Best ELD Devices for 2023

The best ELD device for 2023 comes from Samsara, thanks to its impressive array of features in addition to legal compliance, including two-way messaging, GPS location tracking, and 24/7 support. Samsara is slightly more expensive than second-ranked Matrack but ultimately better value for money, earning it a total of 4.7 out of 5 points in our impartial research.

As of Dec 2019, the US government requires ELDs for almost all commercial motor vehicles operating across the nation. It’s tough to find a better reason than that to ensure your fleet has ELDs today. The right solution will help your fleet with everything from fuel savings to accident reductions and quicker route planning, as well.

In this guide:

• Top 3 ELD Devices 2023
• Best ELD Devices: Reviews
• What’s Better Than the Best ELD?
• Best ELD Devices With Fleet Management
• Methodology: How We Rank the Best ELD Devices
• Next Steps for Choosing ELD Tracking Software
• Verdict
• FAQs

With today’s rising fuel prices, among other costs, getting a good deal is more important than ever. To compare custom prices between top providers, simply take a minute to fill out our fleet management cost comparison tool. Full reviews, pros and cons, are below. Our experts have tested and ranked all the best options to help you figure out which ELD device is right for you.

Best ELD Devices for 2023: Full Reviews

There are plenty of ELD solutions on the market, and some may be better suited to the long term needs of your business than others. Samsara’s ELD offering, for example, plugs straight into a vehicle’s OBD port, and can provide managers with real time data as well as combine with GPS tracking, artificially intelligent dash cams, and more.

Fleet management providers like Samsara will offer the greatest returns on your investment in the long run, as well as ensuring ELD-compliance, as required by the US Government.

At the other end of the scale, there are options such as Garmin, which offer the minimum legal ELD compliance and features you’ll need, with no ongoing costs. However, in the long run, you’ll be missing out on features that could save you time and money overall, from smart routing to fuel optimization.

Here are all 14 of our best ELD devices for 2023:

1. Samsara – Best all around ELDs
2. Matrack ELD – Best-priced ELD compliance
3. GPS Insight Hours of Service – Best for location tracking
4. Gorilla Safety ELD – Best for document management
5. BigRoad’s Dashlink ELD – Best for seasonal or irregular ELD users
6. EROAD Ehubo ELD – Best for ease of use
7. Motive ELD (formerly KeepTruckin) – Best for advanced fleets
8. GPS Trackit ELD – Best for simple maintenance
9. Azuga eLogs – Best for quick adaptation
10. Verizon Connect ELD – Best for add-ons and extras
11. Lytx with Geotab GO Cloud ELD – Best for data security
12. Teletrac Navman ELD – Best for fleet manager support
13. Omnitracs XRS and IVR – Best for variety of features
14. Garmin eLog – Best for no ongoing costs

Methodology: How Did We Compare the Best ELD Devices?

We take product testing seriously, so we can be sure we’re giving you the right recommendations.

To find the best ELD device, we analyzed offerings from the top ELD providers in the US, on the criteria that fleet managers told us were important to them, in order to comprehensively rank and rate each one.

We assigned each factor in our analysis a different weighting, depending on how important it is to business operations: for example cost was given more importance than installation, since most ELD devices are fairly easy to install.

What we analyzed

• Reporting: Compliance tools including HOS logs, driver reports, DVIR, and alerts. This was weighted the highest, since these functions are the purpose of the system.
• Price: Costs, contracts, warranties, and how easily the ELD can be expanded to a full fleet system. This category was weighted second highest, since businesses want ELD compliance at the most cost-effective price point.
• Mobile app: iOS and Android apps, and their customer ratings. This was weighted third highest, as it is a nice add-on feature for increasing the ease and flexiblity of compliance.
• Installation: Installation fees and services, plus the type of hardware unit offered. This was weighted second lowest — most ELD services offer similar installation options, so these factors don’t play a large role in comparative difference.
• Customer support: Email, phone, online help centers, or account managers. This was rated the lowest — while still important, support options aren’t specific to ELD as a product, so they’re less likely to influence a purchase decision.

