Fleet Dash Cam Buyers Guide: Professional In-Car Camera Systems

Why should you equip your fleet with dash cams? You can’t afford not to.

Protect Your Fleet with Irrefutable Evidence in an Accident or Fraud Attempt
Commercial vehicles are intentionally targeted by fraudsters looking for a quick payout. Video evidence provided to insurance companies is invaluable in determining fault.

Make Data-Driven Decisions to Save Your Company Money
Video recording paired with a Fleet Management System (FMS) allows decision makers to review comprehensive reports on routes, speed, and driver behavior. Could a route be more efficient, resulting in lower fuel costs? Is a driver’s erratic driving putting your company at risk? Has a driver’s idle time increased this month? A complete dashcam solution with FMS objectively answers these questions for you. Confidently make data-backed improvements for your company, increasing the bottom line.

Holding Drivers Accountable Leads to Improved Behavior
Are your drivers keeping to their routes, or are they increasing your fuel bills by using a fleet vehicle for personal errands? A dashcam with GPS position and speed logging will let you know exactly where your vehicles have been throughout the day.

Employees are much less likely to violate company regulations by speeding, texting while driving, driving under the influence, driving drowsy, driving aggressively, or road rage if the vehicle is armed with a dashcam. It’s like the boss is riding along on every trip.

Monitor Trucks and Cargo with 24/7 Surveillance
Dash Cams can continuously keep watch over the vehicle, tools, and cargo just like a security or surveillance camera. A visible camera lens or a blinking light may lead to a decrease in attempted theft or vandalism. Should your vehicle be vandalized or your cargo damaged or stolen while the vehicle is unattended, your dashcam’s video footage will be vital evidence to submit to your insurance provider to cover equipment loss costs or damage/repair bills.

Real-Time Hands-Free Communication
Small business owners can monitor their delivery or fleet vehicles on a map in real-time and communicate with drivers directly with the integrated two-way communication function. Ask drivers for their ETA and have quick, hands-free conversations with your driver without distracting phone calls or text messages.

Dash Cam Features

What makes a dash cam different than other security, surveillance, or action cameras? In short, dash cams are specifically designed for the needs of a driver in order to protect him or herself and the vehicle he or she is driving, as well as the business that owns the vehicle and employs the driver. There are four main characteristics that make a dash cam a dash cam:

Fixed Assets
Dash cams are designed to remain in your fleet vehicle at all times. Whether your fleet is equipped with a sleek and discreet dashcam like a BlackVue or a tamper-proof, industrial-grade dash cam like the KP2, dash cams are meant to be installed once and stay put.

Automatic Power On
Dash cams power on automatically when your car powers on. While most personal vehicles will power their dash cam with the cigarette lighter power outlet in their car, businesses may want to hardwire their dash cam to the fuse box for a more reliable and tamper-proof installation.

Automatic Recording
Dash cams start recording automatically as soon as they power on. This leaves no room for error or the need to remember to push a button to start or stop recording, ensuring that every drive is logged and recorded.

Loop Recording
Dash cams record continuously, which is also known as loop recording. Once the dash cam has filled its memory card with dash cam footage, it will start to re-record over its footage, starting with the oldest footage first. This recording method means that you will never receive the error message “memory card full” and ensure that your vehicle is under video surveillance each and every mile.

Features to Look for in a Fleet Dash Cam

These features are what make a dash cam appropriate for commercial fleet use. Decide which of these features are non-negotiable for your specific business to help narrow down your options in order to find the best commercial-grade dash cam for your needs.

Lockable Memory Card Cover

A tamper-proof memory card cover gives fleet managers the authority to lock the cover while their fleet of trucks are on the road. Only keyholders are able to unlock the memory card cover and remove the card from the dash cam. A lockable memory card cover is a standard feature included in the KP2-LTE dash cam.

Direct-Wire Harness

Most dash cam for personal cars will include a 12v power cord that draws power from the cigarette outlet inside the cabin. This makes it simple for anyone in the vehicle to unplug the dash cam to cut its power and stop recording. A built-in hardwire harness prevents unauthorized disconnection of the power to the camera. This prevents drivers or passengers from disabling the camera by removing the power cable and ensures the dashcam is recording as intended by the business owners and fleet managers.

GPS Logging

Record vehicle speed and location to the dash cam’s memory card alongside the audio and video recordings. Some dashcam will display vehicle speed within the video recording files while some systems’ GPS data can be played back later using an application on a computer. The ability to refer back to GPS files is crucial for your business to refute a wrongful speeding tickets and know your drivers’ exact locations on specific days and times.

