Best GPS Tracking Systems for Trucks in 2024

When assessing the best GPS for trucks, we need to think about more than just what makes the best GPS trackers tick. Top trucking GPS systems must cater to trucks specifically, namely their larger dimensions, weight, and fuel consumption, and how that impacts tracking and route optimization.

Our thorough research has found Verizon Connect is ahead in the truck tracking game, offering the ability to customize all these features and more (like real-time maintenance alerts and predictive scheduling or reports on trucker safety) to your specific truck models (including semi-trailer trucks) and truckers’ driving habits.

We’ve measured other providers across several areas including price, driver management, and vehicle management to give you the top five trucker GPS picks on the market. Read on for a detailed discussion of what each could offer your truck and semi-truck fleet.

The Best GPS for Trucks: Tracking Systems Compared

Here’s an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of each GPS tracking system before we dive into what each can offer your trucking fleet operations.

1. Verizon Connect – Best for closely monitoring your trucks

Of all the trucker-friendly GPS tracking systems we’ve tested, Verizon Connect scored the highest from our research methodology with a total of 4.7/5 and is one of the best fleet management companies, full stop.

Offering a 30-second refresh rate for all its tracking information (not the fastest on the market, but the industry standard), a handy live tracking dashboard, and an easy-to-follow, color-coded map, it is straightforward to use, too. There are even customizable daily summary reports that highlight the data that you need to see, from transit times and stop durations to speeds and idling events. Here’s a quick summary of what it offers your trucking fleet business.

Verizon Connect’s GPS tracking for trucks: At a glance

Verizon Connect’s key trucking features: In detail

Truck-specific navigation and route creation

Using the Verizon Connect Navigation app, truck drivers can get in-cab navigation via a smartphone to their destinations. These routes are not only optimized for efficiency – including real-time traffic updates and road closure alerts to avoid delays across the country – but are also optimized for specific truck considerations such as vehicle height, weight, length, and hazardous material restrictions.

You can also program the Verizon Connect route creation system to avoid toll roads, low bridges, and other restricted areas. We think it works well in this regard, helping truckers avoid any dangerous routes. It is pretty intuitive and user-friendly software too, with a sleek aesthetic that betters the vast majority of tracking solutions.

For those who use a Garmin satnav – one of the most widely used GPS devices for truck drivers – you can also integrate Verizon Connect with Garmin hardware for truck-specific navigation. That betters Samsara, which can’t integrate with any satnavs.

Truck driver-friendly features

Truck drivers work long hours, so any hardware/software solution must work for them too. Besides its highly functional mobile app, there are privacy controls for off-duty hours to address driver concerns about tracking during personal time.

Verizon Connect can also be integrated with Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) such as lane departure warnings and collision avoidance, which should help drivers stay safe, alongside the ability to set real-time alerts for harsh braking, acceleration, speeding, and cornering to promote safe driving habits. And to contact fleet managers, there’s two-way messaging for drivers to quickly chat without the need for a call.

Maintenance, fuel, and cost features for heavy-duty trucks

Verizon Connect also offers predictive maintenance scheduling based on heavy-duty vehicle requirements.

There’s integration with Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports (DVIRs) for streamlined pre-trip and post-trip inspections too, as well as automatic diagnostic alerts for immediate attention to vehicle issues specific to trucks.

Beyond that, you can dive into its analytics tools to have a look at fuel consumption patterns, which is especially important to heavy-duty trucks that consume a lot of fuel. You can also monitor driver idle time to identify and reduce unnecessary fuel usage, as well as other driver coaching tools to promote efficient driving practices.

24/7 customer support

Trucking fleet or otherwise, when things go wrong and you need some support, it’s good to have an array of options. Thankfully, Verizon Connect offers dedicated customer support available 24/7 via its phone lines. You’ll also have access to comprehensive online resources for drivers and fleet managers alike, including tutorials, webinars and other documentation.

Where could Verizon Connect improve for truckers?

One area Verizon Connect doesn’t provide hardware is for cargo temperature monitoring which refrigerated reefer trucks are required to use. You can get third-party temperature probes, with Verizon supplying a guide on how to install them, but both Samsara and Spireon offer native temperature monitoring solutions for perishable goods.

Still, Verizon Connect does offer axle weight monitoring to prevent overloading and ensure compliance with weight regulations, as well as other cargo features such as door sensors and geofencing to reduce the risk of theft and unauthorized access.

What trucking businesses best suit Verizon Connect?

Verizon Connect is designed to handle large fleets with hundreds or thousands of trucks. Its centralized dashboard and customizable reports mean it is the best choice for managing extensive fleet operations, trucks, or otherwise.

For trucks specifically, it provides asset-tracking capabilities for trailers, containers, and other equipment that should appeal to any haulage company.

