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Dash Cams for Truckers: Best Trucker Dash Cam for 2024

(Last Updated On: July 24, 2024)

Truck dash cams are cameras installed on commercial trucks as well as semi-truck dashboards. These dashboard cameras can be either front-facing or both front-facing and driver-facing.

The primary objectives of these dashboard cameras are to improve truck and driver safety. Also, dashcam improves driver performance, andtruck dash cam the captured footage can be used as proof in the event of driver exoneration.

Furthermore, fleets that adopt the use of dashcams can benefit from better visibility, enhanced fleet safety, and better driver accountability.

Dashcams for trucks and semi-trucks are often powered by the vehicles’ power systems. They may be switched on and off manually or automatically whenever the ignition switch is turned on.

With a pairing of dashboard cameras and fleet management systems, fleet managers may get a wider understanding of fleet safety. And this includes details such as fast acceleration, collision detection, hard cornering, hard braking, speeding, and so forth.



Types of Truck Dash cams

The following are the several types of dash cams that may be installed on commercial vehicles:

Front-facing Dash Cams

garmin dash cam mini 2

Front-facing dash cams are meant to improve visibility for fleet managers by capturing excellent footage of the road ahead through g-sensor.

The Front-facing dash cams can be mounted on the truck windshield in less time, giving truckers and fleet management a direct view of their fleet’s activities. Some advanced front-facing dash cam employ sensors to detect incidents and immediately send video to the fleet manager.

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Dual-facing Dash Cams

vifio a129

Dual-facing dash cameras record both inward as well as outward-facing video for a complete view of the road ahead and the vehicle.

The wide-angle lens of this dash cam, intended to boost driver behavior, provides clear pictures of in-cab activity and external surroundings. And this allows fleet managers to spot negligent or unsafe driving fast. Later, this footage can be used as a starting point for driver coaching.

Are you concerned about driving at night? Take it easy.

Get Viofo A129 Dash cam

A lot of dual-facing dash cameras, such as Samsara’s CM31 and CM32 dash cams, have an infrared LED for use in low-light conditions or on unlit roadways.

vantrue M3

Multi-camera System

Multi-camera systems give a 360° view of every vehicle, assisting in the safety of drivers as well as their CDLs and this allows drivers to view the entire image of what’s beside and behind them.

And thus, reducing blind-spot crashes and increasing visibility into truck interiors.

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Exterior Vehicle cameras

garmin 360

Exterior cameras can be put on the truck’s exterior to obtain a 360° view of the vehicle and its surroundings.

This camera is especially helpful when truckers are faced with blind spots and therefore need to make tight maneuvers or simply change lanes.

It might be difficult for a truck driver to see the wider picture, specifically while driving a large vehicle.

Exterior cameras record what drivers may not see, removing any doubt in the case of an accident or personal injury.

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Other trucks or items behind the truck that could go undetected in the rearview mirror are captured by rear cameras, and side cameras capture an ultra-clear image of items besides the truck.

License plates are readily caught by any camera, allowing other drivers to be identified in the event of an accident.

Interior cameras

z-edge dualdash

Interior cams record activities from the inside of a truck to keep truckers safe and increase cargo safety.

To help prevent vandalism or harassment in passenger transport vehicles, video is captured and stored.

Interior cams in trucks and trailers can help prevent or eliminate cargo theft by continually monitoring all in-cabin activities. Some examples are rearview mirror dashcams and battery-powered dashcams.

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Key Features of Truck Dash Cams systems

When it comes to dash cams, there are numerous possibilities. Which one would be best for you and your company’s fleet?

Whatever option you prefer, make sure your dash cams capture high-quality footage that is accessible when you really need it.

When choosing the finest truck dash cam for your fleet, keep the following features in mind.

Video Quality

Sharp video quality is essential while examining your footage so that you can easily see and recognize people, objects, and clips.

When examining video footage, high video quality is essential.truck dash cam

Look for dash cameras with a wide-angle lens or full HD footage that has a wide dynamic range (WDR) for the best quality.

