Truck Fleet Dashcams: A Complete Safety and Telematics Guide

Commercial truck operators face unique challenges on the road, managing both vehicle safety and valuable cargo while sharing highways with smaller vehicles. Modern dashcam technology has become essential for addressing these challenges, providing comprehensive monitoring and safety features that protect drivers and fleet investments. 

Powerfleet's AI-enhanced dashcams deliver advanced monitoring capabilities that go beyond basic recording. They incorporate artificial intelligence to analyze road conditions, enhance accident prevention, and improve overall fleet safety. By harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI), these systems serve as an ever-present coaching and monitoring assistant, helping fleet managers and drivers focus on safety, efficiency, and compliance. 

First Things First: What is a Dashcam? 

A dashcam is a small, forward-facing camera mounted on a vehicle's dashboard or windshield. The purpose of a dashcam is to record video footage of the view outside the front window and any activity inside the vehicle. This video footage can be used for various purposes, including providing evidence in the event of an accident, monitoring driver behavior, or improving fleet safety. 

Most dashcams are powered by the vehicle's cigarette lighter adapter and automatically start recording when the engine is turned on, but others may be hardwired directly into the vehicle's electrical system. 

Some models also have features like GPS tracking and collision detection that can be activated to provide even more detailed information. Other models, like the AI dashcams offered by Powerfleet, can provide in-cab driving instruction, hazard alerts, and other helpful guidance to improve your fleet's safety and your drivers' behaviors while on the road. 

What to Look for in a Trucking Dashcam 

When you're shopping for a dashcam for your truck, there are a few things you'll want to keep in mind. Here are a few factors to consider: 

• Ease of installation: You want a dashcam that's easy to install and set up. The last thing you want is to fiddle with wires and settings while on the road. 
• Ease of use: A good dashcam should be easy to operate. You should be able to start and stop recording with the push of a button and view your footage without any hassle. 
• Wide field of view: A wide field of view is important for two reasons. First, the wide angle allows you to capture more of what's happening around your truck. This can be helpful in case of an accident or other road incident. Second, it helps you keep an eye on your cargo. You don't want anything to happen to your shipment while you're driving, and if something does happen, you will have a wider view to see what happened and the events leading up to the incident. 
• AI Capabilities: AI-powered dashcams, like those offered by Powerfleet, can offer many benefits, from coaching you on your driving to identifying behaviors that may ultimately lead to decreased efficiency or impact your operating costs. They can also give alerts about upcoming hazards. 
• Clarity: Look for both front and rear cameras with high-quality video recording capabilities in full HD. This will ensure that you can see everything that's happening inside and outside your truck. There is nothing worse than trying to gather evidence for an insurance claim only to find that the videos are compressed beyond recognition. 
• Night vision: A good dashcam should have good night vision capabilities so you can see what's happening even when it's dark outside. Parking mode lets it monitor the vehicle while it's parked. 
• GPS: GPS tracking is a great feature for a dashcam. It can help you keep track of your route and be helpful in the event of a crash. GPS can also make the process of providing your location to authorities much easier. 
• Motion detection: Motion detection is a great way to conserve your dashcam's battery life and storage space. With this feature turned on, your dashcam will only start recording when it detects movement. This can be helpful if you want to leave your dashcam running all day but don't want to fill up your storage space with hours of footage. 

Choosing the best dashcam for your truck doesn't have to be difficult. Keep these factors in mind, and you'll be able to find one that meets your needs and gives you the peace of mind you deserve. 

What Makes Powerfleet's AI Dashcams Unique? 

Powerfleet offers AI dashcams that provide video-based safety measures, such as real-time alerts about risky driving, collision prevention protocols, fatigue detection, and distraction notifications. Our Advanced Driving Assistance (ADAS) capabilities provide alerts with audible and visual notifications as part of a holistic approach to driver management. Using our driver engagement app, drivers can view their scores and review instances of risky driving behavior to learn about how best to improve. 

Powerfleet's AI dashcams also have an event recorder that automatically saves footage of collisions, harsh braking, and other incidents. This footage can be used to improve driver safety and protect the fleet from false insurance claims. 

Powerfleet’s fleet management software and Vision AI are shown to have a 10:1 return on investment, including: 

• 15% reduction in fuel costs 
• 20% reduction in maintenance costs 
• 60% reduction in collisions 
• 25% reduction in insurance costs 
• 25% increase in productivity 

Types Of Trucking Dashcams 

Not all dashcams are created equal. There are a few different types of dashcams, and each has its pros and cons. Here's a look at the most common types of dashcams for trucks: 

Single-channel dashcams: The most basic type of dashcam, single-channel dashcams, have one camera lens and can only record footage from one location. This camera is fine if you are only interested in recording a single stream of forward—or rear-oriented footage, but it doesn't account for in-cab activities and won't cover a rear-end crash if the camera is front-facing, and vice versa. 

Multi-channel dashcams: Multi-channel dashcams have multiple camera lenses and can record footage from multiple angles, which can be helpful if you want to monitor both the road and your cargo.  