2. Samsara – Best for route optimization

Just behind Verizon Connect with a score of 4.6/5 overall, Samsara offers superb automated route planning and optimization, making it a better choice for effective navigation than the likes of Spireon, which doesn’t offer any such features. Like Verizon, Samsara’s AI route optimization takes traffic and weather into account when planning journeys for your drivers.

Handily, Samsara can show your truckers’ progress, color-coding their routes so you can easily see when they’re on time, running late, or skipping a stop altogether. You’ll also be able to choose from a variety of real-time alerts, though you’ll need to code these yourself (Samsara provides code snippets, but manual configuration is still required). Here’s a quick summary of what it can provide your trucking fleet.

Samsara’s GPS tracking for trucks: At a glance

Samsara’s key trucking features: In detail

Advanced AI-powered route optimization for trucks

Samsara stands out with its sophisticated AI-powered route optimization designed specifically for trucks and semi-trucks.

Like Verizon Connect, the system dynamically calculates the most efficient routes by considering truck-specific constraints such as vehicle dimensions and weight, axle restrictions, and hazardous material classifications. But Samsara goes a step further by optimizing for other factors than distance and time, such as safety and fuel efficiency (considering routes that minimize idling, avoid congested areas, and/or reduce unnecessary mileage).

Samsara’s route planning algorithm also learns from more historical and present-day data to improve routing decisions proactively. It incorporates live traffic updates and road closures, alongside present weather conditions and even local events that could affect driving conditions. It can even make changes based on driver behaviors and preferences by opting for routes that cater to specific drivers such as avoiding certain types of roads or areas.

Almost needless to say, if conditions on the road change, Samsara automatically updates the route to avoid further delays or new hazards, too.

Extensive fuel management analytics

Samsara also provides in-depth fuel management tools that help trucking fleets similarly reduce costs to Verizon Connect. You’ll be able to track fuel consumption across each of your trucks to identify inefficiencies in particular vehicles, as well as pinpoint driving habits that aren’t doing you any favors, such as excessive idling. There are further driver behavior insights to drill into as well, like harsh acceleration or speeding that could impact your truck’s fuel economy.

Where Samsara could improve for truckers

One area where Verizon has stolen a march on Samsara has to do with hardwired devices. Samsara’s reliance on plug-and-play devices may not suit all heavy-duty trucks lacking OBD-II ports, as trucks can often be older machinery than other vehicle types.

Similarly, Samsara’s GPS devices solely use cellular connectivity. We think introducing satellite communication options would allow for uninterrupted service for truckers operating in remote areas with limited cellular coverage. By comparison, Verizon Connect does have support for satellite connectivity should cellular be down.

And we reckon integrating advanced cargo security features like door sensors could benefit fleets transporting high-value goods, too.

Ideal trucking businesses for Samsara

We believe Samsara is an attractive choice for many trucking companies. There’s only a hair’s breadth between its offering and Verizon Connect.

For fleets that are looking to optimize routes with AI technology, aiming to reduce fuel costs through detailed analytics, or seeking to enhance safety with real-time monitoring and add-ons like AI dashcams, Samsara is a great pick. Should one of the above misgivings, such as a lack of advanced security features, be a dealbreaker, however, Verizon Connect is worth looking into.

3. Teletrac Navman – Best for customized reporting

For businesses that need robust and customizable reporting and analytics tools, Teletrac Navman is a superb choice. We found fleet managers could generate tailored insights with ease, covering fuel consumption, driver performance, maintenance schedules, and more.

Add in features such as real-time traffic and weather updates for truck-altered navigation, geofencing, comprehensive ELD compliance tools, and trailer and asset tracking, and we are left believing Teletrac Navman is a versatile, scalable platform that truckers and trucking fleets can get a lot out of.

Just be aware that you’ll need to pay for one of the more expensive plans to get the most out of TN360 – its cheapest plan, for instance, doesn’t include customizable alerts or driver behavior and safety analytics. Here’s what it offers in short before we dive into its reporting features.

Teletrac Navman’s GPS tracking for trucks: At a glance

Teletrac Navman’s key trucking features: In detail

Customizable Reporting with Build Your Own Report (BYOR)

Teletrac Navman sets itself apart with its Build Your Own Report feature. It provides excellent customization options for reports and dashboards when diving into your trucking data.

We found you can select specific metrics or datasets relevant to your operations, such as fuel usage, driver performance, or maintenance schedules, and create a dashboard that works for you. Below is an example of the driver dashboard Teletrac offers by default.

There’s also the option to apply various filters. You can drill down into the data further and even automate report generation sent to stakeholders at regular intervals. For this reason, the TN360 offers far more detailed data insights than Azuga, a solution that doesn’t allow you to customize reports that extensively.

After it first released its AI telematics system in 2020, Teletrac has since added natural language processing to its software. That means you can search your data dashboard by typing in questions such as “Which drivers had the most harsh braking events this month?” and the system will accurately interpret your request.

