Dash cams are small cameras mounted to the dashboard of your vehicle, its the rear-view mirror, or windscreen. Its main function is to capture footage of your journey and to provide a visual record of what happens while driving.
Dashcams may come with a variety of features, like GPS tracking as well as night vision and audio recording, which can enable drivers to have greater coverage of their journeys. While choosing the best dashcams for trucks, it’s important to consider the following ones: the quality of the picture, the blind spots, night vision, and storage capacity. However, characteristics like installation difficulty and interfaces also can make a very big difference.
What is a dashcam and why is it getting more popular?
Dash cams - also known as dashboard cameras - are tiny video cameras that allow you to record footage while driving. There are cameras that can be found at both the rear and front of your vehicle, and you can record from both sides on your trip.
Dashcams have experienced increasing popularity in the past few times. Low costs and high quality images have made this technology accessible to all and a growing demand for the footage on social media platforms has led to increasing the number of people uploading their own videos.
Another advantage of a dashcam is that it provides accident evidence. In addition, a common circumstance, such as an accident or crash, creates a clear picture regarding the conflict with the insurance company or the other driver. Dashcams also prevent theft and vandalism when it is used with parking mode options. Besides, they help the drivers to adjust driving pattern/behavior and enhance the safety degree on the road.
Trucks are one of the most appreciated vehicles when it comes to dashcam use. More than cars, trucks are more susceptible to accident incidences and legal issues since they are generally bigger in size, or they spend longer on the road.
Having a dashcam would help the truck drivers to avoid pointless claims and legal responsibility cases. It also provides an aid in tracking the security of the cargo and the standard compliance to the rules of road safety. In the case of fleet management, dashcams were turned out as useful data for efficient route determination and monitorization of the driver’s performance.
7 Tips for You on Choosing One for Your Truck
It is wise to install a dashcam on your truck, but the truth is, there are quite a lot of dashcams available, which makes choosing one a daunting task. Here are 7 keys that I believe should assist the reader in arriving at the best decision.
1. No Blind Spots
When selecting ideal dashcams for trucks, the one that removes blind zones should be a priority. They also have large sizes and may sometimes have some visibility issues. Choose models with at least 170-degree lens to meet the requirements of capturing the road in front of and behind the car as well as at the sides.
Though possible in trucks the most useful configuration of cameras is the dual or multi-camera system which gives a clear picture of blind spots and the overall surrounding view.
2. Video Quality
Truck companies need high-quality videos to get good shots especially when the trucks are on the road traveling long distances and in different conditions. Choose a dashcam with a minimum 1080p Full HD but a better 2K QHD to make the record clear.
A high-quality picture is required in license plate recognition, capturing road signs as well as documenting accidents/traffic offences.
3. Loop Recording and Auto-Save
For truck dashcams, loop recording must be present in order to guarantee non-stop recording. It also guarantees the dash camera records new files and erases the old ones when the storage is full, so you are never short of space.
A dashcam with a locking mechanism is essential for safeguarding crucial recordings in the event of an accident or during sudden braking. This feature ensures that recordings cannot be overwritten, providing peace of mind. Such functionality is particularly beneficial for long-distance truck drivers, who may not always have the time to manually register each container.
4. Night Vision
Truck drivers usually operate during the evening and night, so a dashcam with enhanced night viewing must be the best. Choose a model that has the latest sensors, it can be Sony STARVIS or similar low-light capable imagers. Optional such as Infrared LEDs or WDR (Wide Dynamic Range) can increase the capability of the dashcam to record at night for it to be very reliable in its recording.
5. File Storage
Sufficient file storage is an essential concern when it comes to truck dashcams. As you will be using the truck more frequently, you should look for a model that will allow you to use high-capacity micro SD cards, 128GB, or 256 GB at most.
Some of the dashcams also have cloud storage features to enable you to send footage to cloud storage when you need it. Make sure that the dashcam you would use has a storage system suitable for your needs, to prevent a need for constant archiving.
6. Easy Installation
This is a significant aspect as the users being mainly truck drivers may not have time or the means to have somebody well expert in installation put one in their cars. Searching for a dashcam should consider devices with easy-to-install mechanisms such as suction cups or adhesives.
It should also have a power cord that will plug into the truck’s cigarette lighter or fuse panel. For a somewhat less bulky appearance, although still allowing for a relatively simple installation, models should be available with hardwiring kits or, if not, wireless capabilities.
7. Ease of Use
Ease of usage is always key when it comes to dashcam systems, more so for trucks. Ensure that the control of the model is easy to understand especially the buttons or the tow interface like touch screen and the application for mobiles in case of recording the events taking place.
Other functions such as voice commands can improve the control flexibility making it possible to control the dashcam without having to hold the device by hand while driving. Furthermore, its app or software must be compatible with the smartphone or tablet to allow easy transfer of videos without interruption and monitor the camera in real-time endeavour.
Conclusion
Deciding on the best dashcam to use when driving a truck may go a long way in improving your safety and the overall experience on the road. This is so because there are no blind spots, and it has a high video quality, comes with a loop recording, has night vision, and is easy to use. Lastly, enough file space and easy ransomware installation make it even more convenient.
One of the most recommended choices for this need is to opt for the Hainatech model such as D88 or J30 which provide innovations in technology while incorporating ease of operation. Choosing the right dashcam for you doesn’t only mean protecting yourself against any mishap but also makes for a better driver.