If you are looking towards starting a career as a box truck driver, one of the major work tools or gadgets you need is an Electronic Logging Device (ELD). As far back as December 2019, the use of Electronic Logging Devices was made mandatory by the U.S. government.
The decision was intended towards creating a safer work environment for drivers, through accurate and automatic recording of drivers’ on and off-duty time, as well as making it easier to manage and share data in compliance with the Department of Transportation’s Hours of Service rules.
Please note that the Electronic Logging Devices mandate only applies to carriers and drivers who are required to maintain records of duty status (RODS), by US federal hours of service regulations. Those who fail to comply will be penalized with fines, placed out of service, and CSA points added to your record. To stay in compliance, you should make sure you understand all the hours-of-service violations.3493
Having said that, considering the number of options in the market, shopping for the best Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) for box truck drivers can be challenging and time-consuming. In no particular order, here are 15 of the Best Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) that you can get today.
Best ELD for Box Truck
-
Spireon FleetLocate HOS Compliance
One of the best ELDs that you can get in the market today is Spireon FleetLocate HOS Compliance. Spireon’s FleetLocate solution offers ELD compliance and comes bundled with their fleet management system for even more features and budget-saving abilities.
Mixed fleets are supported, so vehicles that need to meet ELD regulation compliance can be grouped alongside any vehicles that don’t need their HOS logged: Heavy-duty trucks, light-duty pickups, cars, vans, trailers, or assets can all be tracked.
With the Spireon FleetLocate HOS Compliance, managers can monitor driver hours, telling with a glance at a dashboard which drivers are on duty, how many hours are left in their workday, which driver may have started a trip without a vehicle inspection, and which driver might be at risk for a violation.
Drivers, meanwhile, will be able to bring their own devices, using a tablet or smartphone with Android or iOS, or a dedicated handheld device, to track their HOS and DVIR logs while on the go. DOT inspections can be logged quickly, without worrying about filling out paperwork.
Features:
- Driver alerts
- Centralized dashboard
- GPS location tracking
- Serves all fleet sizes
Price: $149 Per Month
-
Azuga eLogs ELD
Another best ELDs that you can get for your box truck business is Azuga eLogs ELD. Azuga eLogs ELD facilitates effortless compliance with the ELD mandate. It is known for its seamless adaptation abilities as it is quick to adjust and work with.
The hardware can be installed on your own and this solution can serve fleets of all numbers and sizes. Azuga eLogs, Azuga’s ELD compliance solution, is available through the software company as an add-on to their full FMS bundle which includes GPS tracking and geofencing among other fleet management perks.
Their eLogs handle HOS logs and DVIR reports alike, offering alerts on hours limits to ensure drivers know when they are at risk of a violation. One good thing is that with the intuitive interface of Azuga eLogs ELD, drivers will be able to tell at a glance how many hours they have remaining on a shift or a cycle with little effort.
Managers, meanwhile, will have a comprehensive, timely, and error-free look at their fleet: The FMS allows them to track everything from driving events like speeding and hard braking to cell phone distractions or regular service warnings.
Features:
- Driver alerts
- Geofencing
- GPS Tracking
- Driver Scores
- 24/7 Support
- Serves fleets of all sizes
Pricing: Azuga offers hardware for free with its $28/month bundle plan, or charges $99.99 per unit with a $22/month flex plan.
-
Lytx with Geotab GO Cloud ELD
Another best ELD that you can get for your box truck business is Lytx with Geotab GO Cloud ELD. The Lytx with Geotab GO Cloud ELD software solution can be bought directly from the telematics supplier Geotab, for use with their hardware, but the best version is available through the Lytx FMS solution, making this another ELD-compliance service that brings the full power of fleet management to bear.
Lytx’s FMS solution includes RAIR compliance services for DOT and CSA scores, GPS tracking, and dash cams, so adding Geotab’s ELD lets you meet all compliance needs through one central dashboard.
Lytx with Geotab GO Cloud ELD uses a cloud-upload process to store data recorded both from the driver’s mobile app (duty status logs) and from the hardware unit (GPS location and engine data). As a result, all data is securely backed up at all times. It’s the most reliable way to store ELD compliance reports.
Features:
- Secure cloud-based data upload
- HOS tracking
- Driver notifications
- GPS tracking
- DOT and CSA compliance
Price: It costs $25.00 per month, per user, with annual billing required for any fleets under 10 vehicles.
-
Teletrac Navman ELD
Teletrac Navman ELD no doubt is yet another excellent ELD that you can get as a box trucker. This is Teletrac Navman Director is a popular FMS service. As a result, its ELD-specific compliance module, Director ELD, brings with it a certain prestige:
It has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, includes role-based support for drivers and administrators, and sells both on-demand and live ELD training, including 21 on-demand courses preloaded on each ELD device. Teletrac Navman ELDs are particularly attractive for managers who want a central location to keep an eye on all their vehicles.
