Written by Julia Watts Reviewed by James Macey Updated on 6 January 2023 On this page How lorry vehicle tracking works Compare the best lorry vehicle tracking systems Verizon Connect: Best overall for lorry fleet management Samsara: Best for vehicle visibility Teletrac Navman: Best for managing drivers Radius Telematics: Best for smaller fleets Our expert verdict FAQs Expand Our site is reader-supported – by clicking our links, we can match you with a potential supplier, and we may earn a small commission for this referral. From our research, the absolute best vehicle tracking platform for lorries 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 lorry vehicle 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.Keep your fleet of HGVs rolling efficiently and productively with vehicle tracking software How lorry vehicle tracking worksAs well as tracking your fleet, many lorry vehicle 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 lorry vehicle 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 Lorry Tracking Can Help with Fuel Prices It’s not news that with the energy crisis and 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 optimizing your routes and minimizing idling can really add up. The best lorry vehicle tracking systemsAccording to our dedicated research, the best truck fleet management software is provided by: 01 | Verizon Connect: Best overall for lorry fleet management 02 | Samsara: Best for vehicle visibility 03 | Teletrac Navman: Best for managing drivers 04 | Radius Telematics: Best for smaller fleets Swipe right to see more 0 out of 0 backward forward Best overall Verizon Connect Best for vehicle visibility Samsara Best for managing drivers Teletrac Navman TN360 Best for smaller fleets Radius Telematics Key Features Automatic route optimisation30-second data refreshCustomised locations and geofencing Key Features Automatic route optimisationLive mapping refreshDriver messaging Key Features View vehicles and fleet information in real timeDriver performance reporting featuresSend and receive messages Key Features 30-second data refreshCustomized alertsTraffic alerts and geofencing Verizon Connect – Best for lorry fleet management Verizon Connect 4.7 Pricing £20-40 Compare quotes Read our review 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. For something on the cheaper end, we think RAM is a great alternative. Read more + Read less - 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 12 months minimum contract length Pricing See more See less Price Guide From £20-40, with typical contract length of 12 months – 5 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 Samsara – Best for vehicle visibility Samsara 4.6 Pricing £10.38 - 23.75 Get free quotes Read our review Quick overview Founded in 2015, Samsara has fast become a top fleet management company and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions provider. It established its European headquarters in 2019. Samsara has pioneered the Connected Operations Cloud, which enables businesses to leverage IoT data to gain actionable insights and optimise their physical operations. In 2023, Samsara partnered with Motormax to offer enhanced fleet vehicle safety using automated 360-degree video telematics. Read more + Read less - Strengths Comprehensive vehicle management features Excellent driver management tools 30-second to one-minute data updates Weaknesses Premium pricing No fuel card integrations Pricing See more See less Price Guide Monthly license from £10.83 - 23.75 Pros Has a TrustScore of 8.5 out of 10 Intuitive, easy to use interface Very scalable Cloud-based software can be accessed on any device Cons Customers report that the mobile app doesn’t always work perfectly Teletrac Navman (TN360) – Best for managing drivers Teletrac Navman TN360 4.6 Pricing From $25 Get free quotes Read our review Quick overview Teletrac is one of the world’s largest fleet solutions providers, boasting over 25 years of history in GPS tracking. It was founded in the UK in 1988 as Trafficmaster, offering drivers road congestion information. In 2015, Teletrac merged with Navman Wireless, a GPS navigation device manufacturer based in Taiwan. In 2020, it expanded its services to connected solutions, fortifying its ground in advanced fleet management. To date, Teletrac Navman monitors almost 500,000 vehicles across six continents. Read more + Read less - Strengths Top-tier driver monitoring tools, including driver fatigue management Offers the best help and support to users Offers one-year minimum contracts Weaknesses Lacks advanced hardware features like cargo temperature and engine temperature monitoring Can't automatically optimise your routes Pricing See more See less 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 Telematics – Best for smaller fleets Radius Telematics 4.3 Pricing Starting from £7.20 Get free quotes Read our review Quick overview With over 30 years of experience in the fleet industry, Radius started as a fuel card provider in the UK in 1990 and has since expanded globally. Today, the company is known for its innovative fleet management solutions that help fleet operators reduce fleet costs and increase efficiency.Radius Telematics is a part of the larger Radius Payment Solutions group. It has over 575,000 tracked units worldwide, and has 20 UK offices that service over 100,000 businesses. Read more + Read less - Strengths Great value for money Excellent driver management tools Weaknesses Lacks tax reporting tools Doesn't automatically optimise your routes No 24/7 phone support for users Pricing See more See less Price Guide Starting from £7.20 Pros Very affordable Flexible pay-as-you-go contracts Quick data refresh speed Cons No automatic route optimization ▶ Read more: The 5 best UK vehicle tracking providers 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 bestTracking: 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 resourcesAfter 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, Samsara, 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 lorries, 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 lorry fleet management software? Improving customer experienceThanks 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 routesMany lorry vehicle 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 securityMany vehicle tracking systems allow you to set up geofences – in other words, virtual boundaries around your vehicles’ authorised routes. If one of your lorries then sets foot (or wheel) outside that boundary, you’ll receive an alert.Upskilling driversHarsh 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 lorry tracking? Lorry vehicle 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 lorry 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, lorry 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. How do I install a lorry tracker? To find out more about installing tracking equipment in your lorries and trucks, head over to our dedicated guide to vehicle tracking installation. We’ll cover how to install your devices, where in your vehicle to do so, and what the benefits of installing a professional fleet management system are. Written by: Julia Watts Software Expert 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 Macey Senior Business Software Researcher James thinks all businesses can improve if they use the right technology. At Expert Market, he utilises his 4+ years experience as a researcher to offer specialised advice on a wide range of categories from CRM to Fleet Management.