If you ever want the highest solutions powerful enough to read license plate numbers and determine whether eyes open or closed, choose FHD or HD 1080p video.

Storage

All of the fancy dash cam features would be for naught if the captured information isn’t accessible in the future.

Micro SD cards or memory cards with set storage limits or internet-connected dash cameras that automatically upload the video to the cloud, bypassing the need for manual recovery, are the two most common storage solutions.

Durability

The finest truck dash cam for semi-trucks and trailers ought to be high-quality and dependable.truck dash cam

This is very important especially if you’re engaged in accidents or lawsuits that would need government authorities, insurance providers, and others to investigate.

For example, heavy-duty dashcams and those with IP68 (waterproof and dustproof) casings are one of the best available options.

Ease of use

Dashcams for trucks are designed to help improve driving habits and enhance safety.

Truck dash cams should be simple to operate and undistracted, allowing truck drivers to concentrate on the road.

Internet Connectivity

internet connection

Dash Cam truck footage may be automatically uploaded to the cloud for future access via Wi-Fi or internet connections.

Therefore, choose a truck dash cam that has the ability to upload footage on the cloud.

Mounting and Installation

Truck Dash Cams may be mounted on the truck using a suction cup or adhesive. Adhesive attachments are a high-quality solution that may be installed quickly, easily, and securely.

The easiest truck dashcam to set up and install is one that is simple to use.

Reporting Capabilities

IFTA Reporting

When establishing driver scorecards to assist your training, coaching, and incentives programs, reporting features should make it easy to retrieve key data and dashcam footage.

Smart Features

Some dashcams employ artificial intelligence (AI) to gather more detailed information and insights that may be used in coaching and other activities to help fleet drivers improve their driving habits.

Two notable examples of AI-powered dash cams are Motive and Eroad Clarity.

Motive:

Motive dash cams utilize AI technology to provide advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) features such as lane departure warnings, forward collision warnings, and pedestrian detection.

These features help drivers maintain a high level of safety while on the road. Motive’s dash cams also offer real-time driver coaching, with in-cab voice alerts to address unsafe driving behaviors immediately.

The system can also send notifications to fleet managers when specific events occur, such as harsh braking or speeding, enabling them to take action and address these issues promptly.

Get Motive Here

Eroad Clarity:

Eroad’s Clarity dash cam system uses AI to offer a range of features that enhance fleet safety and efficiency. The system provides real-time video footage and event-based insights, allowing fleet managers to monitor driver behavior and respond to incidents quickly.

Eroad Clarity also offers features such as speed limit detection, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), and driver fatigue monitoring.

The system’s cloud-based platform allows for easy access to video footage and data analytics, simplifying the process of identifying areas for improvement and tracking driver performance over time.

By incorporating AI-powered dash cams like Motive and Eroad into your fleet, you can enhance safety, efficiency, and overall driver performance.

Get EROAD Clarity Here

Dashcam comparison

 


Features Not To Compromise On

While buying a dashcam, there are certain features that you shouldn’t compromise on no matter what, as they make these cameras valuable. They also make your claim for the damages to the insurance company much stronger and even let you contest a ticket successfully. 

Even if you are tight on the budget and can’t splurge while buying the camera, just make sure that your chosen product has the following features in it:

Stable 4K Recording

A stable 4K recording feature is surely a feature that you need to have in your new dash cam. With the help of this feature, you are able to zoom in efficiently and precisely and see the required details from the video.

As a matter of fact, this feature is so valuable that it even lets you zoom in and figure out the digits written on the license plate. At the same time, you need to realize that any clip that has a lower than 1080p HD cam may not be very visible if you are looking for some precise details.

The Size Of the SD Card Matters

As you want the dashcam to keep recording constantly, you need to know that the higher the SD card capacity, the more it would be able to record. This is also necessary as the camera would be recording the videos in a loop and when you want to save a clip, you can easily mine from it.