Managers can see at a glance which vehicles in their fleet are on duty, off duty, driving, at risk, or in violation of the ELD mandate. They can also easily see their drivers’ names, vehicle numbers, current location, time of the last update, and duty status all from a Driver Overview dashboard.
Drivers, meanwhile, can use their in-cab Drive tablets to expedite roadside inspections with a special one-click DOT inspection feature and can receive audible and visual HOS violation alerts.
Features:
- Intuitive Interface
- Role-Based Support
- Upgrading to FMS is simple
- Free Demo
- Strong Support
- On-Demand and Live Training Courses
Price: Based on negotiations.
-
GPS Insight Hours of Service
Another best ELD that you can get for your box truck business is GPS Insight. This is so because GPS Insight offers an ELD-compliant service, its Hours of Service Solution. Aside from the guaranteed FMCSA E-log mandate compliance, the service delivers on the DVIRs that make sure a vehicle’s preventative maintenance needs are accounted for with pre-and post-trip inspection prompts.
It also uses both audible and visual alerts to ensure drivers constantly keep their remaining hours at the top of their minds, which lets them make the most of their time. Alerts can be set up for a variety of categories in addition to maintenance, including management, safety, vehicle health, and assets.
One good thing about GPS Insight is that fleet management features are included in their ELD solution. The GPS Insight Hours of Service solution includes two-way messaging for better driver-manager communication, and, thanks to GPS location tracking, lets managers know where their drivers are at all times.
Managers can dispatch jobs with auto-generated step-by-step instructions that guide drivers to their next location. The result is a streamlined operation that can respond rapidly to unexpected events like delivering rapid roadside assistance in the case of a breakdown.
Features:
- Two-way messaging
- GPS location tracking
- Wide variety of alerts, including DVIR inspection
- 24/7 Technical Support
- Serves fleets of all sizes
Price: Starts at: $14.95/month.
-
Verizon Connect Reveal ELD
Verizon Connect Reveal ELD is yet another best ELD that you can get as a box trucker. Verizon Connects ELD solution is baked into their larger fleet management system, Verizon Connect Reveal.
Although this feature might scare off fleets looking for a quick ELD-compliant solution, in the real sense, it offers the largest possible cost savings for most fleets, as it includes access to optimizing features like live maps and geofencing, as well as options for field service and asset tracking add-ons.
The main ELD add-on is called Logbook and gives drivers the notifications they need to track their HOS and avoid violations.
The support options you will get when you make use of Verizon Connect Reveal ELD include phone, live online, chatbots, webinars, and training materials. Logbook includes the engine connectivity hardware and installation all for free, and includes a free demo, though fleets will need to provide their smartphones and tablets to run the drivers’ mobile apps.
Features:
- Risk warning alerts for drivers
- Administrator dashboard
- Phone and online support
- Free demo
- Strong Support
Price: Based on negotiations.
-
BigRoad’s Dashlink ELD
If you are looking for the best standalone ELD as a box trucker, then your best bet is to go for BigRoad’s Dashlink ELD. This is so because the Dashlink system is a standalone ELD solution with all the basic features — it automatically tallies up hours of service (HOS), it records duty status, and it generates reports.
Also included are a few noteworthy additions that include a fuel-tracking ability and notifications to let managers know when they’re at risk for a violation. Please note that BigRoad’s Dashlink ELD also displays traffic conditions to help drivers know what their ETA is and how it may change shortly.
In addition, BigRoad’s Dashlink ELD offers a free trial and free demo, with free downloadable materials on their website that include guides, videos, and ebooks. It costs $25.00 per month, per user, with annual billing required for any fleets under 10 vehicles.
Features:
- Fuel tracking
- Risk notifications
- Traffic display
- GPS tracking
- Free Trial
- Serves fleets of all sizes
Price: Starts from $25/month (no initial cost)
-
Rand McNally ELD 50
Another excellent ELD you should consider as a box trucker is the Rand McNally ELD 50. The Rand McNally ELD 50 installs quickly and comes at a low monthly cost. A few features included (along with ELD compliance) are handy perks for fleets that don’t have a full FMS service:
Two-way messaging is a useful way for managers to quickly communicate changes or receive updates, while vehicle tracking offers managers some reassurance that drivers are staying on track. One good quality about this ELD is that Rand McNally’s plug-and-play unit offers easy installation, though some drivers find the interface difficult to navigate.
