When you are driving your truck, you never know when an accident might suddenly occur. These accidents can be anything from unintentional collisions with cars or isolated instances of road rage. If you become a victim of such instances, it’s necessary to have the best evidence possible, something that speaks on your behalf in the court of law. In such situations, a dash cam is your best aid in winning in an insurance claim.
However, choosing the best dash cameras isn’t merely a matter of capturing footage of driving. The video captured needs to clear enough since it plays an important role in reducing premiums.
With so many choices available in the market, finding the best dash cam for your needs can be exhausting. Each camera has a myriad of features and is available in a wide range of prices, making your choice even more difficult than it needs to be.
While many dashboard cameras offer various features that appear to be similar, not all things advertised are the same in reality. More often than not, the more you spend on a high-quality dash camera for trucks, the greater built-in features you will receive.
Depending on your needs, you may prefer a truck dashboard based on auto recording features, save functionality, GPS, cyclic recording, dual cam, and even for smart features such as Amazon Alexa skills.
To make your job easier, we have sifted through various best performing dash cameras available in the market and developed a list that contains the best of the best. In this article, we discuss the best dash cams for trucks, as well as an extensive buying guide to help you find the option you need.
| Rank | Name | Key Features | Ratings | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 |   | 3.0” LCD Screen 170° Super Wide Lens Ultra-clear Super HD 2k Loop recording | 4.4 | $$ |
| #2 |  | 2.4” LCD Screen 4-Lane Wide-Angle Lens 1080p FullHD Loop recording | 4.2 | $$$ |
| #3 |  | 2.4” LCD FHD 170° Wide Angle 1080p FullHD Loop recording | 4.2 | $$$ |
| #4 |  | 1.5" HD TFT Screen 120° horizontal viewing angle 1080p FullHD Loop recording | 4.2 | $$$ |
| #5 |  | 2.7" LCD Screen Ultra-wide 162° Wide-Angle 4K ultraHD Recording Cloud Connectivity | 3.7 | $$$$ |
| #6 |  | 2.7" LCD Screen 165° horizontal viewing angle 1080p FullHD 360° rotation | 4.0 | $$$ |
| #7 |  | 9.6" LCD Screen 170° horizontal viewing angle 1080p FullHD 350° rotation | 3.9 | $$ |
| #8 |  | 2.0” LCD Screen 170° horizontal viewing angle 1440p HDR Voice Control | 4.2 | $$$ |
What’s the Best Dash Cam for Truckers?
1. Wheel Witness HD PRO Dash Cam – Best Rated Dash Cam for Truckers on Amazon
If you’re looking for a truck dash cam with a crystal clear result, then WheelWitness HD PRO is one of the best options available in the market. The camera is equipped with 170° Lens and 2K Super HD that enables it to record super clear videos.
Despite being available at a reasonable price, the WheelWitness HD PRO dash camera has a surplus of amazing features. The camera offers a pre-packed 16GB microSD to help you store footage on the go. Supplemented by an advanced GPS, it offers Advanced Driver Assistance for 12V Cars and Trucks.
White Witness is very easy to install and is famous for its plug-in and play features. All you have to do is to stick the suction cup, insert the memory card, and plug the camera into the power source.
If that wasn’t enough, the camera still includes Night Vision, so you can still record everything you need in low-light conditions, even at night. The plethora of features Wheel Witness HD PRO Dash Cam has makes it the finest trucker cameras not only in this guide but also makes it the best-rated dash cam for truckers on Amazon.
- (WDR) technology for night vision
- Free 16GB MicroSD
- Continuous Loop Recording
- 3x mounts for multiple vehicles
- Not very sturdy
- Dual-channel camera not available
2. Anker ROAV C2 Dash Cam for Truckers – Best Dual Channel Dash Cam
ROAV C2 is by Anker a premier dashboard camera, assorted with various advanced features. It has a smart sensor supplemented by a premium lens. The availability of a custom app tracker and a built-in Wi-Fi allows commercial fleet owners to monitor the truck from afar.
The manufacturer has developed an official smartphone app that is easily available in app stores. It allows you to download the app on your phone and share the dash camera’s recorded video remotely.
