The Best DOT Compliance Software

Based on our research, the best DOT compliance software is Verizon Connect. Besides offering DOT compliance solutions, it also offers a fully-fledged GPS-powered tracking software platform, making it a great all-in-one solution for fleets.

Verizon is particularly suited to large fleets thanks to its robust reporting tools that help owner-operators keep track of a vast network of vehicles and drivers. Alternative all-in-one solutions that made our list are Samsara and Azuga. We’ve also included dedicated DOT compliance software by J.J.Keller Encompass, for fleets that need specialized support.

The right DOT compliance software can help you avoid fines or shutdown orders, by automating many admin processes, such as ELDs and IFTA reporting. Read on to find your fleet’s perfect fit.

The Best DOT Compliance Software

Based on our research, the best DOT compliance software options are:

• Verizon Connect: Best for large fleets
• Samsara: Best for managing vehicles
• Azuga: Best for efficient routes
• J.J. Keller Encompass: 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. We’ve also reviewed J.J. Keller Encompass, a specialized DOT compliance software, that now also features basic fleet tracking and management tools.

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

1. 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 a driver 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 custom 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.

2. 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.

Samsara offers 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 good value for money.

In particular, its clever route optimization functions can help transportation industry fleets 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, like most fleet management software providers, operates on a custom quote-based pricing model.

Its 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.

3. 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.

Besides its excellent route optimization features, Azuga also comes with solid DOT compliance tools. It provides everything you need to meet your regulatory obligations, including generating state-based mileage reports to make 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?

It’s on the pricier side, so probably isn’t the right option for fleets on a tight budget. It does back 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 up the cost even further. Considering ELDs are a key part of DOT compliance, this knocks Azuga down quite a few points compared to competitors. Other than that, Azuga has a near-perfect offering of tracking features and vehicle management, and its driver management offering isn’t far behind.

Azuga pricing

Azuga has custom pricing, with a starting price of around $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.

4. J.J. Keller Encompass: Best Specialized DOT Compliance Software

J.J. Keller is an industry leader in the field of fleet compliance, and its Encompass Fleet Management system combines specialized compliance software with basic fleet management and tracking tools.

J.J. Keller Encompass 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, you’ll be able to check in on data including driver qualification and performance, fuel tax reporting, accident recording, and more.

You’ll also get access to driver hiring and qualification support, in the form of hiring DOT checklists, and an online background check repository. Plus, J.J Keller’s Encompass system gives you access to driver training courses, so you can keep your drivers up to date with changing DOT compliance regulations and driving best practices.

J.J. Keller Encompass: Key features for compliance and safety

Is J.J. Keller Encompass right for my business?

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

We recommend J.J Keller to those who already have solid fleet management in place but need something extra to get their compliance up to scratch. The J.J. Keller Encompass system integrates with a number of third-party systems through APIs, including GeoTab.

J.J. Keller Encompass pricing

J.J. Keller operates 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 indicate the company charges from $25.50 per vehicle, per month for a basic subscription.

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.

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

The consequences of DOT non-compliance

Not complying with DOT will downgrade your CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability) score, the first step towards frequent inspections, heavy fines, high insurance rates, and even lawsuits or shutdown orders.

DOT Regulations: Expected Changes in 2025

The DOT currently has around 20 new regulations pending for 2025. However, with the new Trump administration taking office in late January, it’s possible many of them may be revised or repealed since Trump and the Republican party have a more deregulatory stance than Biden’s Democrats.

One change that’s likely to go through is the DOT Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) planned changes to the motor carriers registration system. The use of MC numbers is supposed to be phased out by October 2025 and replaced by USDOT numbers only.

Methodology: How Did We Find the Best DOT Compliance Software?