Please note that managers can subscribe to a $19.95/month Compliance plan to get ELD-compliant HOS, DVIR, real-time location tracking, and two-way messaging capabilities. A $24.99/month Core plan is also available, offering IFTA fuel tracking and workflow reporting features.
Features:
- Easy installation
- Two-way messaging
- Location tracking
- Free Trial
- 24/7 Support
- Serves fleets of all sizes
Price: Starts from $150 initial + $20/month
-
EROAD Ehubo ELD
If you are looking for one of the best basic and affordable FMCSA-compliant ELD with accurate recording of hours of service, then you should consider EROAD Ehubo ELD. This device not only comes with sturdy hardware but also supports a wide range of services including reporting and compliance, a dependable back-office feature suite, ease of use and installation, and more.
It is a convenient, cost-effective, and reliable ELD to choose for owner-operators. In addition, EROAD Ehubo ELD offers fleet management services. All their hardware is backed by warranty plans, and they also provide reliable technical support.
Some of the benefits of EROAD ELD are reduced paperwork and administration time, accurate records of mileage and route data, management of fuel receipts, compiling of IFTA return data, and fuel trip records. These features and benefits make it a great fit for owner-operators as well as small-sized fleets.
Feature:
- The compact and single in-vehicle unit
- Location tracking
- IFTA reporting
- Safety management and risk alerts
- Geolocation capabilities
- Project time monitoring.
Price: Starts from $35/month (no initial cost)
-
Omnitracs ELD
Omnitracs ELD is yet another excellent ELD that you can get as a box trucker. This is so because Omnitracs ELD offers plenty of features, but its cost-efficiency can depend on the type of service plan, and whether your fleet leases the hardware units. The interface and features are hard to beat, and 24/7 online support can guide operators through any concerns.
In addition, Omnitracs ELD also offers two ELD compliance-oriented units (in addition to an Omnitracts FMS unit, which we won’t cover here). The Omnitracs XRS device is a plug-and-play unit, while the Omnitracs IVG unit must be hardwired into the vehicle.
Both offer a similar range of features, including automatically recorded data for HOS, IFTA fuel tracking, and DVIR, as well as vehicle tracking, safety reporting, two-way messaging, driver monitoring, Bluetooth support, and proof of delivery. There’s no initial cost for the XRS if it is leased; Leases are available for the IVG unit as well, but it’ll cost a pricey $800 if bought outright.
Features:
- Fuel tracking
- Safety reporting
- Driver monitoring
- Free Trial
- 24/7 Support
- Serves fleets of all sizes
Price: Starts from $27/month (initial cost varies)
-
Gorilla Safety ELD
If you are operating on a low budget but yet looking for a reliable ELD for your box truck, then your best option is Gorilla Safety ELD. A cost-efficient option, the Gorilla Safety ELD offers high-quality ELD compliance and DVIR service at one of the lowest upfront and monthly costs in the industry.
Businesses that prioritize documentation should find Gorilla Safety to be the best on the market for streamlining the process. Please note that as required by law, the ELD by Gorilla safety is also compliant with FMCSA regulations.
The app allows drivers to switch on document tracking while driving – assisting them in scanning and digitally recording documents to relevant categories, including sections specific to the driver, the truck, or the company. The Gorilla Safety ELD comes at an upfront lease price of $7 with a subscription that starts at $12 per month. It has one of the lowest costings ELD plans and offers a free trial.
Features:
- Document management
- Mechanic inspections
- Low cost
- Free Trial
- Support during business hours
- Serves fleets of all sizes.
Price: Starts from $7 initial + $19.99/month
-
GPS Trackit ELD
GPS Trackit ELD no doubt is yet another excellent ELD that you can get as a box trucker. Interestingly, GPS Trackit’s ELD system is available to fleets without locking them into any contract — not even for one year.
The service offers simple, easy-to-install plug-and-play hardware units and software that delivers all the essential features and abilities for an ELD mandate-compliant system. Hours of service are tracked automatically, with a clock tracking when drivers have signed in or out.
Please note that GPS Trackit offers hardware packages as well as the option of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device). Their monthly subscription rate starts at $24.95. There are no contracts required to be signed. This makes it a good option for owner-operators and small-sized fleets, who often prefer to first use and check the features of their ELD before entering a long-term commitment.
Features:
- Simple Installation
- Intuitive Interface
- No Contracts
- Downloadable app
- Custom alerts
- Maintenance checklist
- Generate and Transmit Reports
- Saves Time and Reduces Errors
- Store and retrieve data easily
- Track HOS Status of All Vehicles
- Minimize Violations.
Price: Starts at: $23.95/month, no contracts
-
Samsara ELD
If you are looking for one of the best ELD for complete fleet management service, then one of your best options is Samsara ELD. While you won’t need to purchase a full FMS (field management system) to buy the ELD-compliance hardware/software package, it’s easy to upgrade to one, and Samsara offers one of the most comprehensive FMS services available.