Anker ROAV C2 dash cam has a highly sensitive shock sensor that begins recording videos automatically whenever it detects sudden jolts even if the truck is not running. At the same time, equipped with the NightHawk technology, the camera records every trip in high-definition 1080p resolution even when it’s dark.
The f2.0 wide-angle aperture lens helps truckers view 4 lanes of traffic simultaneously. Since the camera also has 5 lens elements, an advanced chip-set, as well as Wide Dynamic Range image, you can expect it provide some of the best video quality available in the market.
Besides that, Anker has a collection of excellent reviews based on their on-time customer support. They are one of the few dash cam providers that offer multi-national support and have different channels such as phone and email support for selected countries.
- Dual-channel
- Excellent customer support
- Custom smart app
- 0 wide-angle aperture lens
- Extreme Temperature Resistance
- Large size
3. Rexing V1LG Dashboard Camera for Truckers – Best Dash Camera Under $100
Dashboard cameras are an essential accessory for trucks and Rexing V1LG is one of the few that fits tractor-trailers perfectly. The is extremely easy to install and you can start using it after sticking it to the glass of your windshield. Due to the device’s compact size, it is unnoticeable after installation.
The quality of recording surpasses many of the mainstream options in the market and the footage is pretty clear. With a built-in accident detection system, dual-channel, and GPS, the device gives you all the necessary tools to investigate accidents.
At the same time, loop recordings help users to automatically overwrite the oldest recorded data. This allows you to replace the data you no longer need whenever the memory of the device overflows.
However, any videos that you have locked in memory will remain saved in the device despite other footage being deleted. The camera uses its G-sensors to archive videos where the vehicle had suffered from an accident.
- Dual Channel
- Memory size up to 128Gb
- Built-in GPS
- Large size
- Rear cam video is not good even in the daytime
4. Street Guardian SG9665GC v3 2020 – Best Dash Cam for Pickup Trucks
If you are searching for the finest trucker dash cams in the market, you will definitely find Street Guardian Top dash cam to be one of them. Street Guardian SG9665GC v3 2020 is an updated version of its previous product and records videos in awesome quality, regardless of whether it’s day or night.
This easy-to-install camera is suited for extreme weather and hot climate, making it one of the few dash cams that resist heat effectively. Using the camera’s free desktop app, you can watch and organize recorded videos daily. The desktop app lets users monitor information related to the device’s G-sensor and GPS.
All products manufactured by Street Guardian are thoroughly tested and peer-reviewed by pro users, making it’s quality considerably higher than other options. Considering that the camera also has a highly active support team, you can expect a premium user experience after buying the product.
- Expandable Memory Size Up To 256GB
- Free Desktop Software
- 1 Year Warranty
- Short GPS cord
- Less accommodation on the windscreen
5. BlackVue DR900S-2CH – Best 4k UltraHD Commercial Fleet Dash Cam
The BlackVue DR900S-2CH is one of the latest dual-lens dash cameras available in the market. The dual-lens camera has a robust two-channel dash cam system that records footage in an outstanding 4K Ultra HD quality. Because of its high-quality image capture technology, the camera is popular among commercial truck owners.
You can use the dash cam to equip your 18-wheeler camera system with various detection features. The dash cam’s connected system of cameras, coupled with its top-rated built-in GPS, makes BlackVue DR900S-2CH the best commercial fleet dash cam available in the market.
Furthermore, the camera has various advanced features that no other camera in this list has. The image quality of the camera is unsurpassed thanks to its ultra HD 8-Megapixel CMOS sensor coupled with a 4K UHD @ 30fps for seamless display and incredible detail.
To stop your video storage from being filled up quickly, the camera uses H.265 file compression to efficiently store new 4K video files. While compressed file sizes are enough for saving space, the camera also uses adaptive format-free file management to minimize periodic microSD card formatting and improve recording stability.
At the same time, features like Event File Overwrite Protection protect up to 50 event files from being deleted whenever cyclic storing kicks in. Meanwhile, BlackVue DR900S-2CH’s new dual-band Wi-Fi allows it to connect with either 2.4 or 5GHz Wi-Fi hotspots. The firm connection with the internet allows the camera to perform Scheduled Reboots in Parking Mode to ensure system stability.
