The Best DOT Compliance Software: Automate Your Admin Now

Whether you’re a fleet manager or an independent trucker, you know that the US Department of Transportation (DOT) places a heavy regulatory burden on motor carriers, and the costs of non-compliance can be high, from fines to shutdown orders.

Fortunately, the right DOT compliance software can help you avoid issues by automating many of the tedious admin processes that traditionally come with compliance. From ELDs to IFTA reporting, these software solutions are a godsend.

While every software platform on this page is DOT compliant and worthy of consideration, three are fully-fledged GPS-powered tracking software platforms. When looking at them through this lens, the best option is Verizon Connect, designed to help large fleets manage their reporting.

Let’s take a look at what other software providers are great for DOT compliance

The Best DOT Compliance Software

We’ve conducted extensive research into the market in search of the best DOT compliance software options currently available. Having analyzed a variety of systems and solutions, those that come out on top are:

• Verizon Connect: Best for large fleets
• Samsara: Best for managing vehicles
• Azuga: Best for efficient routes
• J.J. Keller: Best standalone DOT compliance software

Three of our picks – Verizon Connect, Samsara, and Azuga – are full fleet management systems that also provide DOT compliance tools, making for excellent all-round solutions that effectively kill two birds with one stone (a DOT compliant fleet that’s also comprehensively tracked and optimized for commercial success? Check!).

Installing a fleet management system that can also provide everything needed for DOT compliance is the easiest way to manage your fleet’s regulatory obligations, but we’ve also reviewed a fantastic option – J.J. Keller – for those who already have fleet management in place, but need more specialized help to achieve DOT compliance.

So, without further ado, let’s explore the best DOT compliance software systems available to US fleets.

Verizon Connect

Best for Large Fleets

Verizon Connect’s DOT compliance software suite has been designed to help large fleets manage their myriad reporting and regulatory requirements.

Using a mobile app, you’ll be able to update your records of duty status (RODS) and carry out simple but thorough eDVIRs (electronic driver vehicle inspection reports) with a few taps of your fingers. This data will be rapidly synced to your dashboard, empowering you to keep on top of driving hours and schedule necessary maintenance in good time.

Verizon Connect’s ELD system also makes life easier for your drivers, with an app that they can use to track their hours automatically and avoid penalties at roadside inspections.

Verizon Connect: Key Features for Compliance and Safety

Is Verizon Connect Right for My Business?

As a fleet management and DOT compliance system, Verizon Connect is about as comprehensive as there is. The sheer volume of sophisticated data it can collect and report on makes it our top pick for larger fleets with solid data handling capabilities. If you’re ready to translate detailed insights into tangible improvements, Verizon Connect could be for you.

Verizon Connect’s focus on vehicle monitoring and safety, along with its customizable alert setup, make it a particularly great solution for fleets in the trucking or construction sectors – but we’d happily recommend it to large fleets in every industry.

Verizon Connect Pricing

Verizon provides bespoke pricing plans that are tailored to your business’s exact needs, making it impossible for us to say exactly how much it’ll cost your business.

However, we do estimate that Verizon Connect charges somewhere between $20 and $250 per vehicle, per month. How much you pay highly depends on your fleet size, contract length (longer contracts cost less), and tech requirements.

We know that DOT compliance is complicated – and that’s only made worse when you have no idea how much you’ll need to pay for it. That’s why we’ve created this free quotes tool. Simply tell us what your fleet needs help with, and we’ll match you with fleet management and DOT compliance software that caters to your needs.

Samsara

Best for Managing Vehicles

Samsara is known for innovation in the field of fleet management, and we can certainly see this in its DOT compliance features.

One recent addition is AI-powered distance estimation for its dashcams, which can help keep your drivers safe by alerting them of unsafe following behavior in real-time.

Samsara also makes IFTA reporting easier, by combining real-time vehicle location data with fuel tank monitoring tech to calculate how much tax you owe in each jurisdiction. The IFTA is a notoriously confusing web of rules specifying the interstate division of taxation on your fleet’s fuel usage, so these types of features are a godsend.

Like Verizon, Samsara also has a driver app for eDVIRs, HOS logs, and dispatching (included with every subscription). ELDs come with built-in wifi hotspots that still work in areas without cellular reception, and you’ve got yourself a DOT compliance software system that uses automation to make your life easier.

Samsara: Key Features for Compliance and Safety

Is Samsara Right for my Business?

While Samsara’s price point may put it beyond the reach of smaller, more budget-conscious fleets, it is a truly excellent option for everyone else. Its range of incredibly clever fleet management and compliance features means you’ll get a lot of bang for your buck.

In particular, its clever route optimization functions can help transportation industry fleets to boost their efficiency massively – but that’s not to say that it wouldn’t also bring benefits to fleets across all industries.

Samsara Pricing

Samsara’s most popular packages range from $27 to $33 per vehicle, per month. Depending on the GPS tracking hardware you choose and the length of contract that you go for, Samsara’s vehicle tracking hardware costs between $99 and $148 per unit.

Azuga

Best for Efficient Routes

Azuga is one of the best platforms for efficient routing, automatically reordering the stops on a route to create the shortest or quickest trip. This is essential for many fleets, as it’ll save your drivers time and fuel.

