Placards Plus.
Let's start with Placards Plus. This app is simple in design. Just type in the number you see on a placard and the app pulls the page from the ERG to show you what you're dealing with. Don't have a placard number? No worries, type in the name of the substance.
You can also type in the guide number. I know most of us don't know a guide number off the top of our heads, but if you get this information from the fire department while responding to the scene, you just type it in and pull the information.
You may also save a particular page from the ERG to a section of the app named, "My Placards." This will allow you to quickly recall the information if you navigate away from the app. All-in-all, it's a very easy to use app. The developer has maintained this app, so the information you get is relevant and useful.
Field App Review | Ratings (of 5) |
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Name | Platform | Developer | Price | Usefulness | Ease | Support | Value | Overall | |
Placards Plus |
Apple | Sheridan Programmers |
$1.99 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4.5 |
Cargo Decoder.
The developer has included pictures of different placards and different types of carrier vehicles, which can be helpful in identifying what you're seeing. There's also a search function so you can type or provide voice data to search the ERG. This developer has also kept the app updated to provide appropriate information.
I reviewed these similar apps together so you can choose one. I like both, and, as a result, I have both. The apps can be complementary, because each has its own strengths. For $3, I can search the ERG in any manner I wish. If you have only $1.99 to spend on an app that provides ERG data, either one provides an excellent option.
Field App Review | Ratings (of 5) |
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Name | Platform | Developer | Price | Usefulness | Ease | Support | Value | Overall | |
Cargo Decoder |
Android | Strategies In Software |
$0.99 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4.5 |
Tim Meacham is a police officer for a private university in central Virginia. He has a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice from Liberty University and a master's in Criminal Justice from the University of Cincinnati.