If you’re in the market for dash cams, this is an essential choice for your business. Dash cams offer a wide range of benefits for your business, making your fleet safer and more efficient. We know it can be hard to sift through all of the available information to determine the best dash cam; that’s why we’ve created this buying guide to make it easy to get the information you need.
The Rise of Commercial Dash Cams
You’ve likely noticed that more fleets these days are utilizing dash cams. These fleets are doing so with safety and cost savings in mind. New dash cams have more capabilities than ever thought possible. For example, AI dash cams like Azuga’s AI SafetyCam don’t only record the road ahead. They also monitor driver behaviors and alert you when there’s cause for concern. With so many options available today, let’s explore how to pick the best dash cam for your business and what benefits you'll enjoy.
Importance of Choosing the Right Dash Cam
Many fleets put off installing dash cams due to the cost. While installing dash cams initially comes with a somewhat expensive price tag, the return on investment is significant. Think of the cost of the average accident. They can range from $16,500 to $500,000. Dash cams reduce the likelihood of a collision by 60%. That figure alone will save you significantly, not to mention the savings on driver coaching and fleet downtime.
5 Benefits of Fleet Dash Cams
Consider what you want your dash cam to accomplish. Dash cams have many uses, and you want to find the camera that aligns with your fleet goals. We’ve listed some of the benefits below.
Let’s Discuss: - Are commercial dash cams worth the investment?
- Can a dash cam reduce insurance?
No. 1: Enhancing Driver Safety
You can use dash cam footage to contextualize road events for training and coaching. AI dash cams even give you the ability to coach in real time. When a risky event occurs, you want to be able to coach your drivers right then and there, and your dashcam can help you do this if it has in-cab coaching enabled. Alerts and warning messages will sound over the system, making them aware of their unsafe behaviors.
No. 2: Reducing Fleet Costs
Accidents cost thousands of dollars and hours in downtime. When you can avoid them, your business is far more effective. Furthermore, insurance providers like when you reduce risk with technology solutions like dash cams. While simply installing a dash cam may not result in an insurance discount, being able to prove months and months of safe driving will go a long way.
No. 3: Protecting Against False Claims
70% of accidents are not your fleet drivers’ fault; dash cams can help you prove it. Fraudsters will often target fleets as victims for their insurance scams. With a dash cam installed, you can reduce time spent in court by easily exonerating your drivers.
No. 4: Improving Driver Behavior
The ability to analyze driver behavior in real time is a significant asset. It is beneficial for keeping individual drivers on track, preventing accidents, and overall safety training . Your fleet management software can even summarize your information with easily digestible data tools that allow you to track trends and make critical decisions
No. 5: Optimizing Fleet Operations
Dash cams help ensure your drivers operate with the utmost safety in mind. They also eliminate wasted time after an accident since you can easily prove your driver’s innocence. Both of these benefits help you boost your fleet’s efficiency.
5 Commercial Dash Cams: Key Features to Consider
Of course, not all fleet dash cams are created equally. Examine these features and decide what elements are critical for your fleet’s safety and operations.
Let’s Discuss: - What is the best way to store dash cam footage?
- Does a dash cam record your speed?
No. 1: Video Quality and Resolution
No matter the type of accident, you want your dash cam to be able to cover it. Look for a dash cam that records in 1080p. You should always look for a dash cam with a wide field of view so you can see everything you need to see on the road.
No. 2: Night Vision Capabilities
Ensure your dash cam can capture footage at night if your drivers operate in low-light hours! These dash cams will have infrared LEDs.
No. 3: GPS Tracking and Geo-fencing
Some dash cams do come equipped with GPS tracking capabilities through telematics. This feature helps the dash cam better detect safety events like speeding, harsh braking, harsh turning, and more. Advanced dash cams can upload this footage to the cloud for fleet managers to review.
No. 4: Storage Capacity and Cloud Support
Storing footage on a memory card will get tedious quickly while running a fleet; find a dash cam that connects to the cloud via high-speed cellular connections.