Samara’s ELD solution is a unit that plugs directly into a vehicle engine via its OBD port and is paired with a mobile app that a driver can use to track and log their vehicle data in real-time. In addition, dispatchers can use a dashboard to see the HOS for all of their drivers in one central location.
The devices are easy to connect and set up, and managers can easily upgrade to Samsara’s full fleet management service while retaining the ELD-specific software’s dashboard and app infrastructure.
Features:
- Intuitive Interface
- Easy Installation
- Upgrading to FMS is simple
- Free Trial
- 24/7 Support
- Serves fleets of all sizes
Price: Starts at: $99 initial + $30/month
-
Garmin eLog ELD
If you are looking to make a long-term investment in your prospective ELD device, Garmin ELog is the one for you. One of the things that differentiate Garmin from other ELD providers is that it has flat pricing with no periodical subscription or cost.
The device is easy to set up, and FMCSA and HoS compliant. The device-compatible app – Garmin eLog app – can be downloaded to any smartphone or tablet of your choice. Interestingly, Garmin eLog comes with a tough learning curve, both for setup and daily use.
However, the complete lack of ongoing costs is rare among ELD providers and makes Garmin stand out as one of the best long-term ELD investments. It does the job – even offering fuel tracking – and once drivers have mastered it, the Garmin eLog can save a business thousands of dollars a month.
Features:
- IFTA fuel tracking
- Free mobile app for updates and data
- No ongoing costs
- 24/7 customer support
- Supports both 9-pin and 6-pin diagnostic ports
- Automated recording of Hours of Service (HOS)
Price: Starts at $250 initial (no monthly cost) — but is currently on sale for $99.
-
KeepTruckin ELD
Without a shadow of a doubt, KeepTruckin ELD is one of the best if not the best ELD that we have in the market today. This is so because KeepTruckin ELD is trusted by thousands of truckers, and it is best known for its interface that is not only very user-friendly but also cost-effective and affordable for all fleets.
They have an intuitive driver app that helps them in improving efficiency. The services provided by KeepTruckin are attuned to provide for vehicles of all sizes and can be availed for several commercial and fleet tracking purposes. Given the range of features and added services it offers, it is one of the best in its price range.
It might interest you to know that KeepTruckin offers an ELD solution for vehicles of any size, and a basic plan which includes ELD-compliant logs, two-way messaging, GPS location tracking, and customizable vehicle inspection features that include vehicle histories and automated alerts. It’s a raft of features that sums up everything you could reasonably expect from an ELD, and it’s a lot more than most offer.
Features:
- FMCSA and DoT compliance
- IFTA fuel tax reporting
- Intuitive Driver app and Driver coaching
- Vehicle Inspections and Diagnostics
- Trailer and Equipment Tracking (Serves fleets of all sizes)
- In-Cab Wi-Fi Hotspot
- 24/7 tech support
- Intuitive interface
- Two-way messaging
Price: Starts from $25/month ($150 initial)
Factors to Consider Before Buying an ELD for Box Truck
-
The Price of the ELD
You will quite agree that you can only purchase a product or subscribe to a service if you have the money. This is to say that the price of the Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) will determine which one you should settle for. The truth is that the price of Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) for box trucks could be as low as $7/month ($150 initial) and as high as $99/month ($250 initial) or more.
-
The Features of the Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs)
Another key factor that should determine your choice of Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) for your box truck is the features that the Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) have.
Trust me, most manufacturers of Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) for box trucks usually make sure they come with features that can be irresistible to customers; features that can make it easier for box truck drivers to operate and maximize the Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs).
-
The Size of Your Box Truck
The size of your box truck is yet another factor that you should consider before settling for an Electronic Logging Device for your box truck. The fact that these Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) are designed according to the size of box trucks makes it an important factor to consider when shopping for an Electronic Logging Device.
-
Approved by The Government (FMCSA Complaint)
When deciding on the best Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) to buy, it is important to state that the most important criteria that an ELD must fulfill are to be on FMCSA’s list of approved devices; failing which might attract heavy fines and penalties.
Although getting an electronic logging device has been made mandatory, it is pertinent for your business to choose the best ELD solution from the several options available in the market. You can also use their ELD software on any budget tablet.
-
Durability
Another important factor that you should consider when shopping for an Electronic Logging Device for your box truck is the durability of the Device. Nobody would want to buy a product that will likely stop functioning after a few weeks or months of usage.
What you need to do is to make sure you read customers’ reviews of the brand you want to buy before making your choice. With that, you will be able to choose an Electronic Logging Device that is durable and that can give you value for your money.