teams.
  • Delivery documentation, signatures, and proof of delivery.
  • Access to work orders, load details, and instructions outside the cab.

Consider a driver completing a pre-trip inspection. The phone comes out of its mount to document the truck’s condition during the walkaround. Back in the cab, the driver returns it to a dedicated mounting location. At the next stop, it goes with them again to complete delivery paperwork.


That repeated movement between the cab and the job makes the mounting solution an important part of the workflow. You can shop all phone mounts from RAM®, here.

A Dedicated Place for a Device That Moves

Closeup image of an iPhone in a RAM Mount mounted to the windshield of a semi-truck.
RAM® Quick-Grip™ Suction Cup Mount for Companion Device
Closeup image showing a RAM wireless charging phone holder with a cup holder mount inserted into a cup holder of a semi-truck.
RAM® Wireless charging cup holder mount for Companion Device

A companion phone needs to be easy to secure, easy to remove, and positioned to suit the truck’s interior. For fleets using powered docks, returning the phone to its mount also creates an opportunity to recharge before the next stop.


Choosing the right setup starts with practical details: the phone’s dimensions, its protective case, the frequency of removal, charging requirements, and the available mounting location.


RAM® Mounts already offers phone holders and docking solutions that can support these needs, with options for different devices and fleet preferences.

RAM® Solutions for Companion Phones

RAM® X-Grip® holders use a spring-loaded design to accommodate a range of phone sizes. Compatibility with multiple RAM® mounting bases gives fleets flexibility when configuring a mounting location. RAM® Quick-Grip™ holders offer another approach, with spring-loaded retention and adjustable side arms. The Quick-Grip™ Pro series adds convenient one-handed insertion and removal—useful for drivers who take their phones with them throughout the day.


For compatible phones requiring protection and powered docking, IntelliSkin® and GDS® Tech™ provide an additional option. IntelliSkin® sleeves connect the device to external pogo-pad contacts, allowing compatible GDS® docks to provide connectivity without repeatedly plugging a cable into the phone itself.


These choices allow fleets to select a mounting solution around the device and the driver’s routine, whether the priority is flexible fit, frequent removal, or charging between stops.

Closeup image showing a Sonim XP5 plus in a RAM Mounts push-to-talk kit mounted to the dashboard of a school bus.
RAM® Push-to-Talk vehicle bundle for Sonim XP5plus for Companion Device

Supporting Drivers Inside and Outside the Cab

As more fleet technology becomes integrated into the dashboard, companion devices can take on a more focused role: supporting the work that follows the driver outside the truck.


For fleets adopting a companion phone strategy, RAM® Mounts offers established solutions to support that transition. From universal phone holders to compatible powered docks, the right mounting setup gives the companion device a dedicated place in the cab—and helps keep it ready for the next task.


Explore RAM® Mounts transportation solutions to find a setup for your fleet’s devices and workflows.