Trucking is full of surprises. One minute you’re sitting in your cabin, unloading a routine consignment of construction materials; the next, you’re catapulted back in your seat, looking up at the sky and wondering where the road went.
Here’s the point: perspective is everything. Without truck GPS tracking, you're restricted to your own, limited perspective. And while you're stuck staring up, your competitors are steaming ahead.
GPS tracking technology for trucks can show you the bigger picture, helping you and your truckers to make smarter decisions about driving, fueling, route optimization, security, and more. But with so many available, which system is best for your trucking fleet?
We've conducted extensive research into dozens of GPS tracking solutions for trucks, comparing them on features, usability, prices, customer support, and more. Now, we can reveal our top six picks for trucking fleets – and explain what makes them so great.
The Best GPS Tracking for Trucks
The very best GPS tracking systems for trucking fleets are:
- Verizon Connect: Best for closely monitoring your trucks
- Samsara: Best for route optimization
- GPS Insight: Easiest to learn and use
- GPS Trackit: Best for theft detection
- Quartix: Best for monitoring CO2 emissions
- Teletrac Navman: Best for customized reporting
- Azuga: Best for trucker safety
Read on for our reviews of the above systems or, if you'd like to compare tailored quotes right away, simply answer a few questions about your fleet. We'll match you up with the very best GPS fleet tracking systems for you, and those companies will be in touch directly with custom, no-obligation quotes and answers to your questions. It's the quickest, easiest way to zero in on the right choices, and compare the prices you'll be charged.
Verizon Connect
Best for closely monitoring your trucks
Verizon Connect’s GPS tracking is among the very best on the US market, especially for larger vehicles – such as trucks.
With location data refreshing every 90 seconds (not the fastest on the market, but still pretty snappy), its live tracking dashboard is informative and easy to follow, with a color-coded map. Meanwhile, its customizable daily summary reports highlight the data that you need to see, from transit times and stop durations to speeds and idling events.
One of our favorite things about Verizon Connect, though, is its alerting system, which we believe to be the best on the market. Entirely customizable, you can set up real-time notifications for pretty much anything, from a truck arriving at its destination to a speed limit violation.
Pros:
- Scored a lofty 9.4/10 for its tracking capabilities in our analysis
- Generates driver scores to encourage truckers to drive safe
- Can send traffic and road closure alerts
- Dazzling variety of data collected makes it ideal for large trucking fleets...
Cons:
- ...but its high price and complexity means it’s not so good for small fleets
- Favors a lengthy initial contract period of two to three years
- Only the more expensive subscriptions support fleet maintenance information
Verizon Connect – key questions for trucking fleets:
| Are the devices hardwired or OBD? | Verizon offers both! |
| How does the setup work? | Verizon promotes self-installation – in other words, it’ll provide you with the information you need to do it yourself |
| How much does installation cost? | Nothing – unless you opt for hardwired devices, in which case you might choose to pay for a third-party engineer to install them |
| How long is the warranty? | We’ve been unable to surface this information |
| What customer support options are available? | An online knowledge center, email support, and 24/7 phone support |
| Does it come with a smartphone app? | Yes |
| Does it offer satnav integration? | Only with Garmin satnavs |
| Does it provide live weather updates? | Yes – namely regarding visibility, wind velocity, surface air pressure, rainfall forecasts, and hurricane/cyclone forecasts |
| Does it offer IFTA compliance? | Yes |
| Does it offer ELD compliance? | Yes |
| As well as the GPS tracking, does it come with other fleet management features? | Yes – in fact, Verizon Connect is one of the most sophisticated fleet management systems out there. Check out our full review to learn more |
Verizon Connect’s pricing
Verizon specialize in providing bespoke pricing plans tailored to your business' exact needs, and so we can't tell you how much it'll cost. However, we do estimate that Verizon charges many customers somewhere between $50 and $250 per vehicle, per month.
▶ Read more: GPS Fleet Tracking Pricing: The Ultimate Guide
Samsara
Best for route optimization
You’ve likely already heard of Samsara, and for good reason: though still relatively young, this GPS tracking company is taking the trucking world by storm.