Additionally, this dashcam offers the option of having an in-cab camera that monitors the driver and other activities inside the vehicle. For a fleet manager looking to improve driver behavior, this is a strong candidate for the level of surveillance in their fleet vehicle. 

Wireless dashcams: Wireless dashcams are becoming more popular because they're much easier to install than wired ones. However, they require a power source, so you'll need to ensure your truck has an accessible outlet. 

Streaming dashcams: Streaming dashcams are a newer type of dashcam that allows you to live-stream your footage. This can be helpful for fleet managers who want to check in on their drivers. 

AI Dashcam: AI dashcams are the newest and most advanced type of dashcam. These cameras use artificial intelligence to provide real-time alerts about risky driving, collision prevention protocols, fatigue detection, and distraction notifications. Powerfleet offers a host of options for AI dashcams, which you can learn more about by contacting our team to discuss your fleet's needs and your goals for implementing an AI-powered telematics platform. 

Self-Driving Vehicles: Self-driving vehicles are equipped with various sensors and cameras that help them navigate the road. These same sensors and cameras can also record footage of incidents, allowing for a complete record of what happened before and during an accident. 

A car using cameras and AI to change lanes, slow down, or avoid hitting a pedestrian is a far cry from the first windshield camera recording to a roll of film in the trunk, but you can draw a continuous line from this early, forward-thinking development to the state of video surveillance today. 

In the future, it's likely that all trucks will be equipped with dashcams as a standard safety feature, much like the backup camera went from a nifty option to a legal standard in a short period of time.  

As technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more advanced capabilities, such as facial recognition and automatic incident reporting. For now, dashcams are valuable tools that can help trucking fleets improve safety, reduce costs, and protect their drivers. 

How Do Dashcams Work? 

Dashcam are relatively simple devices. Most dashcam have a built-in battery or a power source, so they can be turned on and off as needed. When you turn on your dash cam, it will start recording footage of your drive. 

The camera will record continuously, and most dashcam will save the footage in short clips. This is helpful in case of an accident, as you'll only have to download the clip that contains the incident. Most dashcam will have a loop recording feature, which means that once the storage space is full, it will start overwriting the oldest footage. If you're involved in an accident or need to recover footage, it's best that you do so promptly. 

Most dashcam will save this footage to a memory card, which you can then transfer to a computer or other device. Some dashcam will also have cloud storage capabilities, so you can store your footage off-site. 

History Of Dashcams 

Dashcams have existed for years, but they've only recently become popular in the United States. In Russia, they're much more common, as they're often used to protect drivers from false insurance claims.  

The first dashcam were introduced in the 1930s as a novelty known as the “windshield camera," which was developed by H.C. Fairchild and implemented to help police officers address traffic violations. There is a long history of using personal recording devices to film while on the road. 

In the 1960s, the “Windshield Camera” became a standard in policing to combat traffic violations. It allowed officers to review footage of the scene. As the use of in-cruiser filming became more common, it led to programs like "World's Wildest Police Videos" and other shows that showed police chases and other high-speed pursuits. 

Citizens weren't typically using dashcams, but as technology has evolved, these devices have become more accessible. In recent years, the cost of dashcams has decreased significantly, making them more affordable for the average driver. The cost of a single false insurance claim will pay for the camera many times over. 

Why Do Fleet Vehicles Need Dashcams? 

Fleet vehicles require dashcams for several reasons. Firstly, they can help protect the fleet manager from false insurance claims. Suppose any of the drivers is involved in an accident. In that case, the footage from the dashcam can be used to determine who was at fault, ultimately saving the company money on insurance premiums. Powerfleet has recognized the advantages of these devices and has worked diligently to incorporate this technology into our suite of telematics options. 

Secondly, dashcams can enhance driver safety. When fleet managers observe their drivers practicing safe driving habits, those drivers may be less likely to get into an accident. If the dashcam is AI-enabled, such as those provided by Powerfleet, it can offer real-time feedback on driving behaviors like seatbelt use, smoking, distracted driving, and other hazardous actions that could lead to safety issues.  

With or without AI, we have found that a dash cam integrated telematics platform offers a substantial return on investment and is one of the best ways to improve fleet safety. 

Finally, dashcams can help fleet managers monitor their vehicles. If a vehicle is stolen or goes off-route, the footage can be used to locate it. 

The Future Of Dashcams In Trucks 

The future is AI-powered, and Powerfleet is at the forefront of this revolution in dashcam technology. Our AI dashcams are designed to improve driver safety, reduce operational costs, and protect fleets from false insurance claims. We're constantly innovating to provide our customers with the best possible products and services. 

As dashcams continue to evolve, they will become an increasingly important part of fleet management. If your fleet is not currently using dashcams, now is the time to start. Powerfleet can help you choose the best dashcam for your needs and integrate it into our comprehensive telematics platform. 

If you're looking for the best dash cam for your truck, Powerfleet is the best choice. Contact us today to learn more about our AI dashcams and how they can benefit your fleet.