Fleet management is not exactly an easy thing to do (even with help from sophisticated tools)! While it’s easier to put together an optimal route, there is still a wide range of unpredictable factors that can change the course of events. And we all know that each bump in the road can translate into delays and loss of money or customers.

Therefore, fleet managers and owners use modern technologies to monitor and guide their vehicles as they navigate the roads.

One such device is the dashboard camera (or dash cam) for commercial vehicles. The right type of dash cam can provide video evidence in case of an accident, but it can also be used to keep drivers accountable and improve the overall security of your business.

However, it may be a bit difficult to select the right type of camera if you’re not familiar with the features that make them so indispensable to fleet owners. To address this issue, we will discuss the top three features that business owners love in modern dash cams.

#1: Viewing Angle & Storage

The main purpose of a dash cam is to register any traffic incidents. This way, the footage can be used as evidence in an insurance claim or even a police investigation. Therefore, you have several options such as front-facing, dual-facing, or a 360-degree angle camera.

Moreover, truck dash cams have many differences when it comes to features and capabilities. The offer ranges from basic devices with local storage and night vision to WiFi-enabled dash cams for trucks that constantly keep in touch with a central database. There are also devices that can use GPS and Google Maps to register the accurate location of the incident and send the data to the manager.

So, if your vehicles are not too big and easily manageable, a front-facing dash cam may be enough. Bigger vehicles can use a dual-facing camera, while trucks that don’t have reinforcements in the back could use a multi-view camera that sees everything around.

#2: Real-Time Tracking

Some dash cam devices are equipped with advanced GPS modules that log the location of your vehicles and help you keep track of them in real-time. Moreover, if they are integrated with a software tracking system, it’s easy to predict when the truck will arrive at its destination and send warnings if there are delays.

This way, the client will know when to expect the shipment and how to adjust their schedule in case of unexpected delays. In addition, you can use the GPS and logs to keep a watch on how your drivers are using the company’s vehicles.

Of course, these systems are only effective for tracking the vehicle, but if you’re looking for something to monitor the shipment as well, it’s best to use an asset tag device. These are attached to the shipment and can provide useful data on the location and direction of the goods.

#3: Assisting the Driver

Smart dash cams can recognize when the driver is not focused on the road (driving and using the phone, for instance) and issue a warning to let them know it’s not acceptable behavior. They can also issue warnings if the truck is too close to the vehicle in front or if the driver missed a stop sign.

Each warning is logged, so you can use the data to identify reckless drivers and take preventive measures.

Wrap Up

As you can see, smart dash cams are quite a useful tool for both fleet managers and drivers. And, as the technology gets more affordable and smarter, we should see a decrease in accidents and other traffic incidents involving trucks.