Immediately impressive is its location data refresh time, which comes in at a speedy 30 to 60 seconds (about as close to real-time as it gets). But what we really love is Samsara’s automated route planning and optimization capability, which makes plotting the most efficient, truck-safe routes for your drivers an absolute breeze (in fact, you can do it with a click of a button).
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 in yourself (Samsara provides code snippets, but manual configuration is still required).
Pros:
- Unique driver safety features, including texts that only open when the engine’s off
- Scored 10/10 for vehicle management, with Incredible truck maintenance schedule synchronization
- The best fuel usage reporting on the market
Cons:
- New additions to your software will need to be self-coded
- Favors longer contract periods, typically three to five years
- More expensive than some other solutions (but you get a lot of bang for your buck)
Samsara – key questions for trucking fleets:
| Are the devices hardwired or OBD? | OBD |
| How does the setup work? | Samsara promotes self-installation |
| How much does installation cost? | Nothing – OBD devices are easy to install and you can do it yourself |
| How long is the warranty? | The majority of Samsara’s tracking devices come with a five-year warranty. Accessory devices, such as card readers, come with a one-year warranty |
| What customer support options are available? | An online knowledge center, email support, a chatbot, and 24/7 phone support |
| Does it come with a smartphone app? | Yes |
| Does it offer satnav integration? | No |
| Does it provide live weather updates? | Yes, via a dashboard view |
| Does it offer IFTA compliance? | Yes |
| Does it offer ELD compliance? | Yes |
| As well as the GPS tracking, does it come with other fleet management features? | Yes – Samsara’s fleet management system is one of the very best on the market. Learn more about it in our full review |
Samsara’s pricing
Samsara’s most popular monthly license price plans range from $27 to $33 per vehicle, per month. GPS truck tracking hardware costs between $99 and $148 per unit, depending on your contract length and the devices you choose.
If you’d like a little help finding the right price for the right GPS tracking product, look no further – that’s what we’re here for! Answer a few quick questions about your fleet of trucks, and we’ll match you up with GPS tracking suppliers that can provide everything you need. They’ll then be in touch directly with no-obligation quotes that are tailored to you. It’s a fast, easy, reliable way to compare the options that are best for your trucking operation.
GPS Insight
Easiest platform to learn and use
With fantastic customer support and a raft of shining user reviews, GPS Insight’s reputation precedes it.
But what stood out the most during our analysis is how intuitive the platform is. It’s simple and incredibly easy to navigate, with vehicle data, landmark configuration, maintenance management, reports, alerts, and messaging all actionable from the initial dashboard.
In fact, simplicity is at the heart of GPS Insight’s product. It offers excellent GPS tracking capabilities without too many of the bells and whistles that some smaller trucking operations may find unnecessary. That's not to say that it doesn't boast a ton of unique features – we particularly love its live tracking map, which can be color-coded to show you the current speed of traffic on the road, helping you to divert drivers away from routes that would slow them down, and identify which roads to avoid at certain times.
Pros:
- Boasts the cheapest starting price that we found on the US market
- We scored it an impressive 9/10 for its attentive customer support
- Offers tampering and towing alerts which can be helpful in detecting truck or trailer theft
Cons:
- Data refreshes every two to five minutes, which is quite slow compared to some other systems
- Charges for installation where most suppliers don’t
GPS Insight – key questions for trucking fleets:
| Are the devices hardwired or OBD? | Both are available: the GPSI-3900 is hardwired, while the PNP-3000 series is an OBD unit |
| How does the setup work? | GPS Insight lets you choose between self-installation (DIY) or professional installation (the company will send engineers to do it for you) |
| How much does installation cost? | GPS Insight will charge you for professional installation – the price will depend on the model of tracking unit you choose, and the make and model of your vehicles |
| How long is the warranty? | Lifetime warranty |
| What customer support options are available? | An online knowledge center, email support, a chatbot, and phone support (24/7 for urgent issues, 5am to 7pm Monday through Friday for non-urgent calls) |
| Does it come with a smartphone app? | Yes |
| Does it offer satnav integration? | No |
| Does it provide live weather updates? | No |
| Does it offer IFTA compliance? | Yes |
| Does it offer ELD compliance? | Yes (but only with its Standard and Enterprise plans) |
| As well as the GPS tracking, does it come with other fleet management features? | Yes – GPS Insight’s fleet management dashboard is super intuitive. Find out more about it in our full review. |
GPS Insight’s pricing
GPS Insight’s monthly license costs range from $14.95 to $28.95 per vehicle, across four price plans: Basic, Standard, Pro, and Enterprise – with Basic being the cheapest and Enterprise the most expensive.