Parking Mode

It’s important to monitor your vehicle and keep your drivers accountable while your fleet is on the road, but accidents and theft attempts can happen while your commercial trucks are left unattended or are parked in the depot. Many dash cam appropriate for fleets have a parking or surveillance mode to record the vehicle and its surroundings even when the vehicle is turned off. As long as your dashcam has a constant power source, a dashcam with this feature is able to be on constant watch 24/7. Working with dash cam features like G-sensor and motion detection, your professional-grade dashcam will begin recording an event triggered by any impact or motion. If someone approaches your vehicle to test and see if your driver has left the vehicle’s doors unlocked or someone damages your truck while it is parked, the event will be recorded and saved to the memory card.

Remote Access

Remote access allows business owners and fleet managers to interface with their dash cam system from a distance. Receive up-to-the-minute push notifications of speeding or impact straight to your smartphone, email, computer, or tablet. Watch real-time video from the vehicle and view or download the recordings from the memory card.

Brand	Model	# Channels	Camera Coverage	Tamper Proof	GPS Logging	Remote Access	Telematics Reporting
BlackVue	DR590X-1CH	1	Forward	Optional	Optional	No	No	View
SmartWitness	KP2	1-2	Forward + Interior	Yes	Yes	Yes*	Yes	View
BlackVue	DR590X-2CH	2	Forward + Rear	Optional	Optional	No	No	View
BlackVue	DR770X-2CH-TRUCK-LTE	2	Forward + Rear External	Optional	Yes	Yes**	No	View
BlackVue	DR770X-2CH-IR-LTE	2	Forward + Interior	Optional	Yes	Yes**	No	View
BlackVue	DR770X-BOX	3	Forward + Interior + Rear	Optional	Yes	Optional	No	View
BlackVue	DR770X-BOX-TRUCK	3	Forward + Interior + Rear External	Optional	Yes	Optional	No	View
SmartWitness	CP4S	1-4	Up to 4 Custom Angles	Yes	Yes	Yes*	Yes	View
SmartWitness	CRX	1-8	Up to 8 Custom Angles	Yes	Yes	Yes*	Yes	View
* = requires SmartWitness Video Telematics plan ** = requires BlackVue Cloud plan

One-Channel | Forward-Facing Models

A single-lens dash cam is also known as a forward-facing or a one-channel dash cam. This dash cam style is designed to be mounted on the inside of your vehicle’s windshield with the lens facing out to record the road ahead of your driver.

Equipping your fleet vehicles with a streamlined, forward-facing one-channel dash cam, like the BlackVue DR590X-1CH, is a huge stride to protect your business. The DR590X-1CH is a single lens dash cam that is mounted on the front windshield with the dash cam lens facing out to capture audio and 139 degrees of video coverage in front of the vehicle.

BlackVue DR590X-1CH

Best Budget-Friendly Forward Recording Dash Cam

Quick Specs:

Audio recording, WiFi, Voice alerts
Parking Mode Available
GPS Logging (Optional)
Up to 256gb Memory Card Capacity

139° viewing angle
1080p (1920x1080) Full HD Video
60 FPS

The BlackVue DR590X-1CH includes top-of-the-line features fit for a fleet in a sleek, low-profile design. The DR590X includes 1080p recording at 60fps, providing excellent image quality in all lighting conditions, even in the dark. Use the built-in WiFi to easily connect to your dash camera from remote access. Adjust settings, check the view, or download footage to your mobile device.

The 590X Series is an awesome compromise between the more expensive 750X/900X Series models and the more basic 590 (non-X) Series on non-WiFi models. If you're looking for a super compact, cost-effective yet still quite feature rich forward-facing dash cam, the DR590X-1CH is an outstanding choice.

For a directional diagram of this camera, please click here

Shop BlackVue DR590X-1CH

One-or-Two-Channel | Forward-Facing or Forward+Inside-Facing Models

A 'single-or-dual lens' dash cam starts as a normal front-facing dash cam, but an inside-facing lens can be added on at the time of purchase, or later.

With this approach, your business can evaluate utilizing professional dashcams without going "all-in" initially. Driver-facing cameras can be added on later if so desired.