Unfortunately, BlackVue DR900S-2CH’s vibrant list of features doesn’t come without a cost. The camera is also one of the most expensive dash cams in the market, surpassing most dash cams by many folds. The premium price point makes it more suitable for commercial use rather than personal.
- Dual channel
- Memory size Up to 128Gb
- Built-in GPS
- Time-relapse
- Region-based motion detection
- Large size
- Expensive
6. KDLINKS X1 Full-HD Dash Cam – Best 360 ° Dash Cam
If you were looking for the word robust in a dash camera, KDLINKS X1 Full-HD Dash Cam is the one that personifies it. This dash Cam comes with GPS-enabled full HD 1920×1080 resolution, supplemented by a 165 ° wide-angle lens, WDR night vision, and gravity sensor.
With the built-in GPS, you can embed GPS information in the captured video so you can see it during playback. Moreover, users also have the option to rotate the dash cam 360 ° and leverage the camera’s 30 fps capturing ability to record seamless streams of video.
Since truck owners need to travel night and day, they need to record in all kinds of light settings. For this reason, the company has included a 6-glass lens that filters each frame of the footage using the latest super night vision by F1.
This additional feature along with the wide-angle lens help users ensure that captured videos of the highest clarity. Given its amazing features and incredible coverage, the camera is regarded as one of the best 360 ° dash cam.
- Full-HD Video 1920*1080 at 30 fps
- Super wide 165° angle.
- Superior Night-vision
- Built-in GPS
- G-Sensor
- 360 ° camera coverage
- Inadequate SD card
- No 12V adapter for use in cars
- Mounting could loosen the control panel in time
7. CHICOM 9.66″ Mirror Dash Cam – Best Dash Cam for HGV
CHICOM 9.66″ Mirror Dash Cam is one of the few dashboard cameras that have been specialized for heavy goods vehicles. It is easy-to-install and enables users to record super-clear video.
Users can make most of the time-lapse mode to save SD card storage memory whenever the vehicle is parked for an extended period. Similarly, if a user continuously records footage at 1 frame per second, they can review 2 hours’ worth of footage in approximately 4 minutes. However, the camera needs to be hardwired to the fuse box to enable the time interval mode.
Combined with 1080P and 350 ° camera rotation, CHICOM 9.66″ Mirror Dash Cam gives its users awesome camera coverage. At the same time, the camera is resistant to moisture and water thanks to its IP67 waterproof exterior.
- The image from either the front or rear camera fills the entire screen
- Very easy to install
- It helps improve safety
- Excellent for heavy goods vehicles
- Cable seems too small for a truck
8. Garmin Dash Cam 66W – Automatic Incident Detection & Recording
Garmin is one of the oldest names in the dash cam industry, and the Garmin Dash Cam 66W lives up to its reputation of being one of the most reliable devices in the market. The camera has a 3-inch wide ultra-clear screen that helps users monitor the recordings clearly on the screen.
Mostly, Garmin dash cams have been known for their reliable and easy to use products, but the sleek design of this model’s exterior stands out on its own. Although this camera is available at a significantly higher price point, the features it offers tower over other available options.
The camera has a 180-degree wide viewing angle lens, which allows it incredible footage coverage. Only a few dash cameras can automatically record and save footage whenever through their built-in G-sensors, and Garmin Dash Cam 66W is one of them.
Furthermore, it is also one of the few premium cameras that allows users to operate it using voice commands. For instance, you can instruct the camera to perform actions such as saving videos and taking pictures. You just have to say ‘OK, Garmin, take a picture’ and ‘ save video,’ and the system will adhere to your commands.
The footage captured by the camera is mostly excellent and it also performs exceptionally well under low-light conditions. Despite all these incredible features, the most attractive feature is still its compact, neat and tidy design. In the end, the camera strikes the balance between quality, features, and cost. So if you’re looking for a premium dash cam without spending too much, Garmin Dash Cam 66W is definitely worth a try.
