The Best Truck GPS Tracking Systems

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From our research, the absolute best vehicle tracking platform for trucks is Verizon Connect. While it’s the priciest option out there (scoring a 2.5/5 for affordabililty), it deserves this price tag, scoring a 5/5 for tracking, vehicle management, driver management, and product features.

Whatever kind of large vehicles your fleet contains, your business is bound to benefit from using a truck GPS tracking system. But with so many options out there, which providers offer the best systems for managing your vehicular behemoths? Read on to find out, or fill out your business’ info in our quick form. By doing so, you’ll allow various providers to send you quotes tailored made to fit you.


Truck fleet vehicle tracking
Keep your fleet of trucks rolling efficiently and productively with vehicle tracking software

How truck tracking works

As well as tracking your fleet, many truck tracking systems also report on important fleet management data, including fuel consumption, route efficiency, and driver performance. You can find out more about the benefits of truck fleet management software in our FAQs below.

To get started with a truck tracking system, you’ll need to fit your fleet out with GPS tracking devices, as well as install vehicle tracking software – the live portal you’ll use to monitor and manage all the data your GPS devices transmit.

How Tracking Your Trucks Can Help with Fuel Prices

It’s not news that, with the skyrocketing cost of living, fuelling your vehicles can take a lot out of the wallet. While vehicle tracking does incur its own cost, the money it can save in fuel costs by optimising your routes and minimising idling can really add up.


The best truck GPS tracking systems

According to our dedicated research, the best truck fleet management software is provided by:

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Verizon Connect

Teletrac Navman TN360

Radius Fleet Services

Key Features
  • Automatic route optimisation
  • 30-second data refresh
  • Customised locations and geofencing
Key Features
  • View vehicles and fleet information in real time
  • Driver performance reporting features
  • Send and receive messages
Key Features
  • 30-second data refresh
  • Customized alerts
  • Traffic alerts and geofencing

Verizon Connect – Best for truck fleet management

Verizon Connect's new logo (small with full name)
Verizon Connect
4.7
Pricing $44 - Custom
Quick overview

Verizon Connect commands huge respect as vehicle tracking system that, basically, does it all. Scoring the highest overall score of all the providers we looked at (4.7/5), Verizon Connect is known for its ease of use, which makes staying on top of your fleet an easy feat. Its live tracking dashboard is easy to understand at a glance – colour-coding vehicles according to whether they’re moving, stopping, or idle.

You can also create bespoke dashboards filled with reports replete with insights that can help guide crucial business decisions. We also think Verizon is great because of its range of driver and vehicle management features, scoring a perfect 5/5 for both of these categories in our research. With access to customised locations, geofencing, driving style data, and idling alerts, you have all the necessary tools to adapt your operation in real-time. This will ensure you’re being efficient and help you meet your lead time on contracts.

Verizon's mobile app includes a leader board for drivers based on performance metrics. This helps to create a friendly, competitive, and safe environment. The app also includes navigation, the ability to see job updates in near real time, and detailed vehicle and driver statuses and histories.

To install a panic button, you'll need to speak to your Verizon account manager. Panic messages are dealt with differently so these are responded to much quicker.

Verizon Connect runs into significant speed bumps when it comes to flexibility and price. The typical offering asks subscribers to commit to a three-year contract, and investing in Verizon can represent a big commitment for fleets that are still on the fence about switching their vehicle tracking system. Verizon is also pricier than the other providers we look at on this list, which is why it scores an average 2.5/5 for price in our research – the lowest score of all the providers we look at. If you’re looking for an option with short-term contracts, we’d recommend swerving towards Teletrac Navman TN360.

Strengths

Excellent driver and vehicle management features

Doesn't charge an installation fee

Enables easy integration with third-party satnav devices

Weaknesses

More expensive than other fleet tracker solutions

3 year minimum contract length

Pricing
Price Guide From $44, with typical contract length of 3 years

Pros

  • Offers global coverage
  • Offers a huge range of reporting features
  • Compatible with smartphones and tablets
  • Free demo available

Cons

  • Some users report being unhappy with the customer support provided

Teletrac Navman (TN360) – Best for managing drivers

Teletrac Navman TN360
4.6
Pricing From USD$25
Quick overview

Being able to collect lots of data to identify gaps in performance - or optimise your routes - is crucial when it comes to fleet management. Scoring an overall 4.6/5 in our in-depth research, Teletrac Navman speeds ahead with its innovative reporting features that will give you the confidence to make crucial business decisions. We also like Teletrac because it scores a 5/5 for driver management in our research. With features available like driver performance, crash reporting, and idling data, you’ll be in a great position to improve your efficiency and understand points of improvement within your fleet with Teletrac.

With its smart and futuristic reporting feature, you can simply write in search phrases like “show me fuel consumption by x vehicle for the past 7 days”, and – magic! Teletrac will generate a report and a chart graphic on command. It also has a solid range of vehicle and driver management features, including driver messaging, history, and behaviour management.

To ensure safe driving behaviours, Teletrac has driver scorecards which take into account unsafe behaviours, such as harsh braking, cornering, and acceleration. It's mobile app includes key features such as messaging, the ability to replay a day, and navigation.