SmartWitness KP2

Best Forward or Forward + Interior Facing Dash Cam For Business Scalability

Quick Specs:

Built-in 4G-LTE with Cloud Connectivity
Optional "Plug and Play" Add-On Infrared Interior-Facing Cabin Camera
SIM card & MicroSD card pre-installed
Driver Monitoring System detects distracted driving, fatigue, and smoking

GPS Logging & Telematics
140° wide angle lens (front/inside)
Advanced Driver-Assistance System
Tamper-Resistant Design

The new KP2 dash cam is a feature-packed road-facing dash camera with the option to snap in a plug-and-play interior camera at the time of your choosing. No extra wiring or added installation. While other telematics cams bake everything in at once, including their costly price, the KP2 gives you the choice of upgrading and how you do so. This provides you with the flexibility to implement technology in stages, ensuring you won't lose your initial investment if you decide to add the extra protection of driver-facing video later.

With the modular infrared interior camera attached, you can utilize the Driver Monitoring System (DMS). The DMS keeps an eye on the driver and alerts of distracted and fatigued driving. Even without the interior camera and DMS, the KP2 is still feature packed. Full HD 1080p recording. Built-in, GPS, and 4G LTE give you 24/7 access to your vehicle's location and camera. Automatic incident uploads notify you of alerts the moment they happen. The integrated ADAS (Assisted Driver Alert System) helps prevent collisions before they happen b.

For a directional diagram, please click here

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Two-Channel | Forward + Rear Recording

A two-channel dashcam system doubles the degrees of coverage and protection surrounding your fleet vehicle. While the options to mount each dashcam and change the orientation of the dashcam’s lenses to adjust the viewing angles are virtually endless, there are two main dual-lens setups. Here, we’ll go over the first option for a dual-lens dashcam: one lens to record in front of your vehicle and one lens to record behind your vehicle.

For work trucks like the Chevy Express Van, Ford Transit, Dodge Ram Promaster, or the Ford F250 Superduty, the rear-facing dashcam is mounted inside the cabin and the dashcam lens faces out a rear window to record events happening behind and around the vehicle.

For box trucks or work vehicles with cab guards or cab protectors, like the Ford F-350 4X4 Lariat King Ranch or a Kenworth or Peterbilt big-rig truck, the second rear-facing dashcam will need to be mounted on the outside of the vehicle. There are dual-lens dashcam for front and rear recording with an external waterproof dashcam option for the rear, like the BlackVue DR770X-2CH-TRUCK-LTE. The rear-facing dashcam of the DR770X-2CH-TRUCK-LTE is designed to withstand the elements and record behind your vehicle or trailer.

BlackVue DR590X-2CH

Best Budget-Friendly Forward & Rear Dash Cam for Heavy Duty Cars & Trucks

DR590X-2CH BlackVue Dual-Lens Dash Cam | Budget-Friendly Forward & Rear Recording Dash Cam for Heavy Duty Cars & Trucks

Quick Specs:

Low Cost
Dual lens, Front and Rear-Facing
Tamper Proof Case (optional)
GPS Logging (optional)

Parking Mode Available
139° viewing angle (front/rear)
1080p Full HD Video (front/rear)
Built-in WiFi

The BlackVue DR590X-2CH will increase video surveillance around your vehicle with two dashcam lenses for front and rear recording and won't break the bank. The DR590X-2CH fits high-end features into a discreet design making it a great option for a commercial vehicle.

Smooth Full HD recording, front & rear coverage, WiFi connectivity, and an excellent selection of available add-ons, the 590X-2CH is worth your consideration.

For a directional diagram, please click here

Shop BlackVue DR590X-2CH

BlackVue DR770X-2CH-TRUCK-LTE

Best High Quality Video Dash Cam w/ Waterproof Rear Lens

Quick Specs:

Dual lens, Front and Rear-Facing
Tamper Proof Case (optional)
GPS Logging
Waterproof External Dash Cam (rear)

BlackVue 4G LTE SIM card included
Parking Mode Available
139° viewing angle (front/rear)
1080p Full HD Video (front/rear)

The BlackVue DR770X-2CH-TRUCK-LTE for front and rear recording is built for trucks and commercial vehicles with limited visibility or windshields, like a Ford F-350 Superduty work truck or a Nissan UD diesel flat-bed tow truck. Since the waterproof rear-facing dashcam is mounted on the outside of the vehicle, the placement and orientation options are endless. The waterproof dashcam has infrared LED lights for clear video quality, even in the rain or at night. The DR770X-2CH-TRUCK records Full HD 60FPS video from the forward-facing lens and infrared 1080p 30FPS video from the rear-facing lens. It also includes features like remote access via smartphone with the BlackVue Over-the-Cloud app, speed and location data logging, and is compatible with the BlackVue tamper-proof case.

