Your livelihood may depend on proving your side of the story if you are involved in an accident. That’s why dash cams are so popular with truckers. But all cams aren’t created equal.
If you’re going to have to buy and use one, why not get one that’ll work best for you? We researched all of the most popular ones. When we got it narrowed down to about two dozen, we installed and tried each one on an actual truck on the interstate and surface roads. We ended up with the six-dash cams for truckers.
Best Dash Cams for Truckers:
1. Rove R2-4K Dash Cam Built-in WiFi GPS Car Dashboard Camera Recorder
Although we wish the field of view was just a little wider, we are so impressed with this one that we think it’s the trucker dash cam with GPS. It’s easy to install and use, and it has all of the functionality of the industry leaders at a lower price. That’s what we call a great value.
The very first online review we came across detailed a story of a trucker who was able to prove to his insurance company that a Jeep backed into him in a parking lot at night.
Motion detection and night vision came in useful. And he was able to see the video from inside the restaurant he was in, thanks to the WiFi capability.
It’s useful features like this that make this dash cam stand out.
Pros
- Night vision
- Motion detection
- Priced under $110
- Big screen
- Clear video
Cons
- The camera angle is just a hair narrower than the average cam
2. Vantrue N2 Pro Uber Dual 1080P Dash Cam, 2.5K 1440P Front Dash Cam
There are a couple of recurring complaints about this one in a dash cam for truck reviews. The biggest one is the lack of WiFi connectivity. It only stores video on a card, which is not included. And the biggest card you can get for it is 256GB. That’ll store about seven hours of lower-resolution video.
The screen may be on the small side for truckers without good vision. This is a drawback, even though the video is high-quality and very clear.
But the night vision is very clear. It has a motion detection feature that will give you some peace of mind when you leave your truck parked somewhere. All of this comes at a decent price.
Many drivers like the simplicity of not having to deal with WiFi or an app. Others miss the convenience and don’t like having to deal with a memory card. Keep this in mind as you make up your mind.
As far as the other features go, truckers love this cam. Some do wish the screen was a tad bigger, though.
Pros
- Easy to use
- A nice field of view
- Motion detection
- Night vision
- Good video quality
Cons
- The screen is a bit small
- No WiFi option
3. REXING V1 – 4K Ultra HD Car Dash Cam 2.4″ LCD Screen
Are you just needing a good, basic cam that doesn’t cost a fortune? Well, we think this one is the 4K dash cam for truckers on a budget. It offers a very clear and sharp hi-res video that records on a loop onto either its app or up to a 256GB card.
What’s it missing? There is no night vision or GPS. But it does have the motion-detecting feature to capture parking lot and rest area mishaps. The awesome thing is the price. You can get one of these highly functional cams for about $100.
The biggest deciding factor that compelled most to buy this cam is the price and value. Truckers are delighted that they were able to get a basic dash cam for about a hundred bucks. There are a few drivers who ended up wishing they’d spent a little more to get a unit that has night vision. But all in all, there is very little buyer’s remorse with this one.
Pros
- Fantastic price and great value
- Options for WiFi and memory card recording
- Good screen size
- Nice, clear image
Cons
- No night vision
- No GPS
4. Garmin Dash Cam Tandem, Front and Rear Dual-lens Dash Camera
This is a high-end, feature-laden dash cam. It may be for you if you want a dash camera with a rear-facing 180-degree camera that shows the entire interior of the cab.
Shipping fleet managers may like the sync mode that allows viewing of up to four synched dash cams.
The motion-detecting capability is useful, but the night vision is not as clear as the others that made our list.
Truckers and fleet owners who were looking for a high-end cam with supreme functionality are very pleased. There have been no bugs reported recently, so all of the high-tech features work well.
Fleet owners like the sync capability and the ability to view the driver. Truckers like motion detection. But there have been some complaints about night vision. Those who’ve owned other night-vision cams say that this one’s low-light recording leaves something to be desired.
Pros
- Dual cameras
- Can be synched with other similar cams
- Motion detection
Cons
- Some of the advertised features are not well-designed
5. VIOFO A129 Pro Duo Dash Cam 4K + 1080P Front and Rear Dashcam
Here’s the available truck driver dash cam. We base this on image clarity and detail as well as features like parked-truck incidents, technical support, and ease of use.
The front-facing camera provides an amazingly detailed video in true 4K UHD. You’ll be able to read street signs from a distance. Even the cab camera is HD. This camera setup exceeds the quality used in most police cars.