Once each ELD device has been tested and ranked, we award a single five-star score for each service, allowing us to compare them in this guide.

The Samsara ELD is the best option for fleet managers who are also interested in a complete fleet management service. Our researchers rated the provider an impressive 4.7/5 for its ELD features specifically, tying only with Matrack for the highest score.

Minimum contract lengths are three years, so Samsara is more of a commitment than many other ELDs — Matrack comes on a monthly rolling contract, making it our highest-rated competitor to offer better contract minimums.

Most Samsara hardware warranties will last for an impressive five years. While you won’t need to purchase a full FMS (fleet management system) in order to buy the ELD-compliance hardware/software package, it’s easy to upgrade to one, and Samsara offers one of the most comprehensive full fleet management services available, even if Verizon’s feature selection is slightly better. Advanced fleet management features include trailer tracking, a dash camera, routing and dispatch, and even reefer monitoring.

• Digital HOS Logs
• Individual Driver reports
• DVIR Reports
• Compliance Breach Alerts
• Free trial
• 24/7 Support
• Driver App Rating: 4.6 stars
• Fleet App Rating: 4.4 stars

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, with alerts for compliance violations.

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.

As pricing is negotiated on a custom basis, you will need to get in touch for a personalized quote for your business.

The Matrack ELD hardware device comes free with a monthly subscription, starting at $19.95 per month and going up to $25.95 per month for Matrack’s Premium Plan.

Users will get a lifetime warranty and can cancel at any time, as they won’t be bound by a contract. This makes Matrack the cheapest no-contract option on our list. Our research found that Matrack isn’t quite as powerful or comprehensive as Samsara, but it still offers a strong range of features that are easy to use, so with that price, it’s no wonder Matrack achieved the same score as Samsara overall, with a total of 4.7 points out of a possible five.

Once their ELD is registered, users just have to install it and download the app to get started. ELD devices are designed to be plugged into a vehicle’s OBD-II port rather than hardwired, so they are easy to install.

• Digital Hours of Service (HOS) Logs
• Individual Driver reports
• Driver Vehicle Inspection Reporting (DVIR) Reports
• Compliance Breach Alerts
• IFTA tracking
• Employee timeclock
• Driver App Rating: 3.8 stars
• Fleet App Rating: 3.2 stars

Matrack’s ELD solution does include IFTA fuel tax tracking functionality as well as the typical ELD compliance features like an audit trail and the ability to keep a timeclock that logs an employee’s hours worked. Two-way messaging is not offered, and dispatch is only through an add-on. It’s an inexpensive, just-the-basics solution for those who need ELD compliance without a bunch of bells and whistles that they’ll never use.

Customers can contact Matrack’s support team on weekdays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., PST, by phone or email. In other words, Matrack only has support during regular work hours, a downside when compared to Samsara and its 24/7 service. Matrack also makes manuals and video tutorials available online, although there’s no option for a dedicated account manager.

GPS Insight offers an ELD-compliant service, its Hours of Service Solution. In addition to 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.

We rate GPS Insight 4.6/5, making it one of the best. It’s also the most improved since we last tested ELDs, jumping from 11th place in this guide to third place due to its twin strengths — compliance and support.

The service uses both audible and visual alerts to ensure drivers constantly keep their remaining hours at the top of their mind, which lets them make the most of their time and keeps the business running at peak efficiency. Alerts can be set up for a variety of categories in addition to maintenance, including management, safety, vehicle health, and assets.

• Digital HOS Logs
• Individual Driver reports
• DVIR Reports
• Compliance Breach Alerts
• Two-way messaging
• 24/7 Support
• Driver App Rating: 3.6 stars
• Fleet App Rating: 3.5 stars

Fleet management features are included in this solution, as well. As with our other top picks Samsara and Matrack, the GPS Insight Hours of Service solution includes two-way messaging for better driver-manager communication. Thanks to GPS location tracking, it lets managers know where their drivers are at all time. Managers can dispatch jobs with auto-generated step-by-step instructions that guide drivers to their next location. The end result is a streamlined operation that can respond rapidly to unexpected events like delivering rapid roadside assistance in the case of a breakdown.