GPS Insight’s tracking devices cost between $199 and $450 each, depending on the device you choose – though its flagship GPS vehicle tracking unit costs up to $255. Alternatively, you can rent your devices for $5 to $10 per unit, per month.
GPS Trackit
Best for theft detection
GPS Trackit has one of the most flexible payment structures we’ve seen, enabling you to pay-as-you-go (no contracts!) and even freeze your account if needed.
But what else can it offer to trucking businesses? Well, our favorite thing about GPS Trackit is its thorough theft prevention measures, including remote main power disconnect, theft detection alerts, PTO alerts, and starter disable.
As well as this, GPS Trackit boasts an incredibly speedy data refresh time of 30 to 60 seconds (matched only by Samsara on this list).We’re also fans of its customizable reports, which you can build yourself and have sent to you at a frequency you want. You can choose from a raft of report options, including on-demand temperature reports, speed and safety reports, and reports on miles driven per state, to help you track fuel taxes.
Pros:
- Won’t tie you into a contract - you can rent the software month-by-month
- Can provide you with unlimited live training to help you learn the system
- Integrates with fuel cards that can be used anywhere that accepts MasterCard
Cons:
- Driver dispatching functionality - usually included as standard - is only available at an extra cost
- The only way to monitor your fuel spend is through fuel cards
- A little more expensive than some other suppliers
GPS Trackit – key questions for trucking fleets:
| Are the devices hardwired or OBD? | GPS Trackit offers both |
| How does the setup work? | Encourages self-installation, but has a dedicated team of installation specialists on hand to provide help |
| How much does installation cost? | Nothing, as self-installation is encouraged |
| How long is the warranty? | We were unable to surface this information |
| What customer support options are available? | An online knowledge center, email support (active Monday through Friday, 8am to 8pm), and phone support (has different lines for different concerns, open at varying hours) |
| Does it come with a smartphone app? | Yes |
| Does it offer satnav integration? | No |
| Does it provide live weather updates? | No |
| Does it offer IFTA compliance? | Yes |
| Does it offer ELD compliance? | Yes (at an additional cost) |
| As well as the GPS tracking, does it come with other fleet management features? | Yes – check out our full review to learn more about it! |
GPS Trackit’s pricing
GPS Trackit’s pricing is astonishingly simple: it costs $23.95 per vehicle, per month, with GPS tracking devices thrown in for free.
Quartix
Best for monitoring CO2 emissions
If you’re looking for stellar customer support and affordable prices, Quartix is a solid option: scoring 9/10 for customer support and 8.6/10 for price in our analysis.
But it’s environmentally-conscious trucking fleets (which, in this day and age, should be all trucking fleets) that’ll be most impressed by Quartix, which provides uniquely insightful CO2 reporting.This function enables you to monitor your trucks’ ecological impact, identifying areas where more gas than necessary is being burnt, and helping you to shrink that carbon footprint.
We’re also fans of Quartix’s driving history tracking: with a trip reporter that provides insight into where your truckers have been throughout the day, with the intent of putting a stop to fraudulent insurance claims.
Pros:
- Boasts a cheap starting price that makes it ideal for budget-conscious trucking fleets
- Favors short contracts of 12 months, where other suppliers tend to require two or more years
Cons:
- Its cheapest plan has limited reporting features and a slow data refresh time (every two minutes)
- Not ELD compliant - you’ll have to get your ELDs elsewhere
- Doesn’t include a driver messaging system for quickly contacting your truckers
Quartix – key questions for trucking fleets:
| Are the devices hardwired or OBD? | Quartix offers both |
| How does the setup work? | One of Quartix’s accredited engineers will be sent to your premises to install your GPS trackers at a time of your choosing |
| How much does installation cost? | It’s free! |
| How long is the warranty? | Quartix offers a lifetime warranty |
| What customer support options are available? | An online knowledge center, email support, a chatbot, and phone support (but only from 8:30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday) |
| Does it come with a smartphone app? | Yes |
| Does it offer satnav integration? | No |
| Does it provide live weather updates? | No |
| Does it offer IFTA compliance? | Yes |
| Does it offer ELD compliance? | No |
| As well as the GPS tracking, does it come with other fleet management features? | Yes – check out our full review of Quartix’s fleet management system to find out more |
Quartix’s pricing
Quartix’s pricing includes software and hardware, with a single fee that depends on the price plan you choose. However, you should bear in mind that you’ll only be renting the hardware, not truly owning it yourself.
