A dashcam has become a necessity for vehicle owners, primarily commercial drivers. It does not only benefit drivers but also fleet managers. Automated dashcams have made a fleet managerโs job a lot easier because it provides a complete record of any incident that happened to the vehicle and its cause. Most dash cams come with main features like a front camera, built-in recorder, and sometimes rearview camera as well. The size is manageable and discreet, so it is not easily visible to anyone outside the truck or car.ย
Motive (formerly KeepTruckin) and Samsara are some of the most famous names in the dashcam industry and can be found on our list of best dashcams for truckers. Samsara dash cam is easy to use, and people often take advantage of the company’s online tutorials and user manuals.ย
What Features To Look For?
All these features are essential and have to be in a quality dashcam. Drivers may add or modify different features according to their specific needs. All of these features and more are present in the Samsara dashcam.
Built-In Recorder
Most dash cams have a built-in audio recorder plus a speaker. The main purpose of the speaker is to announce verbal alerts in case of unsafe driving behavior such as high speed or the use of mobile phones.ย
The front camera will detect the driverโs non-ideal behavior and prompt the speaker to give alerts. It also records all kinds of audio data in the event of an accident.
Front and Rear-Camera
Dashcams always have a front camera, but sometimes there is an extra camera to video record the rearview. It provides added safety. You can request this added feature.ย
Resolution Power
For good video quality, it is important that the dashcam records videos in 1080p HD. When the video is clear, you will easily be able to observe vehicles that are close to you and avoid collisions or abrupt breaks.
Night Mode
Dashcam with Infrared LED is the best feature for driving at night time. It works perfectly fine in low-light and dim-lit vehicles. This is one of the most important features in a standard dash cam, especially for truck drivers who make long journeys at night.
Field of View
A semi-angled lens is suitable for a wide field of view. A wide field of view will provide a clearer and larger view of the road and inside the vehicle. A clear view will make it easier to read car plate numbers in proximity.
Collision Detector
The dashcam should have very sensitive detectors to identify all the harsh incidents like high speeding, collision, and abrupt braking. Samsara dash cam is quite active, plus it will also upload this accident report to the cloud automatically.ย
Wifi Connectivity
It is important to have wifi in a dash cam which will allow you to share important footage anywhere in no time. For local storage, there is a memory card in the dashcam. But if the storage runs out, then wifi will let you save videos on the cloud.
Pricing
You can request Samsara dashcam pricing from their website. After asking some questions about your vehicle, fleet size, etc., the price will be sent to you by email. So the price can vary depending on dashcam type and features. On average, the price will start from $624 per year.
If the cost of Samsara is beyond your budget, we suggest exploring our other articles where we have reviewed affordable options like the dashcams for $100 or less.
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Technical Specifications
Field of View | Semi-wide angle (121ยฐ) front camera |
Day/Night Mode | Optimized HDR for low or bright light conditions |
Resolution Power | HD 1080p video quality extends to more than 40 hours |
Power Supply | Connection with Samsara VG series gateways with the help of accessory port. |
Battery | 1300mah internal battery for recording videos when the vehicle is parked |
Frame Rateย ย | 30 frames/sec |
Size | Main: 108 x 41 x 61 mm
Cable: 4m |
Mountingย | Attached to the windshield with industrial quality adhesive tape. |
Storage | It offers cloud storage for their dash cam footage. Additionally, you can use SD card to store footage locally. |
Processing | High capability Edge processors for real-time automation and artificial intelligence. |
Connection | 4G LTE network connection with Samsara VG series gateways, data is secured with military-grade encryption. |
Automated Upload | Automatic upload of footage on cloud in case of collision, abrupt braking, or high speed. |
Operating Temperature | From -20-65ยฐ C |
Software Update | Inward and outward HD video playback from any type of wifi device. Safety reports include accident recovery and reconstruction.ย
For easier understanding of driverโs safety scorecards are issued. On-demand and automated upload, verbal alerts, and light indicators to prevent accidents and improve driverโs behavior. |
You can check out the best trucker dash cam options for 2022 here.
Why Buy The Samsara Dash Cam?
According to multiple surveys conducted by transportation companies, vehicles with dash cams are able to avoid accidents as compared to other vehicles. Improvement in driver behavior, fewer insurance claims, insurance discounts, and fewer legal fees are some of the benefits that have been reported over the years. Here are some reasons why you should invest in a Samsara dashcam.
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Easy to use
The easier a device is to use and install, the more chances are of people buying it. Most drivers do not want to spend a long time in the dash cam installment process and maintain it afterward. Installing and using a Samsara dash cam is very simple.
Here is a video showing how to use a Samsara dashcam.
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Reasonable price
Considering the number of features and benefits that the Samsara dash cam comes with, its price is quite reasonable. It can be a little expensive if it is custom-made for your fleetโs specific needs. But even then it is cheaper than other brands.
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Multiple camera configurations
There are a total of four configurations of the Samsara dashcam. An inside cam that will cover the storage area of the truck, outside configuration, front view, and the dual view (front plus rear camera view).
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Reduced cost of labor
Using dash cam has reportedly decreased the cost of labor. The user-friendly interface of Samsara dash cams, manuals, and interactive tutorials make it easy for drivers to install and maintain dash cams. So extra fee for labor is mostly avoided.
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Low insurance pricing and discounts
Making your fleet extra secure with dashcam may win you some insurance benefits and discounts. It is because you are at low risk of road accidents, and your fleet is safe. And if something does happen, you will be able to provide real proof for it.
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No False Claims
During road accidents, the blame is always put on a truck driver but mostly it’s not the case. A dashcam will provide video proof of what caused the accident, preventing your company from false claims and financial burdens.
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Driverโs Safety Scorecard
The Samsara dashcam keeps track of truckersโ safe driving habits and rewards them with scorecards. This has proven to be a great way to keep drivers motivated which lowers the risk of accidents.
The Verdict
With the increase in vehicle accidents, investing in a high-resolution dashcam is a great choice to make sure that your vehicle or fleet is safe. Samsara dash cam comes with several useful features which are mostly not available in the market.
The price is also very reasonable considering its multiple features and benefits. Some of the main vendors for the dashcam other than Samsara include Motive (formerly Keep Truckin), and Grdian.ย
The constant surveillance and alerts of the Samsara dash cam will improve the driverโs behavior which will indirectly reduce the risk of accidents. But if anything does happen the HD video proof will prevent any financial burden with easy insurance claims. After all this, and still not sure how Samsara stacks up? Check outย our list of best dashcams for truckers.