The included BlackVue SIM card activates when you install your dash cam, so you can enjoy the benefits of Cloud and Hotspot right away. Best of all you get one month free and can cancel your plan at anytime.

With your BlackVue connected, you can check in on your vehicle with remote live view from anywhere in the world. Your BlackVue can even be utilized as a mobile hotspot for up to 5 devices.

For a directional diagram, please click here

Shop BlackVue DR770X-2CH-TRUCK-LTE

Two-Channel | Forward + Interior Recording

The second option for a dual-lens dashcam includes one lens to record in front of your vehicle and one lens to record inside your vehicle. Some two-channel dashcam, like the CP2-LTE, record out the front windshield as well as inside the cabin of the vehicle to record the driver, with both lenses being built in to one single unit.

A two-channel dashcam intended for interior video recording includes night vision features, such as infrared (IR) illumination modules to ensure that footage inside the cabin of the vehicle and the driver is visible, even in low-light or at night.

BlackVue DR770X-2CH-IR-LTE

Best High Quality Video Dash Cam w/ Front + Interior Recording

Quick Specs:

Dual lens, Front and Interior-Facing
Tamper Proof Case (optional)
GPS Logging
WiFi built in, Cloud Capable

BlackVue 4G LTE SIM Card Included
Parking Mode Available
139° viewing angle (front/interior)
1080p Full HD Video (front/interior)

Finally, a dash cam with not only 4G built-in but a SIM card included as well! This cloud-native, dual 1080p dashcam that meets the high quality and beautiful design standards of the BlackVue brand is one heck of a milestone in the dash cam world. With 60FPS forward-facing video, we have to wonder if this is the best possible dual lens, cloud-capable, dashcam system on the market today?

The included BlackVue SIM card activates when you install your dash cam, so you can enjoy the benefits of Cloud and Hotspot right away. Best of all you get one month free and can cancel your plan at anytime.

With your BlackVue connected, you can check in on your vehicle and driver with remote live view from anywhere in the world. Your BlackVue can even be utilized as a mobile hotspot for up to 5 devices.

For a directional diagram, please click here

Shop BlackVue DR770X-2CH-IR-LTE

Multi-Channel | Forward + Rear + Interior Recording

A multi-channel solution is an ideal setup for fleets because it not only covers the front and interior, typically standard for fleet dash cam setups, but it can also be configured to a wide variety of applications. From multiple exterior mounted cameras (to have multiple views of the cargo on a big rig), to multiple interior cameras (to keep an eye on the interior of an delivery van), the possibilities are endless!

BlackVue DR770X-BOX

Best "Basic" Triple Lens System

Quick Specs:

Triple lens (Front, Interior, Rear)
Security, stealth, and ease of setup in mind
All cameras are now Full HD with Sony STARVIS
Infrared Interior Camera

Parking Mode Available
Built-in WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth
Cloud-Ready
Separate lock-protected "Box" recording unit

The BlackVue DR770X-BOX dash cam is the ultimate solution for companies looking to enhance their fleet's safety and security. Redesigned with stealth and security in mind, this dash cam blends seamlessly into any vehicle's interior while providing full HD footage from its front, infrared interior, and rear-facing cameras.

With parking surveillance mode, built-in WiFi, and cloud readiness, this dash cam is always on the lookout, even when the vehicle is parked.

The separate box stores all recordings, ensuring that valuable footage is never lost. Easy to install and featuring a sleek design, the DR770X-BOX is a must-have for any company that wants to protect its assets and employees. Don't take chances on the road – trust the BlackVue DR770X-BOX dash cam to keep your company vehicles safe and secure.

For a directional diagram, please click here

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BlackVue DR770X-BOX-TRUCK

Best "Basic" Triple Lens System w/ Externally Mounted Rear Camera

Quick Specs:

Triple lens (Front, Interior, Rear)
Tamper Proof Case (optional)
Infrared Internal Dash Cam (Interior)
Waterproof External Dash Cam (rear)

Parking Mode Available
Built-in WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth
Cloud-Ready
Separate lock-protected "Box" recording unit

Much like the standard DR770X-BOX, the DR770X-BOX-TRUCK dash cam is redesigned to focus on stealth and security, but with a focus on heavy-duty vehicles. The waterproof rear camera can be mounted in the location of your choice on the exterior of your vehicle, making it perfect for heavy-duty trucks, delivery vans, construction equipment, or box trucks where there is no back windshield to "see" out of.

Other features include Full HD cameras with Sony STARVIS, infrared LEDs for recording in complete darkness, and a lock-protected recording unit that can be stored in a glove compartment, under a seat, or tucked neatly under the dashboard.