Quartix’s price plans are as follows:
| Infopoint | $14.90 per vehicle, per month |
| Infoplus | $18.90 per vehicle, per month |
| Infofleet | $22.90 per vehicle, per month |
Teletrac Navman
Best for customized reporting
If your business is ready to handle data and use it for the specific benefit of your trucking fleet, Teletrac Navman is worth considering. Its BYOR (Build Your Own Report) function enables you to build custom reports and dashboards, selecting data sets and applying a range of filters and segmentations. Plus, Teletrac’s ‘Adaptive Intelligence’ module integrates your system with other apps, uniting data from multiple sources so you can see all of your business data in one place.
It’s also worth noting that Teletrac Navman can integrate with ProMiles software – 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.
Just be wary that if you want to get the most out of this system, you’ll need to pay for one of the more expensive plans – its cheapest plan, for instance, doesn't include customizable alerts or driver behavior and safety analytics.
Pros:
- Keeps private journeys private by recording private mileage while hiding location information
- Can send stolen vehicle alerts to help you react to truck theft quickly
- Can provide instant video replays of incidents (when integrated with dash cams)
Cons:
- Functionality is seriously limited by how much you pay
- The cheaper plans have a slow data refresh time of five minutes
- Doesn’t monitor cargo temperature
Teletrac Navman – key questions for trucking fleets:
| Are the devices hardwired or OBD? | Teletrac Navman offers both |
| How does the setup work? | Provides video tutorials for self-installation, however, Teletrac can send an engineer if your fleet has more than 10 vehicles |
| How much does installation cost? | Nothing! |
| How long is the warranty? | We were unable to find this information |
| What customer support options are available? | A contact form, free training webinars, and 24/7 phone support |
| Does it come with a smartphone app? | Yes |
| Does it offer satnav integration? | No |
| Does it provide live weather updates? | Yes |
| Does it offer IFTA compliance? | Yes |
| Does it offer ELD compliance? | Yes |
| As well as the GPS tracking, does it come with other fleet management features? | Yes |
Teletrac Navman’s pricing
We know that Teletrac Navman offers three pricing plans – Essential, Professional, and Enterprise – however, we’ve been unable to uncover just how much these cost. In order to find out, you’ll need to request a bespoke quote from the company.
Alternatively, we can help you find a variety of tailored GPS tracking quotes quickly and easily, so you can compare the right options for your trucks with clarity. Simply answer a few questions about your trucking fleet, and we’ll matchmake you with leading GPS tracking suppliers that can cater to your unique needs. They’ll then be in touch directly with custom no-obligation quotes, just for you. Our service is free, reliable, and fast – why not try it out?
Azuga
Best for trucker safety
Azuga is an excellent option for those looking to simplify their GPS truck tracking, with a solid range of uncustomizable reports for fleet managers who want to be presented with the necessary data without complication.
More than that, though, we’re excited 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, and when they drive dangerously, it’ll be captured by integrated SafetyCams (if you’ve paid for them).
We also like Azuga’s uniquely customizable data refresh times, which let you choose whether you want fresh data every 30 seconds, every 59 minutes, or somewhere in between.