Scoring an above average 3.4/5 for price, it also isn’t the most affordable solution on the market. So, if this is a deal-breaker for your fleet, we’d recommend looking at Radius Fleet Services instead.

Strengths

Innovative reporting feature

Short contract length

Comprehensive driver management features, including driver fatigue management

Weaknesses

Cannot integrate with satnav devices

Doesn't provide weather updates

Lacks advanced hardware features like cargo temperatures and engine temperature

Pricing
Price guide (only in USD) From $25

Pros

  • Short contract length
  • Great driver management features, including a fatigue tracker
  • Great custom reports

Cons

  • Lacks general product features
  • No hardwire option
  • No temperature sensors

Radius Fleet Services – Best for smaller fleets

Radius Fleet Services
4.3
Pricing Starting from $13.40
Quick overview

If you’re on the hunt for a vehicle tracking system with a generous offering of vehicle management features, then Radius Fleet’s vehicle tracking app is definitely an attractive option. Scoring a very impressive 4.3/5 for vehicle management in our research, Radius gives you access to the basics like fuel management and vehicle diagnostics, all the way to complex features, including cargo and engine temperature. Another nifty feature is that you can produce reports that break down fuel usage by vehicle providing volume in litres, distance, and fuel efficiency. This gives you the right insights to make crucial business decisions.

Radius’s Achilles' heel – because no vehicle tracking provider is perfect – is its help and support offering. You do gain access to a knowledge centre and email support, but you miss out on 24/7 phone support and a chat bot. This means that if you have a vehicle tracking emergency, you’re likely to be left out in the cold.

Strengths

Competitive price point

Wide range of driver and vehicle management features

Users can send tracking data externally to customers

Weaknesses

Doesn’t have 24/7 support or a chat bot available

You can’t access a demo or a trial to see if you’re convinced by Radius

Doesn’t offer automatic route optimisation

Pricing
Price Guide (converted from GBP to AUD on April 13, 2023) Starting from $13.40

Pros

  • Very affordable
  • Flexible pay-as-you-go contracts
  • Quick data refresh speed

Cons

  • No automatic route optimization
  • No hardwire option

How Did We Find the Best Vehicle Tracking Software?

Our team of independent researchers looked at a selection of the best and most popular vehicle tracking 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 vehicle tracking system.

Expert Verdict

If you’re looking for an intuitive, comprehensive truck fleet management system, you could do a lot worse than Verizon Connect, Teletrac Navman, or Radius. Verizon scores a very solid 4.7/5, with its only let-down being a 2.5/5 for pricing. If cost is your bugbear, then Radius’ 4.3/5 for affordability should suit you nicely.

Of course, if you’d still like a hand in choosing the right system for your fleet of trucks, we’re here to help. Simply tell us about your fleet using our online form, and in return, you’ll receive quotes directly from Expert Market-approved suppliers (which may well include the excellent providers listed in this guide!).

Frequently asked questions

What are the benefits of using truck fleet management software?

Improving customer experience

Thanks to fleet management software’s route planning and vehicle tracking abilities, you’ll be able to give customers ETAs that are as accurate as possible. Plus, if there’s an issue, you can let them know in real-time. Usually, a customer who’s kept in the loop is a happy customer.

Avoiding inappropriate routes

Many truck tracking systems can cleverly plot routes that avoid any roads, tunnels or bridges that aren’t suitable for your hefty trucks. This minimises the risk of fines, accidents, and damage to your vehicles.

Enhancing security

Many vehicle tracking systems allow you to set up geofences – in other words, virtual boundaries around your vehicles’ authorised routes. If one of your trucks then sets foot (or wheel) outside that boundary, you’ll receive an alert.

Upskilling drivers

Harsh acceleration, excessive idling, sudden braking, and more all come under the microscope, giving you the opportunity to communicate with – or even arrange training for – any drivers who display these unwanted habits.

What are the costs of truck tracking?
Truck tracking costs incorporate that of both the hardware (whether you buy or rent it, and the installation fees) and the software

Hardware and installation charges are usually levied as a single, one-time fee when you begin using the service. Truck fleet management software, however, (like its asset tracking counterpart) is SaaS (Software-as-a-Service), meaning it’s leased from the provider on an ongoing basis (usually monthly).

Can I save on fuel costs with truck tracking?
For companies that manage fleets of trucks, the sheer weight of the vehicles and their cargo means fuel costs can shoot through the roof.

However, truck fleet management software can help you cut your fuel costs dramatically. It can calculate the most fuel-efficient routes, monitor your fuel consumption so you can recognise and minimise wastage, and identify wasteful driver behaviour for you to stamp out.

Written by:
Julia Watts author headshot photo
Specialising in business software, Julia writes jargon-busting guides about VoIP, fleet management, dash cams, fuel cards, and more. Having spent almost a decade writing for entrepreneurs and reviewing business solutions, she loves helping exciting ventures – big or small – to flourish.
Reviewed by:
James draws on his 4+ years experience as a researcher to offer specialized advice on a wide range of categories from CRM to Fleet Management. He believes all businesses can grow if they use the right tools and services.