No. 5: Dual-Facing Dash Cam
These cameras are mounted on the windshield like the forward-facing dash cam but include two lenses: facing the road and looking into the cab. These are more robust and are ideal for promoting driver safety and successfully exonerating drivers in the event of an accident.
Azuga Fleet Camera System
Let’s Discuss: - What is the best dash cam for truck drivers?
Azuga is a leading provider of connected vehicle and fleet management solutions. Our dash cams are an innovative and powerful tool for businesses to improve driver safety, increase fleet efficiency, and reduce liability. These dash cameras are equipped with advanced AI technology that analyzes driving behavior and delivers real-time alerts, ensuring the safety of drivers and assets. Our dashcam also provides high-definition video footage, GPS tracking, and speed data, enabling fleet managers to monitor and manage their fleets effectively. Azuga's Fleet Dash Cam System suits various industries, including transportation, construction, utility, and delivery services.
Fleet Dash Cam FAQs:
How long can a dash cam continuously record?
There are lots of factors that play into this. The two main factors to consider are the camera’s SD card capacity and the recording quality. For example, with a camera that records in high-quality 1080p, you can expect an 8GB SD card to hold 55 minutes and a 16GB SD card to hold about 110 minutes or 1.8 hours. Most dash cams have “continuous loop recording,” meaning that when they run out of space, they begin recording over old footage.
Azuga’s AI SafetyCam can store about 40-70 hours in HD. The dash cam also automatically uploads your complete trip videos to the Azuga Fleet Cloud.
Does a dash cam record when the engine is off?
Typically, dash cams begin recording when your ignition turns on. They may allow you to manually turn the power on and off, but most power up as soon as you turn the vehicle on. Some dash cams can even record when the vehicle is off. These cameras are plugged into an always-on accessory port or hardwired for power. The only time you may lose power to your dash cam is if there is a fault in your outlets or cords or if your vehicle loses power.
- Do truck cameras record audio? (h3)
- Can a dash cam record while parked? (h3)
Where is the best place to mount a dash cam in a truck?
Front Facing Camera: These dashcams mount to the windshield and record the road in front of the vehicle. Their objective is to capture collisions and footage for coaching drivers. However, these cameras do not record the inside of the cabin.
Exterior Dash Cam: These cameras are usually mounted on the side and record the area directly around the vehicle. They can provide up to a 360-degree view around the vehicle and are often used to cover blind spots or when drivers have to make tricky turns. If fleets encounter too many sideswiping accidents, they’ll often invest in these cams.
Rear Dash Cams: These dashcams are installed near the license plate and record what is happening behind the vehicle. They’re meant to record anything happening while a driver operates in reverse.
Interior Dash Cams: These cameras are mounted anywhere inside the vehicle, in the cabin or trailer. They record driver behavior or prevent theft of goods from the trailer.
Dual-Facing Dash Cams: Dual-facing dashcams are typically mounted to the windshield or rearview mirror. They record the road in front of the vehicle and the driver's behavior behind the wheel.
Do you need a professional to install a dash cam?
There are three common ways to attach dash cams: suction cups or adhesive that sticks to the glass or some mechanical attachment to the rearview mirror. Adhesive is the best option because it is quick and easy while being secure.
What are the different types of truck cameras?
There are two significant types of dash cams available on the market. If you type “dash cams” into Google, you will likely find dash cams meant for consumers. These come from brands like Sony, Thinkware, and Vantrue. While these cameras are inexpensive and ideal for individuals, they are not designed for fleets. They record on a memory card that must be manually removed to download footage. Such a setup will only work for fleets with a limited number of vehicles.
If you’re operating a fleet, you need a commercial dash cam. They offer more features and greater value. For example, they connect to telematics, as mentioned above, and upload footage to the cloud instead of a memory card. We will be discussing commercial dash cams in this article.
