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Recently updated on October 31st, 2024
Dashcams are becoming an increasingly required tool for truck drivers. Helpful in recording the driving process and thus removing some liability from drivers during accidents by providing an exact recording of events as they took place. Dashcams are a handy tool for you as a truck driver to have. Let’s explore some of the best options available today!
1. Blackvue DR900S-2CH
This premium dashcam offers a 162-degree front field of view and can film in an impressive 4K Ultra HD, which is 3840×2160p at 30FP, with an 8MP image sensor. This is some of the highest quality video recording you will get from a dashcam. This dashcam comes with a motion sensor and is wi-fi capable as well. This means that you can download an app on your phone and monitor the camera from afar while at a rest stop or playback recorded video. Additionally, this camera embeds GPS data into the video so that someone analyzing the video can tell exactly where the events took place. This camera is wonderfully versatile, and it can save you in the case of an accident by potentially removing some liability if the accident is not your fault and you have a recording of it. Shop Blackvue dashcam here!
2. CM32
The CM32 dashcam is dual-facing so that it will record both a front view and a rear view. The front sight is 121-degrees and 1080P. The rear camera is 177-degree and 720P. This camera includes infrared LEDs for nighttime driving. This camera provides fleet management software, allowing the camera to record events such as crashes and near misses. This is done in order to keep management of your truck driving simple and straightforward, as well as to potentially reduce your liability if an accident does occur by providing a clear recording of the event as well as who was at fault. The camera additionally sends notifications of these events to the driver to help prevent distracted driving. Further, this camera includes a built-in accelerometer that will detect your truck’s speed as well as rough driving and notify you. Not to mention, in the event of a crash, the camera will record the entirety of the collision and upload it to cloud storage. Shop CM32 dashcam here!
3. Lytx Drivecam
With a dual-facing camera, this dashcam films both the exterior and interior of the vehicle at once. It offers a 131-degree interior view and an 82-degree exterior view. Additionally, there is a hub attachment for this camera which allows the addition of two more cameras for vehicles that need 360-degree camera coverage. This is a valuable modality for those who want to supervise their trucks completely, but for most circumstances, just the single, dual camera will suffice. The dashcam also has GPS location tracking, a microphone, a speaker for audio alerts, night vision, and the ability to record 100 hours of driving time. It also comes with vehicle tracking software to log your truck’s speed, fuel, and vehicle data. Shop Lytx dashcam here!
4. Verizon Connect Dashcam
Providing some of the best fleet management technology in the world, this camera is best for those looking at data-driven driving as one of their precepts. Featuring a 150-degree front-facing camera that can film in 720P, this camera is truly professional grade. The Verizon Connect’s dashcam recordings are triggered by events such as high-speed acceleration, harsh braking, or cornering. It then automatically uploads these events into its cloud storage, which will remain available for 90 days after recording. There is also the option to add a driver-facing night vision camera to the setup as well. Shop Verizon Connect dashcam here!
5. Driver 360 Degree AI Fleet Dashcam
What’s impressive about this dashcam is its many AI technologies. In addition to a 360-degree and 1080P HD footage capability, this dashcam can identify things such as driver drowsiness, unsafe tailgating, traffic light violations, sudden acceleration, and more! The 360-degree view allows you to see all around, in front of, and inside your vehicle while the camera is active. This camera also stores video on the cloud for up to 100 hours in its local storage. This dashcam also offers 4G LTE support. Shop Driveri dashcam here!
6. OldShark Dashcam
With its 170-degree view, this camera offers a comprehensive view in front of your truck. It also has a collision detector built in as well as night vision. This camera will auto-detect collisions with its g force sensor and store the recording of the accident locally. It has a 32GB micro SD card, so all data from the camera is stored locally, reducing the possibility of it being hacked from the cloud as with other dashcams. Shop OldShark dashcam here!