One of the best things about memory cards is that they are not very expensive. Hence, even if you buy the one with the largest capacity out there, it won’t cost you a lot. This is why buying a high-capacity memory card would surely be beneficial for you.

Alongside this, another benefit that comes with a large-capacity SD card is that it can save videos with higher resolutions easily. If the card does not have enough capacity, it will have to compress the videos, which will compromise the quality greatly. 

You will get a complimentary SD card with the dashcam. However, it won’t be good enough to save lots of data in it and may get overloaded too soon. Hence, it’s better to get your hands on a large-capacity SD card yourself. Alongside this, when you decide to buy the dash cam, make sure that it features the SD card slot and you won’t have to rely solely on its internal memory. 

Image Quality Of The Camera

It goes without saying that the quality of the image that your dashcam would showcase is of great importance. While choosing a dash cam, you really need to be sure of the good quality of the images captured in order to get the insurance claims without any hassle.Keep truckin dashcam

In order to be able to check out the license plate of the car that hit yours while parking, you need to be able to see the images clearly. HD 720p and HD 1080p cameras take good pictures and videos even at night. A clear video no matter if it’s raining or snowing would be possible if the cameras are good enough.

Must Be Uncomplicated

There is no benefit of having a camera that’s so difficult to set up every time you sit in the car that you end up giving up on it. This would lead to you losing all the money you spent on buying it.

Hence, the dashcam you buy should be super easy to set up and there should be no complications in using it. Ideally, your dashcam should start recording as soon as you switch on your vehicle.

As a matter of fact, there are some advanced cameras that would detect the collision automatically and would let you find the incident’s clip easily. This would also happen every time there is a hard brake. Hence, it gets super easy for you to manage your cameras. 

If you go even further ahead in terms of technological advancement, you would be able to get your hands on a camera that would actually have a report generator that works on a single tap of the thumb. All crucial parts of the incident would be a part of this report including the time of the incident, its location as well as the speed of the car. 

The GPS Facility

Army Truck GPS

Modern dashcams also come with a very unique feature of the GPS facility. This feature tracks the car according to the map you have already set on it. Alongside this, it keeps updating the location information and then creates an authentic insurance report when needed. 

This is a satellite navigation system that is highly precise and accurate when it comes to recording the speed and location of the vehicle. Hence, a dashcam with the GPS facility is definitely a better choice than a camera that doesn’t come with this facility. 

Mount With Good Adhesion

You obviously wouldn’t want your camera to keep falling off its place after every jolt. Fixing it time and again would surely be highly annoying. To avoid that, analyze the mounting system used by the camera, which would surely make a difference in how well it would adhere to its spot.

The windshield mount of the dash cam you choose should have strong adhesion. This also depends on the size of your camera. If you are opting for a giant and massive camera, its adhesion power has to be sturdy enough to hold on to the spot you have placed it on despite all jolts and bumps. 

Example of Truck Dashcams

Truck dash cams, help you improve your fleet’s safety and efficiency.

Investing in them protects your company’s assets and provides additional advantages.

Here are 9 of the best truck dash cams in the fleet management industry.

1. Omnicam Advanced Fleet Dash Cam

motive ai omnicam

Omnicam is revolutionizing the trucking industry with its cutting-edge technology and smart features tailored specifically for commercial trucks and fleets. This advanced dash cam stands out due to its integration of AI-driven insights, unmatched video clarity, and seamless cloud storage.

One of the key features of the Omnicam is its proactive alert system. Utilizing artificial intelligence, it can predict risky situations on the road and provide real-time feedback to the driver.

Get Motive Omnicam AI Here

This helps in preventing accidents even before they happen. The Omnicam also boasts of a wide-angle lens, capturing a broader view of the road, ensuring no detail is missed. With automatic cloud uploading, fleet managers can access the footage anytime, anywhere, making it easier to monitor and evaluate driver behavior.