- Very easy to install
- Effortless to use
- 1440p Video quality
- 180 ° Viewing angle
- GPS tracker
- Compact design
- Lots of extra features
- Some lens distortion at the edge
- Voice control becomes clunky in traffic
- Relatively expensive
Buying Guide: What to Look for in Good Dash Cam for Truckers
The best dash cameras must meet a specific set of functions to be considered top tier. To help you find dash cams with the best features, we have rounded up the necessary features that all good cameras have. However, every camera doesn’t need to have these features since a person’s preference for one might change depending on their need.
Dual-Channel
Many cameras are available exclusively for the front of the car. Although there is nothing wrong with buying front channel cameras, these cameras don’t have the extra eye that dual channel cameras provide.
Remember that accidents are not exclusive to the front-end of your car and can occur on the behind your truck. Having an extra camera on the back of the truck can help in recording accidents behind you and are helpful when one has to park the truck.
GPS
Although considered an advanced feature by many, GPS is a useful feature to have in any situation. It lets drivers to be aware of their location and provides even more evidence in case of an insurance claim. Furthermore, if a company is buying a dash cam for commercial vehicles, then a camera with GPS features is a must. GPS allows commercial fleet owners to learn the location and speed of their vehicles.
Night Vision and Range
In addition to having a camera at both the back and the front, it is essential to know how far the cameras can record videos. We recommend buying cameras with a range of 20 meters and even greater if you want to capture wide-angle recordings. Besides the range, the camera should also be able to capture accidents at night or under low light conditions.
Storage
The amount of storage space the camera has matters a lot for recording incidents effectively. Apart from the SD card, which you can insert in the camera to increase storage, you also need hard disk storage that enables you to store data of up to 256 GB. While pricing may be different during the purchasing process, you should consider the schedule to be your guiding factor.
Display
Most dashboard cameras have at least 2 inches of display. Although the size of the display is not a major priority, the display must have a high-quality display so you don’t miss anything. You must make sure that the display images are very clear in all kinds of conditions.
Lens Angle
Lens angle is something often overlooked by truck drivers before shopping for dash cameras. The quality of the camera and the lens angle collectively influence the degree of detail in the footage. Camera lens with wider-angle views is the preferred choice in most cases.
Looped Recording
Loop recording is a feature that allows you to maintain storage space by replacing the oldest recordings by the newest ones. This happens after a certain limit of storage has been filled. Unfortunately, most digital cameras lack a looped recording feature, which makes them unsuitable as dashboard cameras.
When you are buying a camera for your truck dashboard, you should consider this feature as an essential requirement for dashboard surveillance. Without this feature, dash cams can quickly chew up the entire storage easily and have no memory left to record important incidents.
Accident Detection
Accident detection is a self-defining feature. It’s extremely important for recording accidents since it allows users to archive accident footage separately. This added feature is essential because it prevents from being replaced by new footage when the storage is full.
Ease of Mounting
Although most truck dash cams can easily anywhere, it’s better to look for options that can easily get mounted and don’t require extra installation costs. Aside from additional costs, dash cameras with additional setup requirements can have their warranties invalidated after certain seals are broken. Therefore, you should prefer dash cams you can easily mount on the windshield.
Offline Power Supply
Most dash cameras start when you switch the truck on and turn off when you switch off the truck. However, if you have a backup power supply, such as in-built batteries, you can keep your camera on even when the truck is not running. Offline power supply feature can be incredibly helpful when the truck has been parked and you need to record anything happening to your truck in your absence.
Ease of Use
Not all people are equally versed in understanding technology. Therefore, it’s always best to buy cameras that are easy to use. Before you look for advanced features, you must understand how to operate the camera.
Warranty
Like most electronic products, dash cams can easily develop one or two problems in the initial phase. Therefore, it’s good to prefer a product whose responsibility the manufacturer is willing to take.
How to Install Truck Dash Cams
Installing truck dash cams should be a simple affair in most cases. However, many cameras require you to hard wire the camera to the truck’s power source so it can use its internal battery power for backup.
Just follow the steps below to get your truck fitted with a dash camera:
The whole installation process might appear extremely cumbersome to some people, but you can easily do it under half an hour, given that you find the fuse box easily. That said, you can always refer to a dash cam installation service nearby, but that will probably cost you between $20 to $50 more.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best dash cam for truckers?
