Is there anything more frustrating than seeing someone driving along, making terrible driving decisions, and putting everyone else in danger?
In the event that this bad driver crashes or causes someone else to crash, often there’s nothing to back up what happened beyond eyewitness accounts.
This also makes it easier for human error to hamper an investigation, as not everyone will have seen what happened out on the road.
That’s where a dash cam for truckers comes in handy! You can get a dash cam for virtually any vehicle.
These basically record your journey in real time, with the camera placed on your windshield and facing out towards the road.
This can be incredibly useful if you were to ever get in an accident in your truck, as you will be able to show a court or police officer what actually happened.
But with so many different dash cams on the market, how can you be sure that you’ve found the best dash cam for a trucker?
We want to help you in your search for the best dash cam for a trucker!
We’ve researched and reviewed several models to find the very best that the market has to offer when it comes to dash cams for truckers.
So as long as you choose a product that we’ve reviewed in more detail below, you can rest assured that you have selected the right dash cam for your needs. Let’s take a look at the best dash cam for a trucker!
Rove R2-4K Dash Cam – Best Overall
The Rove R2-4K Dash Cam easily came out on top out of all the dash cams that we put to the test. This particular dash cam comes with a range of great features that will be extremely useful for truck drivers.
These include a built in GPS feature, which can accurately record your location as well as the speed you are driving.
What we really liked about this dash cam for truckers when we tested it was that it records high quality footage. This particular dash cam is able to record footage in 4K quality.
This makes it easier to spot all the details that could be crucial if you had to go to court, such as vehicle license plates.
Another fantastic feature of this particular dash cam is that it comes with built in GPS. This allows the dash cam to accurately record your speed and your location as you drive.
So you can make sure that it’s as easy to verify as possible.
Pros
- High quality – records footage in 4K to give you clearer images
- Rove app – allows you to record and access footage in real time via the app
- Built in GPS – accurately records your location while driving as well as your speed
Cons
- No memory card – you will need to purchase an SD card separately to start recording dash cam footage
Also available at rovedashcam.com, ebay.com and walmart.com
Nexar Pro Dual Dash Cam
A fantastic option for truckers is the Nexar Pro Dual Dash Cam. This particular dash cam comes with a range of excellent features that will be particularly handy for truckers when out on long drives.
What we really liked was that it comes with multiple storage sizes to choose from. Select between 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB to get the perfect amount of storage for your needs.
Another feature that we really liked about this particular dash cam is that it comes with the Nexar app. You can download this on your cell phone, and then access any evidence that you need to.
You can even stream live footage should you need to, or ask the dash cam to produce an insurance report post-collision,
The Nexar Pro Dual Dash Cam also comes with a parking mode. This will start to record any footage that it can when the dash cam experiences the slightest bump.
So if anything happens to your truck while you’re parked up, you’ll be able to find out what happened.
Pros
- Multiple storage sizes – choose between 32GB, 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB
- Nexar app – allows you to see and access instant evidence recorded using your dash cam
- Parking mode – starts to record everything at even the slightest bump
Cons
- Pricey – one of the more expensive models on our list
Also available at getnexar.com, walmart.com and ebay.com
Vantrue S1 4k Hidden Dash Cam
If quality is your main concern, then you should opt for the Vantrue S1 4k Hidden Dash Cam. This particular dash cam has a range of features that will be particularly useful for truckers.
Most notably this dash cam will record all footage in 4K so that you can get the clarity that you need in a pinch.
A feature that we really liked about this dash cam is that it includes a front and rear camera. As a result, you can cover all aspects of the road using this dash cam.
The rear camera can be placed to face your cab so that you can cover anything that happens, or you can place it on a window to cover all angles of your vehicle’s exterior.
Worry about leaving your truck parked up somewhere you don’t know? Then parking mode is just the feature that you need.
This particular dash cam’s parking mode will use motion detection to start recording anything that happens outside of your truck to keep you covered at all times.
Pros
- Front and rear – gives you cameras to cover all aspects of the road
- High quality – records 4K quality footage for clearer images
- Parking mode – uses motion detection to record events when parked
Cons
- Expensive – one of the pricier options on our list
Also available at vantrue.net, thedashcamstore.com and ebay.com
Ssontong Dash Camera With SD Card
For those who are concerned about budget, the Ssontong Dash Camera with SD Card is an excellent choice.
This particular dash cam is available at a more affordable price, which will be a lifesaver for those who feel reluctant to spend hundreds of dollars on a dash cam.
What we really liked about this dash cam when we put it to the test was that it was super easy to use.
You can easily turn it on via the included buttons, easily secure it to your windshield, and then allow it to record your journey in real time.
There’s no need to worry about spending money on additional accessories such as an SD card.
This particular dash cam has an SD card included as standard, so you can simply set the dash cam up in your cab and let it do all the hard work.
Pros
- Budget friendly – available at a more affordable price than competitive products
- Easy to use – simply press the button to power on, then leave the dash cam to do its thing
- SD card included – comes with a 32GB SD card for you to use to record your footage
Cons
- Reduced capacity – the included 32GB SD card can only record for up to 4 hours
Also available at ebay.com, comparedashcam.com, yoybuy.com
Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2
Last but not least is the excellent Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2!
This particular dash cam features a discrete size – roughly the size of a car key – so that you can set it up in your truck cab without drawing too much attention to itself.
