Best Dash Cam for Trucks: What to Look For in a Dash Cam

Truckers have a lot to worry about when it comes to safety on the road. Not only are they sharing the highways with smaller vehicles, but they're also hauling large loads that can be dangerous if not handled correctly. That's why having a dash cam installed in your truck is key.

A dash cam can help you keep an eye on what's happening both inside and outside of your vehicle, giving you peace of mind while you're driving. It can also help you determine the cause of an accident, should one occur.

Additionally, by harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI), dash cams can help fleet managers and drivers focus on safety, efficiency, and compliance with an ever-present coaching and monitoring assistant.

Take a look below to learn more about the benefits of dash cams, and Contact MiX by Powerfleet to learn about our AI dashcams for fleets and let's discuss how your fleet can best benefit from this technology.

First Things First: What is a Dash Cam?

A dash cam is a small, forward-facing camera mounted on a vehicle's dashboard or windshield. The purpose of a dash cam is to record video footage of the view outside the front window, as well as 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 dash cams are powered by the cigarette lighter adapter in the vehicle, and they 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 dash cams offered by MiX by Powerfleet, can provide in-cab driving instruction, hazard alerts, and other helpful guidance that will help to improve your fleet's safety and your drivers' behaviors while on the road.

What to Look for in a Trucking Dash Cam

When you're shopping for a dash cam 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 dash cam that's easy to install and set up. The last thing you want is to be fumbling with wires and settings while you're on the road.
• Ease of use: A good dash cam 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 dash cams, like those offered by MiX 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 like 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, both inside and outside of 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 dash cam 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 to have in a dash cam. It can help you keep track of your route, and it can also be helpful in the event of a crash. If you need to provide your location to authorities, GPS can make that process much easier.
• Motion detection: Motion detection is a great way to conserve battery life and storage space on your dash cam. With this feature turned on, your dash cam will only start recording when it detects movement. This can be helpful if you want to leave your dash cam running all day but don't want to fill up your storage space with hours of footage.

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

What Makes MiX's AI Dashcams Unique?

MiX by Powerfleet has offers AI dashcams for fleets 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 the MyMiX driver engagement app, drivers can view their scores and review instances of risky driving behavior to learn about how best to improve.

MiX's AI dashcams are also equipped with 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.

MiX Fleet Manager and MiX 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 Dash Cams

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

Single-channel dash cams: Single-channel dash cams are the most basic type of dash cam. They 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 dash cams: Multi-channel dash cams have multiple camera lenses and can record footage from multiple angles. This can be helpful if you want to keep an eye on both the road and your cargo. Additionally, this dash cam offers the option of having an in-cab camera that monitors the driver and other activities happening 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 dash cams: Wireless dash cams are becoming more popular, as they're much easier to install than wired dash cams. However, they do require a power source, so you'll need to make sure your truck has an accessible outlet.

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

AI Dash Cams: AI Dash Cams are the newest and most advanced type of dash cam. These cameras use artificial intelligence to provide real-time alerts about risky driving, collision prevention protocols, fatigue detection, and distraction notifications. MiX by Powerfleet offers a host of options for AI dash cams, 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 a variety of sensors and cameras that help them to navigate the road. These same sensors and cameras can also be used to record footage of incidents, allowing for a complete record of what happened leading up to 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 dash cams 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 the technology continues to develop, we can expect to see even more advanced capabilities, such as facial recognition and automatic incident reporting. For now, dash cams are a valuable tool that can help trucking fleets to improve safety, reduce costs, and protect their drivers.

If you're interested in learning more about dash cams for trucks, or any other telematics solutions, Contact MiX by Powerfleet today. We'll be happy to discuss your needs and help you find the best solution for your fleet.

How Do Dashcams Work?

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

History Of Dashcams

Dash cams have been around for years, but they've only recently become popular in the United States. In Russia, dash cams are much more common, as they're often used to protect drivers from false insurance claims. The first dash cams 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. And there is a long history of using personal recording devices to film while on the road.

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

Dash cams weren't typically used by citizens, but as the technology has continued to evolve, these devices have become more accessible. In recent years, the cost of dash cams has decreased significantly, making them more affordable for the average driver — and the cost of a single false insurance claim will pay for the camera many times over.

As the number of available features has increased, so has the popularity of dash cams. These days, there are a variety of different types of dash cams on the market, so you can find one that best suits your needs.

Dash cams first became popular in the trucking industry a few years ago. Truckers were looking for a way to protect themselves from false claims, and dash cams provided an ideal solution. Dash cams also became popular with police officers and taxi drivers for the same reason, but these devices didn't really make the jump from civil servants to livery drivers and citizens until recent years.

As all electronics advance and their packages become smaller and smaller, the ability to add more options to a dash cam also improves. This has given manufacturers the ability to add features like GPS tracking, Wi-Fi connectivity, and live streaming — all of which are becoming more popular among truckers and other professional drivers. With the use of GPS, dash cam footage can also record information such as exact location, speed, time, and route data, all of which can be overlayed onto the video footage.

With the advent of artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology, dash cams are becoming even more popular. These days, there are a number of different types of AI-enabled dash cams on the market. These devices can do things like identify license plates and faces, and they can also be used for commercial purposes like monitoring traffic patterns or collecting data for marketing research.

Why Do Fleet Vehicles Need Dashcams?

There are a few reasons why fleet vehicles need dash cams. First, they can help protect the fleet manager from false insurance claims. If one of the drivers is involved in an accident, the footage from the dash cam can be used to determine who was at fault, saving the company money on insurance premiums. MiX by Powerfleet has recognized the benefit of these devices and has worked diligently to incorporate this technology into our suite of telematics options.

Second, dash cams can help improve driver safety. If fleet managers can see that their drivers are driving safely, they may be less likely to be involved in an accident. If the dash cam is AI-enabled, like those offered by MiX by Powerfleet, it can provide real-time feedback about driving habits like seatbelt usage, smoking, distracted driving, and other dangerous behaviors that may lead to safety issues. With or without AI, we have found that the return on investment for a dash cam integrated telematics platform is substantial, and it is one of the best ways to improve fleet safety.

Finally, dash cams can help fleet managers keep track of their vehicles. If a vehicle is stolen or goes off-route, the dash cam footage can be used to find it.

The Future Of Dashcams In Trucks

The future is AI-powered, and MiX by 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 dash cameras continue to evolve, they will become an increasingly important part of fleet management. If your fleet is not currently using dash cams, now is the time to start. MiX by Powerfleet can help you choose the best dash cam for your needs and integrate it into our comprehensive telematics platform.

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