Some of the notable features of the Omnicam include:

  • AI-Powered Risk Analysis: Predicts and alerts of potential risks in real-time.
  • Ultra HD Video Capture: Ensures clear and detailed recording even in challenging light conditions.
  • Seamless Cloud Integration: Instantly uploads and stores footage securely for easy retrieval.
  • Enhanced Night Vision: Records clear videos even in low light conditions, ensuring round-the-clock safety.
  • Extended Battery Life: Ensures the cam remains active during longer hauls, capturing every crucial moment.

By integrating Omnicam into your fleet, you not only enhance safety but also optimize operations by gaining insights into driver habits, route efficiencies, and potential maintenance needs.

2. Smart Dashcam’s AI-technology from Motive (formerly Keep Truckin)

keep trucking eld motive cam dashcam

The Truck dash cam automatically detects and identifies risky driving behavior such as harsh braking, tailgating, and distraction. Motive’s (formerly Keeptruckin) DRIVE risk score examines the video in its entirety.

This AI-technology Smart Dashcam from Motive (formerly keepTruckin) comes with some key features such as AI detection, DRIVE risk score, and real-time visibility.

Get Motive Here

Gives Insights to the Safety Hub in real time, where administrators may intervene to educate drivers and avoid accidents.

3. EROAD Clarity Dashcam Series

EROAD offers a range of dashcam options designed to enhance safety, efficiency, and visibility across your fleet. The EROAD Clarity series includes Clarity Get, Clarity Solo, and Clarity Connected, each tailored to different fleet needs.

Clarity Get combines high-definition video, GPS, driver behavior, and fleet tracking data onto a single device. This pay-as-you-go model allows you to only pay for the footage you need, making it a cost-effective option for fleets of all sizes.

Clarity Solo is a standalone multi-sensor camera that delivers cloud video, GPS location, and driver behavior data. It is ideal for light- and medium-duty vehicles, last-mile delivery fleets, construction equipment, and HOS-exempt heavy trucks.

Clarity Connected is an in-cab camera that integrates with the EROAD ELD, providing GPS location and driver behavior data. This option gives you visual context for better driver coaching, incident investigation, and driver exoneration.

Clarity Get

Clarity Get

Clarity Solo

Clarity Solo (2)

Clarity Connected

Clarity Connected

The following are some of the benefits of EROAD Clarity Dashcams:

  • Protect your business from fraud, false claims, and wrongful lawsuits
  • Improve fleet safety with driver behavior data and coaching opportunities
  • Track and monitor your vehicles in real-time
  • Provide accurate ETAs and create geofences to identify arrivals and departures
  • Maximize uptime and ensure technicians get to jobs on time
  • Save on insurance and repair costs by quickly retrieving video footage to establish fault and expedite settlements

4. Samsara CM31 and CM32 Truck dash Cams

samara-c31

Dash cams from Samsara record driving incidents and instantly upload high-quality camera footage to the cloud.

It captured anything from unexpected braking to full-fledged crashes.

When this AI-powered platform identifies risky driving, it instantly alerts fleet managers, who may then take appropriate action.

The dash cams from Samsara give crystal-clear details into a fleet’s performance and reliability.

Check Out the Price Here

The following are some of the features of the Samsara dash cam system.

  • Ai driven platform
  • Submit footage of harsh events over the internet
  • Capture High-quality video, especially in poor lighting conditions
  • On-demand video retrieval for a maximum of 60 hours of driving time
  • Plug-and-play setup that gets you started in minutes with a power cord that attaches directly to Samsara’s vehicle gateway

5. Multi-Cam Smart Dashcam from Teletrac Navmanteletrac navman

Teletrac Navman HD dual and quad AI cameras are built on AI edge computing systems.

It records the entire driving time and shows front and driver-facing angles.

At night or in any poor-lighting situation, this infrared technology offers unrivaled clear video footage.

The truck dash cam comes with the following features.

  • Receive immediate safety notifications for seat belt violations and events such as distracted or sleepy driving.
  • Record and analyze all moments of driving time to ensure that only the most important situations are seen.
  • With built-in GPS and LTE connection, fleet managers can view footage in real-time from anywhere.
  • Multi-camera, AI engine, driver coaching, fraud prevention, and real-time warnings are just a few of the features available.