The parked truck sensor is also special. It doesn’t just kick on when motion is detected. It also trips when an impact is sensed by the G-sensor. And it doesn’t just start recording when an event is picked up.
The cameras are constantly recording on a loop, even when the truck is parked. The cam automatically saves 15 seconds of footage before a motion or impact event.
The night vision is second to none. It uses 8MP technology that gives a highly detailed image even with ambient light from distant street lamps or the moon.
Viofo provides free lifetime technical assistance by phone or email and access to free periodical upgrades at their site.
If you’re willing to shell out about $300 for the top-of-the-line professional-grade dash cam, this would likely be a great choice for you.
There are a ton of glowing reviews about this sweet dash cam online. Gadget lovers are obsessed with this one. The camera is probably the biggest brag. The video is just that great.
Pros
- Actual 4K UHD and 1920 HD cams
- Improved night vision
- Both motion and impact sensors
- Continuous loop recording during park mode
- Free upgrades and tech assistance
Cons
- Expensive
6. Vantrue N4 3 Channel 4K Dash Cam, 4K+1080P Front, and Rear
Here’s a great deal on UHD. Ultra High Definition video allows you to see amazing detail in crystal clear video. And you’ll get that image quality in any light from direct sunlight to very dim ambient light, due to the advanced image processing technology.
There’s also impact detection to protect your truck when parked, in addition to the usual motion detection.
The only bad thing is that it stores video on an SD card only. It has no WiFi capability.
Many truckers talk about what a great value they got in a true UHD dash cam. Many who were looking for a good deal on the best optics ended up happy with this option.
Pros
- UHD video
- Motion detection and G-sensor
- Good image at all light levels
Cons
- No WiFi option
Factors to Consider
Resolution
The better the resolution, the clearer and more detailed the video will be. This may be important to pick out small points like license plates and even street signs.
The minimum you should get is 720p. You’ll be able to make out license plates directly in front of the camera. HD will show street signs. UHD will show more distance signs and has the best picture quality.
The same holds for screen size. Bigger screens show bigger videos, which means you’ll be able to see more detail in the playback on the dash cam’s screen.
Don’t settle for less than a 150-degree field of view. Anything less than that can hide action that doesn’t occur right in front of your truck.
GPS
GPS puts a location and date stamp on the video, which can be crucial for proving the guilt of a hit-and-run driver while your truck is parked.
Motion detection
Parking lot accidents are a good reason to have motion detection capability. That will turn the camera on whenever something moves in the camera’s field of view close to the truck. Impact sensors will start the recording when the truck receives a good enough bump.
Storing Video
You have two options for storing video. They are WiFi and memory cards. 256GB memory cards record on a loop and store up to 13 hours of low-resolution video.
Smaller cards offer less storage. WiFi storage loads the video onto an app. You can view and share videos that way.
FAQs
Do dash cams have to be plugged into my 12v power port?
Modern dash cams, like the ones we reviewed here, are rechargeable. They plug into your power port to charge, then you have the option of unplugging them or simply leaving them plugged up constantly. Those looking for the dash cam for semi-trucks may wonder if cams will work in their truck’s 120 AC socket. You will need an adapter for that application.
Is trucker dash cam evidence of an accident allowed in court?
Yes, it is just as admissible as police dashcam or body cam footage in courtroom situations.
Are dash cams legal?
Dash cams are legal, but some localities restrict models that have a rear-facing camera in some situations. Some fleet owners like to install dual cams in their trucks to keep an eye on the drivers, but some jurisdictions require the driver’s approval for this kind of installation.
How does a dash cam’s night vision work?
They don’t use infrared lights. They simply amplify very low ambient light, using a microprocessor.
How much should I pay?
Budget models with high-resolution cameras should cost between $100 and about $175. These models sometimes have WiFi, but some only store it on a memory card.
Cams with GPS and motion detection usually cost something in the $150 to $200 range. Deluxe cameras with superior night vision, and impact sensors HD or UHD resolution go from $250 to several hundred bucks. It all depends on the features you find useful.
Summary
The Viofo Pro Duo is the winner of the lot as far as quality and cool features go. It has everything you could want, but it’s expensive. The Vantru X4 is more affordable but has no WiFi connectivity. If you can deal with a card for storage, you can save about $50 here.
If you’re looking for a budget dash cam, the Rexing V1-4K has HD resolution, a wide field of view, and motion detection for about a hundred dollars.
Do you feel you’re ready to make the choice? Start protecting yourself and your livelihood as soon as you can.