With all the features you'd expect from top-tier dashcams, such as parking surveillance mode, seamless app pairing, optional LTE cloud connectivity, and a wireless "SOS" button for manual event recording, the BlackVue DR770X-BOX-TRUCK dash cam is the perfect choice for companies looking to protect their assets and employees on the road.

For a directional diagram, please click here

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Multi-Channel | Forward + Rear + Interior + Cargo Recording

Sometimes front, rear, and interior views simply isn't enough coverage for your job. In this case, using an array of cameras to give total coverage of your vehicle and your cargo is what you'll need. This category of dash cam utilizes a hub with 5 or more camera inputs for you to arrange whatever configuration is best suited for you!

SmartWitness CP4S

Best Multi-Camera Professional Telematics DVR Solution

Quick Specs:

Cloud Capable via 4G/LTE
Highly Configurable Add-On Cameras
Automated Operation
GPS Logging

Tamper-Resistant Design
Up to 4 HD Cameras Simultaneously
Suite of Telematics Reporting
Adjustable Resolution & Framerate

The SmartWitness CP4S is the world’s smallest 4 channel connected vehicle recorder. CP4S is an LTE enabled device which offers commercial vehicle owners an effective risk reducing means to aid in the investigation process, decrease collateral damages associated with car accidents, encourage safe driving, monitor driving behaviors and location.

CP4S features 4 camera inputs for connecting 1, 2, 3, or 4 cameras. A 6-Axis G-Sensor, Microphone, SD card (up to 258GB capacity), panic button, embedded LTE modem, & GPS/Glonass make CP4S a complete video telematics hardware solution. CP4S is powered up on vehicle ignition and automatically begins recording solution. Various camera options are available, making the amount of possible CP4S system combinations nearly endless. An LCD display can be connected to CP4S, making it double as a rearview backup system and blind-spot aid.

For a directional diagram, please click here

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SmartWitness CRX

Best 8-Channel Professional Telematics DVR Solution

Quick Specs:

Cloud Capable via 4G/LTE
Highly Configurable Add-On Cameras
Automated Operation
GPS Logging

Tamper-Resistant Design
Up to 8 Simultaneously Recording Cameras
Suite of Telematics Reporting
Adjustable Resolution & Framerate

The SmartWitness CRX offers High Definition in-vehicle CCTV recording for up to 8 cameras. CRX provides fleet operators with an effective way to monitor and manage their remote assets whilst in the field. In the event of an incident and/or allegation the CRX HD mobile will aid in the investigation process whilst reducing potential cost and exposure. In-Vehicle CCTV delivers actual video footage in the event of a claim, encourages safer more fuel efficient driving, monitors driving behaviors and enhances the overall safety and security for the driver, the fleet operator and other road users.

The solution includes a built-in 3-Axis G-Sensor, GPS, 8 alarm input triggers, flexible and powerful storage using an SSD (up to 1TB) and SD Card backup storage (up to 128GB). The CRX is slim and compact, only 7" x 7" x 2" and is connected directly to the vehicle's battery power and ignition for fully automated operation. Optionally connect a dashboard mounted LCD display to provides the driver with a real-time 360' view of the interior and exterior of the vehicle.

For a directional diagram, please click here

Shop SmartWitness CRX

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Dash Cam Features

Features to Look for in a Fleet Dash Cam

Lockable Memory Card Cover

Direct-Wire Harness

GPS Logging

Parking Mode

Remote Access

Recommended Fleet Dash Cam Solutions for document.write(new Date().getFullYear());

One-Channel | Forward-Facing Models

Best Budget-Friendly Forward Recording Dash Cam

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One-or-Two-Channel | Forward-Facing or Forward+Inside-Facing Models

Best Forward or Forward + Interior Facing Dash Cam For Business Scalability

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Two-Channel | Forward + Rear Recording

Best Budget-Friendly Forward & Rear Dash Cam for Heavy Duty Cars & Trucks

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Best High Quality Video Dash Cam w/ Waterproof Rear Lens

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Two-Channel | Forward + Interior Recording

Best High Quality Video Dash Cam w/ Front + Interior Recording

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Multi-Channel | Forward + Rear + Interior Recording

Best "Basic" Triple Lens System

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Best "Basic" Triple Lens System w/ Externally Mounted Rear Camera

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Multi-Channel | Forward + Rear + Interior + Cargo Recording

Best Multi-Camera Professional Telematics DVR Solution

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Best 8-Channel Professional Telematics DVR Solution

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