It also comes with solid DOT compliance features, providing everything you need to meet your regulatory obligations. The Azuga platform can also generate state-based mileage reports, making IFTA reporting a quick process.

ELDs do come at an additional cost with Azuga, but paying for them gives you access to an app that drivers can use to keep track of their HOS and DVIR. On your side, you’ll get alerts when drivers are reaching HOS limits, so you can avoid violations.

Azuga: Key Features for Compliance and Safety

Is Azuga Right for my Business?

With a starting price of $25 per month, Azuga is certainly on the pricier side, and probably isn’t the right option for fleets on a tight budget. It does backs this price up with a solid array of features, which medium to large fleets will benefit from. You also don’t need to worry about installation costs, so you won’t be spending much outside of the monthly costs.

The main downside is that ELDs come as an add-on feature, bumping on the cost even further. Considering ELDs are a key part of DOT compliance, this is knocks Azuga down quite a few points compared to competitors. Other than that, Azuga have a near-perfect offering of tracking features and vehicle management, and their driver management offering isn’t far behind.

Azuga Pricing

Azuga has a nice and simple pricing structure. The monthly payments will range from $25 to $35 per month. While this is a bit steep, there are no other costs to worry about. Installation is free, and you won’t have to pay for additional features.

J.J. Keller

Best Standalone DOT Compliance Software

J.J. Keller is an industry leader in the field of fleet compliance, offering everything from easy plug-and-play ELDs to training in construction vehicle safety.

J.J. Keller’s app enables your drivers to update their duty status, check and certify their HOS, perform vehicle inspections, browse vehicle records and engine data, and view their GPS coordinates on the go. Meanwhile, using its back-office portal – Encompass Fleet Management – you’ll be able to check in on data including driver qualification and performance, fuel tax reporting, accident recording, and more.

J.J. Keller: Key Features for Compliance and Safety

Is J.J. Keller Right for my Business?

While J.J. Keller is an incredible software solution if you’re looking for total DOT compliance. Its laser focus on compliance means it is a little weak in the wider fleet management department – that isn’t its specialty, after all.

In our J.J. Keller review, we recommend it to those who already have solid fleet management in place, but need something extra to get their compliance up to scratch.

J.J. Keller Pricing

J.J. Keller offers its DOT compliance services on a pay-as-you-go basis – in other words, it only charges you for as long as you want to use it, and doesn’t tie you into a contract. That’s a win in our book. However, it doesn’t openly share its pricing model. Instead, it asks that businesses get in touch directly for bespoke quotes.

That said, some online sources have taken a stab at calculating J.J. Keller’s figures. These sources estimate that the company charges $199 upfront for ELDs, and $25.50 per vehicle, per month for a subscription to its compliance services. J.J. Keller also provides ‘Compliance Tablets’ – tablets with its driver app loaded on, and restrictions in place to avoid unauthorized app use – which sources say cost $349 upfront or $59 per month when bundled with the subscription fee. 

What is DOT Compliance?

Put simply, you are DOT compliant when you successfully adhere to every one of the US Department of Transportation’s regulations.

These regulations are in place to ensure the safe and lawful operation of commercial motor vehicles. In other words, they’re not just there to make your life difficult – they’re there to improve driver safety and prevent road accidents.

Enacted through the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), the DOT is a federal agency, and violating its regulations can lead to hefty fines, shutdown orders, and even lawsuits that can end with you behind bars. We reiterate: DOT compliance is seriously important.

But don’t let that scare you – once you understand what’s required, full DOT compliance is certainly possible, especially with the help of DOT compliance software.

Want more information about the laws and regulations surrounding fleet management in the US? Be sure to check out our comprehensive guide to US vehicle tracking laws.

How to be DOT Compliant

To be DOT compliant you need to:

• Have registered each vehicle with the DOT
• Display each vehicle’s USDOT number on the vehicle
• Only hire drivers who have obtained a commercial driver’s license (CDL) through the DOT
• Have installed an ELD in every eligible vehicle
• Accurately track drivers’ RODS and HOS, and enforce restrictions on driving time
• Have your drivers carry out DVIRs at the start and end of every day
• File any necessary IFTA tax returns on time
• Keep records of any maintenance services and repairs, and of any road accidents that have happened
• Keep a copy of each driver’s license and accident history on file
• Keep chain of custody records to uphold the security of company documents
• Keep copies of current DOT regulations in the office and with each driver

How Did We Find the Best Fleet Management Software?

Our team of independent researchers looked at a selection of the best and most popular fleet management systems. After finding all the information we need, the researchers then compare each platform against its competitors, allowing us to find the cream of the crop. The criteria we look at include:

• Price: Simple enough – the platform with the lowest price tag scores the best
• Tracking: How robust and effective are the platform’s tracking features? For example, how quickly does the tracking map refresh, does the map factor in traffic, etc.
• Driver Management: Tracking and logging the behavior of each of your drivers. Does Driver #3 idle his vehicle for too long? Does Driver #4 tend to speed?
• Vehicle Management: Checking up on the health of your vehicles. Are they in need of maintenance? Are they well protected against theft?
• Product Features: What else can the product do? Can it sync up with third-party satnavs? Is there a phone app?
• Customer Support: Again, easy enough – look at the options available and see what each platform offers its customers when it comes to their support resources

After factoring in all this information, alongside the scores they received, we were able to calculate a final overall score for each fleet management system.