6. AI-Driven Verizon Connect Integrated Video

The Verizon Connect Integrated Video allows you to see the following on the computer or smartphone.

  • Watch video events
  • Learn who the driver is or how fast they were traveling
  • Monitor the vehicle’s whereabouts in real-time using GPS tracking
  • On the Verizon Connect fleet management platform, you’ll also receive an alert when a video is ready

The Verizon Connect Integrated Video enables fleet managers to get a near-real-time, 360-degree view of the fleet’s activities.

And this enables the company to save expenses, improve performance, keep track of vehicle repairs, and make the most out of every workday.

7. Rand McNally OverDryve 8 Pro

Rand McNally released an all-in-one truck dash cam device that features:

  • Truck navigation
  • SiriusXM radio
  • Voice assistance
  • Hands-free calling and texting

    Rand McNally OverDryve 8 Pro

The OverDryve 8 Pro is also e-log ready, as part of Rand McNally’s OverDryve OS Connected Vehicle platform.

The device, which was designed exclusively for experienced drivers, combines important driving as well as business tools, in-cab entertainment, and hands-free safety improvements.

 

Check out the Price Here

Other features are:

  • 8” high-resolution screen
  • Audible news, weather, traffic, sports, and more
  • Music from drivers’ favorite sources
  • A built-in dash camera
  • Easy to install magnetic mount
  • Navigation and routing with truck POIs, fuel logs, advanced lane guidance, and more

8. EzSmart Dash Camera System from ezlogz

In a nutshell, the EzSmart Truck dash cam is a one-of-a-kind high-tech tool with all of the required features Ezlogzand this helps to ensure optimal road safety when transporting cargo.

Aside from the basic functionalities, it has a slew of extra important features.

EzSmartCam was designed to capture real-time road incidents and driver behavior.

Due to its ability to connect via 3G/4G connections and the ability to function from Wi-Fi, the video captured is always accessible and viewed anytime, anywhere.

Computer vision and artificial intelligence are two more amazing features of the device. As a result, the camera is used to capture abrupt acceleration, harsh braking, and even tight turns independently.

The device transmits data about the road accident to fleet management when necessary.

 

9. Dash Cam 66W from Garmin

The 66W is a decent standalone dash cam with numerous functions.garmin dash cam 66w

It has GPS built-in, but it’s more for watermarking recordings with locations and speed than for a full-fledged navigation system.

Check out the Price Here

The Garmin 66W dashcam records in 1440p at 30 frames per second, and you may drop the resolution to 1080p to elevate the frames per second to 60.

It has one of the broadest lens angles of any dash cam on the market, at 180 degrees (most are about 150° to 160°).

When deployed in a large semi-truck, this may be quite handy.

Also, the 66W dash cam has a voice control function.

When you say “OK, Garmin,” you can encrypt a video file, snap a photograph, or activate an audio recording, which might be essential if you are stopped over by the cops.


Important Benefits of Truck Dash Cams

Truck Dash cameras are being mounted on commercial trucks, passenger vehicles, and even motorbikes for a variety of reasons, including business and personal security.

Here are the top 5 reasons to set up a truck dash cam in your fleet trucks.

There are several benefits to having a truck dash cam on board, but we will focus on the five most important ones here.

Video Evidence

The most apparent reason why some people and companies install dash cameras in their trucks is for this reason.

If an accident happens and you have a video of it, you benefit from showing the government officials what transpired and who was (or wasn’t) to blame.

Efficient Vehicles Tracking

A truck dash cam system installed in fleet trucks may be tremendously beneficial to a fleet company.

Several insurance firms are presently offering discounts or outright mandating truck dash cameras’ installation to obtain insurance coverage.

Consider this… if you have a fleet of trucks and a stringent policy against drivers using a cellphone while driving;

How can you enforce this policy without even being personally there in every vehicle, with your drivers?

Surely, this is unfeasible without a dash cam. You’ll be able to simply observe who is and isn’t complying with corporate policies if you use technology.