7. Z-Edge Dual Dashcam
This dashcam comes with a 155-degree view. It also films in 1080P with corrective technology to account for extreme dark or light exposure. It also comes with night vision technology built in. This dashcam also has GPS capabilities, as well as a dual front and back-facing camera in order to record both the driver as well as the road ahead of the truck. This camera stores its data on a 256GB micro SD card. Shop Z-Edge dashcam here!
8. Vantrue T2 Dashcam
The 1080P video and 160-degree view of this dashcam can capture clear images of license plates and traffic signs. It can capture all four sides of a four-way traffic stop, and it also features a wave guard motion sensor that beams out a microwave while your car is parked that will immediately start recording if the beam is interrupted by something. This will ensure that your unattended truck remains secure. Additionally, this dashcam has a time-lapse function that will take snapshots at set intervals. Shope Vantrue dashcam. here!
9. WheelWitness HD Pro
This camera provides a 170-degree field of view as well as is able to film in 2K. This excellent resolution is among the best you will find in commercial dashcams. It has a compensation mechanism, very dark and very light frames, in order to remain visible at all times, and it also allows you to zoom in on recorded images up to four times in order to identify small details better. This camera also has a GPS location ability as well as a motion detector. Shop WheelWitness dashcam here!
10. APEMAN 4K Touch Screen Dashcam
With a 170-degree viewing angle, this dashcam will cover most anything taking place in front of your truck. Able to film in 4K, this camera also has impressive night vision capabilities. It also includes a rear camera, which is waterproof. This camera also comes with a parking mode which has multiple functions in order to aid you while driving and parking your truck. Shop APEMAN dashcam here!
Every truck driver is a potential liability, so if you don’t want to be in that troublesome position someday, be sure to get a quality dashcam.
Benefits of Dashcams
Dashcams have many benefits for truckers and fleet operators who face many financial and legal liabilities every day. Semi-trucks are expensive to purchase and maintain, and owners and operators need to protect their investment. Additionally, for truckers, your reputation as a good driver is crucial. Your livelihood depends on it.
Car Accident Evidence
A semi-truck accident can be devastating for a trucker. Beyond the potential for damaging the semi-truck and injuring the trucker, truckers can be blamed for accidents when they are not at fault when this happens. It leaves them on the hook for the other driver’s vehicle repairs or medical bills. Being found at fault for an accident can have implications for a trucker’s driving career. Dashcams provide strong evidence of what happened during an accident, protecting truckers from wrongful accusations made by other drivers.
Prevent Insurance Fraud
Unfortunately, insurance fraud is one of the most common forms of fraud. When this occurs, a driver or pedestrian will cause a collision to blame the other party and collect an insurance settlement. There is little you can do to prove your innocence if this happens to you, and this sort of fraud can be financially devastating for truckers and fleet operators. Dashcams can protect you if you are ever the victim of this kind of scheme by offering clear video evidence of your innocence. It is the most accurate way to demonstrate that you are not at fault.
Protection for Parked Semi-Trucks
Dashcams can be programmed to record footage even when your truck is not running. It is still at risk for collisions, theft, and other dangers when your rig is parked. Truck stops can be dangerous places, from the threat of robbery to the dangers of being hit by another truck. There is nothing more frustrating than returning to your parked truck to find that a careless driver has damaged it. In most cases, unless the collision occurs in front of a business that records security footage, you will have to eat the costs. A well-placed dashcam can catch it all. Every time you walk away from your rig, you can have confidence that you can see anyone who damages your truck.
Training Purposes
It can be challenging to train new drivers. The ability to monitor them is crucial for coaches to help them become better drivers. A dashcam allows you to show truckers what they did well and what they need to improve on during a drive. Rather than monitoring a truck driver in person, which can be time-consuming, you can adequately coach them and offer advice based on the driving footage.
Reporting Reckless Drivers
Reckless drivers pose a danger to truckers and other drivers on the road. Reckless driving is on the rise. During the pandemic, decreased traffic volume and police presence led some drivers to drive more recklessly, and some experts think this trend will continue after more drivers return to the road. Often reckless drivers go unchecked, but with a dashcam, you can provide evidence to the authorities that may help punish a reckless driver, which will help make the roads safer for truckers and everyone else.