Plus, Teletrac’s ‘Adaptive Intelligence’ module integrates your system with other apps. This unites data from multiple sources so you can see all of your business data in one place. It can integrate with ProMiles software, for instance – helping you comply with IFTA regulations by showing total interstate and intrastate mileage for your trucks – and offers weather telematics so you can avoid adverse weather conditions. This is a workaround for the TN360’s lack of in-built weather updates.

Where Teletrac Navman could improve for truckers

We think it could be beneficial for Teletrac Navman to follow the lead of other providers by implementing in-cab feedback features. This could help fleet managers coach drivers and correct unsafe behaviors immediately.

It would also be useful if the number of third-party integrations was more extensive. Increasing compatibility with more TMS and dispatch systems, in particular, could offer greater operational flexibility.

Ideal trucking businesses for Teletrac Navman

Trucking businesses that need highly tailored reporting and analytics, in a user-friendly form, will find the interface and tools available via Teletrac to be both intuitive and insightful.

Overall, its features should be extensive enough for large fleets, and have the ability to scale with your operations as they grow, too. And it comes at a more manageable cost than the reported prices of Verizon Connect and Samsara.

4. Azuga – Best for trucker safety

Azuga is an excellent option for those looking to simplify their GPS truck tracking, with a solid range of reports for fleet managers requiring easy-to-access data about their fleet.

Its predictive maintenance alerts and fuel consumption monitoring help fleets reduce operational costs and improve efficiency. Plus, we had to applaud its user-friendly mobile app which consolidates essential functions such as HOS logging, DVIRs, messaging, and navigation, making it a good tool for the daily operations of truck drivers themselves.

It’s got some uniquely customizable data refresh times, too (most providers, like Samsara and Verizon, have automatic rates between 30 seconds and one minute) letting you refresh data every 30 seconds to every 59 minutes, or somewhere in between, too.

But Azuga’s strong emphasis on driver safety and engagement is its standout feature, including the innovative Driver Safety Rewards Program, which we’ll discuss shortly. Here’s a quick look at Azuga before we dive into this feature at length.

Azuga’s GPS tracking for trucks: At a glance

Azuga’s key trucking features: In detail

Innovative Driver Safety Features and Rewards Program

We’re most impressed by Azuga’s range of features designed to protect the safety of your truckers. Its Drivesafe add-on enables you to block smartphone distractions – such as texting and app use – when a truck is in motion, while the AzugaCoach add-on provides personalized video coaching to drivers who need it.

When your truckers drive well, Azuga’s one-click rewards function can help you to incentivize that behavior quickly and easily. Each driver gets a scorecard that assesses driver performance based on factors like speeding, harsh braking, and rapid acceleration.

This gamification sees drivers earn points that can be exchanged for gift cards or other incentives, which can only benefit overall safety.

And should any truckers drive dangerously, it’ll be captured by integrated SafetyCams (if you’ve paid for them, as they aren’t included by default).

Ideal trucking businesses for Azuga

Should you want to prioritize driver safety and engagement, Azuga’s driver-focused features are an appealing boon.

Azuga has a transparent pricing structure which also makes it clear what you’ll be paying and for what, unlike other providers including Samsara and Verizon. This should be a benefit to small to medium-sized trucking fleets that want to budget correctly and efficiently without any nasty surprises.

5. Spireon – Best for fast updates

Spireon’s best feature comes in the form of its refresh rate. While most vehicle tracking software will take 30-60 seconds to refresh your vehicles’ locations on your map, Spireon has options for 60, 30, and 15-second refresh rates. That is the fastest rate we found, and perfect for businesses who need a lot of oversight on their fleets.

But there’s more to it than that. Read on for a deeper dive into Spireon’s features after a summary of where its strengths and weaknesses lie.

Spireon’s key trucking features: In detail

AI predictive maintenance

Spireon’s vehicle maintenance software is called FleetLocate, which uses AI technology to predict when vehicle maintenance will be needed. This helps fleet managers schedule maintenance efficiently, and reduce breakdowns. By contrast, Azuga’s fleet maintenance capability is limited to scheduling alerts to remind you when each vehicle should go in for repairs. This is less accurate than Spireon’s AI-based system.

Advanced trailer and cargo monitoring

We were also impressed by Spireon’s independent trailer tracking which allows for covert installation by their skilled technicians. This way, thieves may not realize there’s a tracker on your haulage goods at all.

Spireon also has the tech and features to detect door openings and monitor cargo status to further prevent theft or tampering. And there are also reefer monitoring capabilities for businesses tracking temperature levels on refrigerated trucks.

Where Spireon could improve for truckers

Areas where Spireon might enhance its services include providing more seamless ELD integration to simplify compliance management. At present, you need to go into its FleetLocate ELD add-on module, which works perfectly well but could be better integrated with the primary system.