Help Stop Fraud

Unfortunately, there are several unscrupulous vehicle drivers on the road that prey on the innocent. These drivers purposefully cause accidents and then claim that the other driver is to blame in order to collect insurance money.

By mounting a dash cam on your fleet vehicles, your driver will be able to capture their trip and if they come across these types of drivers, you will be able to readily establish that the collision was caused by the other party.

Therefore, these insurance scams will not affect you or your driver. As a result, fleet managers will be confident that driver’s trips are safe and the business will be more efficient.

Drivers Coaching and Training

Truck dash cams are used to further train fleet drivers and optimize fleet safety as well as coaching. Dashcams would help fleet managers keep an eye on inexperienced drivers or those under training to improve their driving skills and this makes driver training a whole lot easier.

Even if you’re not personally there in the vehicle, you can view exactly what your driver sees when they’re behind the wheel. As a result, you may discover your driver’s bad driving patterns from the transmitted video session.

You may also use past truck dash cam recordings to demonstrate prior driving mistakes and instruct your drivers on how to avoid such incidents.

Lower Insurance Premium Rates

Installing truck dash cams shows insurance companies that a fleet company cares about the safety of the fleet.

Dashcam system enhances driving habits and fleet safety while lowering the risk of accidents.

As a result, when you install a truck dash cam on a trailer or semi-truck, many insurance companies offer discounts and lower rates.

FAQs About Truck Dash Cams

How do dash cams impact insurance premiums?
Using dash cams can lead to lower insurance premiums for some fleets. Insurance providers often consider them a proactive step towards safety and risk management, potentially offering discounts for vehicles equipped with these devices.

Can dash cams withstand extreme temperatures?
Yes, most high-quality dash cams are designed to operate within a wide range of temperatures. However, it’s crucial to choose models specifically built for the conditions they’ll encounter, especially in very hot or cold climates.

How do I retrieve important footage from my dash cam?
Footage can typically be retrieved via a connected app or by removing the SD card to download the video files directly. Many modern dash cams also offer cloud storage solutions, enabling remote access to footage.

What’s the best way to maintain my dash cam?
Regular maintenance includes keeping the lens clean, ensuring the firmware is up to date, and periodically checking the device’s mount and power supply for secure attachment and connection.

Do dash cams record when the truck is off?
Yes, many dash cams have a parking mode feature that allows them to record when the ignition is off, provided they have an internal battery or are connected to a power source that remains active.

How can I ensure my dash cam doesn’t distract the driver?
Choose dash cams with features like automatic start and stop recording, minimalistic design, and mounting options that don’t obstruct the driver’s view. Consider models that limit or eliminate the need for driver interaction while driving.

Final Thoughts

If you have your car insured and want to make sure your claims don’t take much time, having a car dashcam is necessary! It makes your case stronger and gets you the required amount of damage compensation efficiently. However, while buying the dashcam, make sure it has all the required features that make it worth buying. Also, if you are tight on the budget, have an extensive market survey and compare the rates before you decide to pick a particular one. 

Different countries have different legal restrictions when it comes to adhering to the dashcam in the car or in terms of its form factor. Also, the audio recording feature may put you in some legal trouble as well. Make sure to be well aware of your state laws before you get a dashcam mounted in your car!

For more details, please watch this video where we explained everything you need to know about buying the right dash cam for you!

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About the author

Picture of Robert Rigman

Robert Rigman

Former independent OTR trucker that left the road to dedicate his time to research new technology for the transport industry. When the ELD Mandate was approved many questions and daily challenges came up and there was no answer to them. ELDdevices.net was born from the combination of my passion for trucking and my affinity for research and writing.

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Share what you learned!

About the author

Picture of Robert Rigman

Robert Rigman

Former independent OTR trucker that left the road to dedicate his time to research new technology for the transport industry. When the ELD Mandate was approved many questions and daily challenges came up and there was no answer to them. ELDdevices.net was born from the combination of my passion for trucking and my affinity for research and writing.

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