The best dash cam for truckers might vary from each other based on the need of the driver. Depending on the purpose of buying, the budget, and even the quality of images, one option may be more suitable for you than the best product in the market.
If you are someone responsible for commercial fleets and have the budget to invest in a high-quality camera, then the best dash cam will probably be BlackVue DR900S-2CH. In contrast, someone with a limited budget, let’s say $100, can invest in options such as Rexing V1LG.
Nevertheless, many truckers want a premium dash camera but don’t want a camera that is too expensive. These people can find all their desired features in Garmin Dash Cam 66W. On the other hand, dash cams like Anker ROAV C2 dash cam offer users the best dual-channel camera system, seconding only to BlackVue’s premium option.
With that said, after evaluating all other options, we have found that Wheel Witness HD PRO offers the most value for money than any other dash cam. It costs less than $100 and offers a diverse array of features in return.
Do truck drivers have dash cameras?
Truck repairs can be extremely costly and they may hurt your pocket badly. Although there is no way to make sure that accidents and traffic incidents don’t happen to your truck, you can always get reimbursed if you file an insurance claim successfully.
Since most accidents usually turn into lawsuits and insurance claims, dash cams in trucks are vital for reclaiming the damage costs you deserve. These cameras provide drivers with valuable evidence, helping them win insurance in case their truck gets damaged. Although there are no US laws regulating dash cameras, investing in these cameras is worth the effort.
What types of dash cam do truckers use?
Truckers don’t use anyone type of dash camera. Depending on the type of features they need, one’s choice of cameras can vary. Many truckers use front-only dash cameras as they mostly cost less than dual channel versions. However, cameras with dual channels give drivers significantly more value.
Can you use a GoPro as a dash cam?
Yes, GoPro cameras are a viable option for truckers who need dash cameras. GoPro usually has an in-built dash cam feature. So you can start using them immediately after mounting them to the windshield or dashboard.
However, you must keep in mind that it’s best to buy a camera with looped recording features when you’re considering GoPro cameras as dash cams. At the same time, you should have a skeletal mount ready in case the manufacturer doesn’t provide you with a mount with the product.
Do semi-trucks have dash cameras?
Yes, nowadays, many truckers are making dash cams a mandatory part of their semi-trucks, and doing so helps them to record accidents, claim insurances successfully.
What is the best dash cam for the money?
Wheel Witness HD PRO provides you the best value for money than most options available in the market. From high-resolution footage, WDR technology, to G-sensor, GPS, and looped recording, the camera is fully laden with essential features despite costing less than most options in the market.
Do commercial trucks have cameras?
Commercial truckers have to lend their trucks to other people. This is why many commercial truck owners consider dash cameras to be necessary for commercial trucks. Unsurprisingly, a growing number of fleet operators are installing vehicle cameras in trucks with many of them even experimenting with in-face dash cameras.
What is a good dash cam?
A good dash cam can be any camera that contains all the key features required, such as capturing high-quality footage, monitoring both sides of the vehicle, having looped recording, GPS, night vision, and accident detection.
Conclusion
In most cases, the best dash cams in the market have similar technology to one another. Likewise, all these cameras can be mounted in similar places, mostly along with the car’s front windshield or windscreen, given that it doesn’t block the view of the road.
Although dual channel cameras are a preferable option most of the time, they require additional efforts during installation. Not only do you have to run a cable back from the front to the back, but you also may pay a higher upfront cost while buying a dual channel camera.
You must remember that the majority of dash cams record small snippets of footage, comprising of increments of one to two minutes. This means that these cameras continually overwrite whenever the memory storage is nearing its end. Therefore, it’s always good to invest in a dash cam that has a cyclic or looped recording.
Although older dash cam models forced the user to manually archive clips of accidents, cameras nowadays are equipped with G-Sensor-based incident detection technology. The new technology allows users to record and archive incident footage automatically.
Every dash camera has unique features that differentiate it from other options. However, the more features a dash cam has, the higher its price is. You can seek multiple extra features such as a refined sensor for better video quality or multiple lenses for both rear- and front-facing coverage. Nevertheless, you must choose an option that lies within your budget and meets all your requirements.