Pros:
- FuelSaver add-on directs drivers to the closest gas station with the cheapest fuel
- Fuel card integrations are available with WEX, PAPCO, and EFS
- Trip logs provide detailed records of all trips taken over the last 90 days
Cons:
- Subscriptions are a little expensive, starting at $27.99 per month
- Maintenance scheduling, usually included in fleet management systems as standard, costs extra
- Doesn’t monitor cargo temperature
Azuga – key questions for trucking fleets:
| Are the devices hardwired or OBD? | OBD |
| How does the setup work? | OBD units can simply be plugged in – no professional installation services are required. However, Azuga's team can set up your software and help you migrate information from your previous system |
| How much does installation cost? | Nothing! |
| How long is the warranty? | We’ve been unable to surface this information |
| What customer support options are available? | An online knowledge center, email support, 24/7 phone support, and a chatbot |
| Does it come with a smartphone app? | Yes |
| Does it offer satnav integration? | No |
| Does it provide live weather updates? | Yes |
| Does it offer IFTA compliance? | Yes |
| Does it offer ELD compliance? | Yes (at an additional cost) |
| As well as the GPS tracking, does it come with other fleet management features? | Yes – check out our full review for all the details |
Azuga’s pricing
Azuga offers two simple pricing plans, and the one that’s right for you will depend on whether you’d like to cover the cost of your GPS tracking devices upfront or not.
Azuga’s price plans look like this:
| Monthly subscription | Upfront device cost | |
| Bundle Plan | $27.99 | $0 |
| Flex Plan | $22 | $99.99 |
▶ Read more: US Vehicle Tracking Laws in 2020
Expert Verdict
Once the province of wealthier companies with larger fleets, GPS tracking solutions are now within the reach of much smaller fleets that might consist of a dozen trucks or less.
And with truckers traveling longer distances, and with drivers being tasked with hauling perishable or sensitive cargo over ever-longer distances (often facing financial pressures from rising fuel and maintenance costs), fleet tracking tools have gone from a relative luxury to a vital necessity.
Buying a fleet management GPS tracking system for your trucks is a big investment, so it’s well worth researching each solution on your shortlist by reading customer reviews and requesting a custom quote from each.
We'd suggest starting with those covered in this article, which we believe to be Verizon Connect, Samsara, GPS Insight, GPS Trackit, Quartix, Teletrac Navman, Azuga.
If you'd like an easy way to compare quotes that have been tailored to you, simply tell us about your fleet by filling in our quick form, and you'll receive free, tailored quotes directly from trusted truck fleet management GPS solution providers.
Still got questions? Scan through the FAQs below!
FAQs
I can’t find any truck fleet management solution prices online! Where can I find pricing information for different suppliers?
A ballpark figure for a typical truck fleet management solution is $19.95 – $29.95 per month. Most GPS tracking suppliers don’t list prices on their websites though, because they can vary massively according to your specific requirements.
When a supplier draws up a custom quote, they’ll account for things like the number and types of trucks in your fleet, and any special features you request.
Naturally, it’s impossible to cover all the possible pricing configurations in a single article. But what we can do is get you some custom quotes to compare, and help you more easily find the right solution for you. Simply tell us about your fleet and your requirements by completing our short form, and you'll receive quotes, tailored to your needs, directly from top providers.
I'm an independent trucker – do I still need to use truck fleet management software?
While we have concentrated mostly on fleet management for businesses that manage multiple vehicles and drivers at once, individual truckers who are not affiliated with a larger company can still benefit from using fleet management solutions – even if you and your truck are the full extent of the “fleet”.
After all, if you're operating on your own, you're probably already acutely aware of the impact that fuel costs, idle time, and inefficient routing can have on your small business. Using these apps and services can help you to cut costs and boost efficiency without cutting corners.
Yes, many solutions that enable a fleet of 500 trucks to save time and money can be scaled down to a single 18-wheeler, service truck, reefer or towtruck.
How we Analyze and Rate Fleet Management Providers
At Expert Market, it's our aim to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and transparent product and service reviews possible. So, to help you better understand the best fleet management options out there, we've conducted in-depth, extensive research into the fleet management market and its top companies. Here's how we did it:
We worked with 2 independent researchers…
…who surveyed 200 companies like yours, gaining insight into what they want most from fleet management…
…and rated each provider based on 500 different areas of investigation – covering everything including customer support, key features, prices, add-ons, and more.
We take the integrity of our research seriously. If you've got any questions at all about our research process, feel free to get in touch with Julia, our fleet management specialist, at julia.watts@expertmarket.co.uk.