Like the other options on this page, fleet managers can set up automatic alerts for dangerous driving incidents, however, unlike some of these options including Verizon and Samsara, these alerts won’t be sent to the driver making it harder to curtail risky driving in the moment.

Ideal trucking businesses for Spireon

Spireon is a clear choice for trucking companies that want the fastest possible tracking information they can. Its advanced security measures should mean it’s a decent choice for truckers transporting high-value cargo. Meanwhile, Spireon’s satellite connectivity support also makes it an appealing option for truckers who frequently drive in remote areas.

Standalone GPS Devices For Trucker Navigation

While this page is about helping fleet businesses track trucks with GPS-enhanced software systems, the extensive capabilities of these systems, as described above, may be too advanced for smaller fleets or self-employed truckers without a fixed team.

In other words, our research has shown many truckers just want a standalone, reliable GPS device to navigate across the US without the bells and whistles of providers like Verizon Connect.

Best GPS trackers for trucker navigation without a subscription

Garmin Dēzl OTR620 (Price: $350): Best value trucking GPS tracker

Of all the trucking GPS trackers, Garmin dēzl OTR620 is perhaps the most cost-effective GPS device specifically designed for professional truck drivers seeking reliable navigation. Its standout feature is customized truck routing, which allows you to input your truck’s dimensions — height, weight, length, width, and hazardous materials — much like the five software-hardware solutions we discussed above.

It also displays truck-specific points of interest along your route, including truck stops, weigh stations, rest areas, and parking spots. This can help with efficient trip planning and timely breaks. You’ll get driver alerts for upcoming road conditions such as steep grades, sharp curves, and speed limit changes, enhancing safety and compliance on the road.

Featuring a six-inch touchscreen, the dēzl has a clear and user-friendly interface too, and having a dedicated device rather than your smartphone for your GPS navigation is appealing in terms of day-to-day ease. It supports voice-activated navigation, enabling hands-free operation so you can keep your focus on driving, too, and also has built-in Wi-Fi for easy map and software updates without needing a computer.

Pairing it with the Garmin Drive app on your smartphone grants access to live traffic and weather updates, though you could also get that by pairing it with Verizon Connect or other solutions discussed above.

Overall, any of the models in the dēzl series are worth your attention but at $350 this is the cheapest in the series if you are looking for a reliable GPS tracker for truck-specific navigation.

What are the different types of GPS tracking systems for trucks?

There are two main types of GPS tracking for trucks: passive and active.

Passive tracking

Passive trackers store the GPS data which is then downloaded once the vehicle returns to the office or base. With passive systems, there is no transmitter to send information back to the system while the vehicle is on the road.

The pros of a passive tracking system include providing exact records of vehicle location, and monthly reports. It also tends to be cheaper as you don’t need a subscription fee. However, a passive tracker cannot provide instant feedback or stats, you can’t monitor a driver or vehicle in real-time and you can’t track a stolen or missing truck.

Active tracking

An active GPS tracker can record, store, and transmit information about a vehicle in real time. Transmission time will depend on each system but some of the better systems will transmit every 60 seconds.

The pros of an active tracker are that you receive real-time data so fleet managers can plan better routes at short notice and monitor risky driver behavior. Plus, deliveries and stolen or missing vehicles can be tracked.

However, active trackers are more expensive than passive trackers as they typically include a monthly fee on top of transmission and real-time data fees.

What are the key features to look for in GPS tracking systems for trucks?

There are some important features to look for when choosing a GPS system for trucks, including:

• Real-time tracking: real-time trackers send vehicle data back to the system as it happens. These trackers provide better insight, updates, and information that fleet managers can use to update customers, quickly amend routes, and efficiently manage fuel costs.
• Geofencing: this defines a geographical area that sends an alert if a truck enters or leaves this specific area.
• Traffic alerts: typically the software will provide this via Google Earth mapping. Traffic alerts help drivers quickly change routes to avoid delays.

How can GPS tracking systems for trucks improve fleet management?

GPS tracking systems provide features such as the ability to schedule and dispatch drivers, schedule maintenance, and manage fuel usage.

Fleet managers can collect data and analyze it to reduce vehicle idle time and increase the business’s revenue. Tracking systems provide several features to reduce fuel costs like more efficient route planning, improved driver behavior, and less idling.

GPS tracking systems help improve fleet security by setting up a geofence for drivers. For example, a predetermined area for drivers to rest, to ensure you comply with truck driver fatigue laws. The real-time data contributes to better customer satisfaction as you can provide customers with up-to-date reliable information on their deliveries.

To find the right vehicle tracking system for your fleet, use our free quote comparison tool. We’ll match you with trusted providers who will contact you with obligation-free quotes.

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