Safely Capture Fun Moments on the Road
Truckers get to see everything on the road, from beautiful scenery to the hilarious or baffling things other drivers do to encounters with wildlife. It might be tempting to use your phone to capture these moments without a dashcam. With a dashcam, however, you can access all those recordings whenever you want.
Other Features
In addition to recording driving footage, a dashcam can offer a range of functionalities. Some dash cams can provide footage to help you when you are parking. They may also have a GPS feature or other features that can aid you on the road, which can help you minimize the number of devices on your dashboard.
What Are the Best Dashcams for Semi Trucks?
As you can see, there are many ways that a dashcam is helpful to both drivers and fleet owners. When selecting a dashcam, it is essential to determine what tasks you want it to perform for you and which features you will need to complete those tasks. Here are some standard functions that you can find on truck cameras.
Dual-channel
If your dashcam only gives you one angle, it may not be helpful to you if a collision or some other incident occurs. You will likely need multiple angles to capture an incident and collect adequate information. Additionally, a camera on the back of the truck provides another angle for capturing collisions and, if the camera has this capability, parking assistance.
Mounting
Depending on the model, mounting the camera can be difficult. You may need additional equipment for mounting it, or you may even need to hire an expert. A dashcam installed incorrectly can void its warranty. Many companies will even mount your dashcam for free.
Power Supply
The ability to record when the truck is not on is a significant selling point for semi-truck dashcams, but not all models have this capability. Look for cameras that offer a backup power supply ensuring that your truck or fleet is protected 24/7.
Easy to Use
Some dashcams are highly technical. If you are a techie and owner-operator, a more technical dashcam might work for you. However, if you are not technically inclined or need to purchase cameras for truckers with varying degrees of technical expertise, ease of use should be a significant factor in your buying model.
Night Vision and Range
Truckers often drive at night, and night driving requires a truck camera with night vision. A camera must be able to capture incidents when it is pitch-black, or light is minimal. Additionally, accidents do not simply happen within a limited range. The recommendation for the best dashcams for semi-trucks is 20 meters. Regardless of where or when an accident happens, you can rest assured that your dashcam will capture it if it has these features.
Storage
Depending on how much footage you will be storing for your fleet operations and how long you need to keep it, the storage capability of your dashcam can be a significant factor in determining which truck camera you purchase. An SD card and a hard disk can help you maximize the storage capabilities of your camera.
Display
Both the size and quality of the display can be a deciding factor in which camera you choose. Look for at least 2 inches of display. Ideally, the display will provide clear images.
Lens Angle
We recommend high-quality lenses with wide-angle views. You can dramatically improve the quality of your footage if you do this.
Accident Detection
When the storage on your dashcam is full, new footage can overwrite existing stored footage. If your footage contains an accident that is overwritten, the evidence of your innocence will be lost. With accident detection, this will not happen. Some dashcams can detect an accident, and all the footage surrounding the evidence will be saved immediately.
Warranty
Consider buying a dashcam that comes with a warranty, and be sure that you are operating the camera so that the warranty is not voided.
Companies Offering Dashcams Services for Semi Trucks
You have lots of options when it comes to purchasing a dashcam. Many truck cameras come with software that allows you to manage the information the camera collects. Some companies offer dashcams that come with software, which provides features like GPS and a fleet management system. This is an excellent option if you want to minimize the number of devices on your truck’s dash, as well as consolidate the number of software programs you use to support your fleet.
- Samsara
- Lytx
- Verizon Connect
If you are happy with your current GPS and fleet management systems, look for a dashcam that can easily be integrated with your existing software.
Another way to ensure that your truck or fleet is safe on the road is to keep up with regular preventative maintenance with your semi-truck. Here at LubeZone, we want to keep you safe and get you back on the road quickly. Visit our experienced and knowledgeable technicians who will do full-service oil changes in 40 minutes or less so that you can get back on the road soon.