A handy feature of this dash cam that we really loved when we put it to the test was that it comes with voice control. This allows you to command the dash cam with your voice to give you hands free control of the recording process.
You won’t have to worry about this dash cam letting you down. It records all of the footage that you need in 1080p quality. This gives you the clarity that you need to see all of the essential details.
Pros
- Discrete size – can be mounted behind your rearview mirror for discretion
- Voice control – allows you to stop or start recordings and more using voice commands
- High quality – records foot in 1080p quality so as to give you clearer images and video
Cons
- No SD card – you will need to purchase the SD card separately
Also available at garmin.com, bestbuy.com and thedashcamstore.com
Buyer’s Guide
Finding the right dash cam for your needs can be a real challenge, particularly if you’re a trucker who’s out on the road all the time.
You will need to ensure that your selected dash cam is able to record for the entirety of your journey so that you can easily capture everything that you need to on camera.
But what other features are essential to bear in mind when it comes to choosing the best dash cam for your needs?
We’ve put together this handy buyer’s guide to help you in your search for the best dash cam for a trucker.
We used the below features to help us select the best dash cams for a trucker that we have reviewed in more detail up above.
So as long as you bear the below features in mind, you can rest assured that you have selected the best dash cam for your requirements.
Let’s take a look at everything that you need to know about dash cams for truckers down below, or skip ahead to the frequently asked questions.
Quality Footage
One of the most important factors to consider when it comes to choosing the best dash cam for a trucker is that your chosen model is able to record quality footage.
There’s no point in capturing every stage of your journey if you’re not able to make out key details such as license plates in the event of an accident!
It will be important to opt for a dash cam that is able to record your footage in 4K or 1080p quality. This will give you the clarity that you need in order to make out each and every important detail.
App Included
Stressing about where all that footage is going to be stored or how you’re going to access it without removing the SD card from the dash cam?
This is where app technology will come in hand. If your chosen dash cam comes with an app included for you to download to your smartphone, this will be incredibly helpful.
The vast majority of these apps will allow you to access your footage in real time. You will accurately be able to see everything that you need at the tap of a button.
Easy To Use
You will of course want to opt for a dash cam that will be super easy to use. How can you operate your new dash cam? Is it a simple case of switching it on every time you get into your truck cab?
Does it include all of the hardware that you need to install it on your windshield? How easy is it to access the footage on the dash cam?
All of these features will culminate in how easy your dash cam will be to use.
You won’t want to opt for a dash cam that is going to be too complicated to use as this can make your situation even more stressful.
Front And Rear Cameras
It will be worth looking for a dash cam that features both front and rear cameras.
This will allow you to cover all angles of the road, so that you can capture every detail that you need. The front camera will focus on the road in front of you so that you can see license plates.
A rear camera can then capture footage of what happens inside your cab. This will allow you to show that you were driving responsibly.
Alternatively you can opt for a model that features a separate camera that can be placed on your window or angled towards the side of your truck to capture all angles.
Built In GPS
Another handy feature to opt for is built in GPS technology. This will allow the dash cam to accurately record your location as you drive, so you can accurately show what happens during your drive.
The vast majority of the dash cams with built in GPS technology will also be able to show your speed during your drive.
Built in GPS can also make it much easier to verify your dash cam footage. This will make it more reliable in court, and gives you peace of mind that you can rely on it to accurately record every detail.
SD Card Size
Lastly, you will need to think about the capacity of your dash cam footage. The vast majority of models will require an SD card in order to work, otherwise they won’t be able to record the footage that you need.
Some models won’t come with this included as standard, so you will need to purchase the SD card yourself.
You will need to think about the size of your SD card. The larger your SD card, the longer you can record your dash cam footage for. It will always be better to opt for a larger SD card if you can.
A smaller 16GB SD card can only record 1.8 hours’ worth of footage, whereas a 32GB SD card can record up to 4 hours.
It will all come down to the length of your journey and how long you need the dash cam to record for.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Dash Cam Is Best For Truckers?
The best dash cam for truckers are:
- Rove R2-4K Dash Cam
- Nexar Pro Dual Dash Cam
- Vantrue S1 4k Hidden Dash Cam
- Ssontong Dash Camera with SD Card
- Garmin Dash Cam Mini 2
How Long Can A 16GB SD Card Record On A Dash Cam?
The average time that a 16GB SD card can record footage for on your dash cam is around 1.8 hours.
So this will be more than enough for shorter journeys, however, if you plan on using your dash cam regularly, it will be worth investing in a larger SD card.
This will give you more time to record dash cam footage without having to empty it after every single time that you use it.
The larger your SD card, the longer the journeys you can take without having to worry about your dash cam becoming full. This can give you more peace of mind on particularly long journeys.
Can You Be Prosecuted For Dash Cam Footage?
It is best to consult a lawyer about your situation, but without pretending to be legal advisors this is what generally applies:
Recording your own dash cam footage while you’re out on your journey is an excellent way to protect yourself in the event of a road collision or other traffic accident.
Your dash cam will be able to record things in real time, and display anything needed to back up your claims as to what happened.
Typically you can’t be prosecuted for taking dash cam footage. However, your dash cam footage can be used in court to help prosecute others that were driving dangerously.
So if you happened to make the wrong call while driving your truck and that happened to be captured on your dash cam, it’s possible that it could be used against you in court.