GPS Insights’ app is available for both iOS and Android, and is rated lower than Samsara or Matrack’s apps, but still a respectable 3.5 out of 5 stars on both platforms.

Fleets can self-install the hardware units, both plug-in and hardwired. The Hours of Service solution is available as an add-on to the Standard fleet management plan. You’ll need to get in touch with GPS Insight for a quote, as it can vary based on industry, fleet size, and other factors.

24/7 support is available for email and phone, and the service has an online knowledge base. GPS Insight is our highest-rated ELD to offer account managers to users, as neither Samsara or Matrack offer this support perk. GPS Insight is one of just three ELDs to earn a perfect 5/5 support score, along with Motive and Omnitracs.

Like Matrack and GPS Insight, the Gorilla Safety ELD (rated 4.5/5) offers the public pricing that some ELDs don’t: The service comes with three plans (Prime8 ELD, Fleet Xpress, and Xtreme), starting at $26.99 per month. The service won’t lock users into contracts, but doesn’t come with any warranties, either.

You’ll get different compliance options with different plans: Prime8 ELD has GPS tracking and electronic logs, but you’ll need to get Fleet Xpress for fuel tracking, remote document delivery, DOT inspections, and DVIR reporting. Finally, Xtreme adds an accident scene navigator, custom procedures, mechanic application, and telematics.

Since our previous research update, Gorilla Safety has moved up to fourth place from sixth place in this guide. This is because we find it delivers on the two most important elements of an ELD in 2023 — fair pricing and full compliance.

Gorilla Safety offers great document management tools, grouping paperwork into four files: Driver Qualification File, Truck File (registration, cab cards, and repair history), Company File (IFTA reports, loss runs, and permits), and ELD Supporting Documents.

• Digital HOS Logs
• Individual Driver reports (Fleet Xpress and Xtreme plans only)
• DVIR Reports (Fleet Xpress and Xtreme plans only)
• Compliance Breach Alerts
• Document management
• Mechanic inspections
• Free Trial
• Support during business hours
• Driver App Rating: Unrated
• Fleet App Rating: 3.3 stars

Gorilla Safety also offers a unique feature. Through the app, drivers can switch on document tracking as they drive – this allows them to scan and digitally file documents to different categories, including sections specific to the driver, the truck, or the company. According to Gorilla Safety, this makes it the “only company to offer a fully automated ELD document feature,” and this ability can help businesses go paperless that much faster. You won’t get similar tools from no-frills compliance ELDs like GPS Insight, which helps Gorilla Safety stand out.

Each ELD unit costs around $175 if bought to own, but just $7 each if leased. Support hours are from 7 am to 7 pm CT on weekdays, in addition to an online knowledge center.

BigRoad’s Dashlink system (rated 4.5/5) is a standalone ELD solution with all core features ⁠— it automatically tallies up hours of service (HOS), it records duty status, and it generates reports. It doesn’t come with contracts, which makes it a fit for fleets that operate during one season, and so want to only pay for a few months at a time.

Like Gorilla Safety, Dashlink has moved up our list of recommended ELDs due to compliance tools and low monthly licensing fees (specific costs are not public, but some reports put starting costs at ~$15 per month).

Dashlink comes with a one-year hardware warranty. Also included are a fuel-tracking ability and notifications to let managers know when they’re at risk for a violation. Dashlink displays traffic conditions to help drivers know what their ETA is and how it may change in the near future.

Like competitors Samsara and Verizon, Dashlink offers a full fleet management system bundle, complete with dash cam support, for those who need more than just an ELD. The pricing for this is higher than Samsara and Verizon, though, with Dashlink plans starting at $36 per month.

• Digital HOS Logs
• Individual Driver reports
• DVIR Reports
• Compliance Breach Alerts
• Fuel tracking
• Traffic display
• Free trial
• Driver/Fleet App Rating: 3.5 stars

Support hours are not specified, although an online knowledge center and account managers are both offered. BigRoad offers free downloadable materials on their website that include guides, videos, and ebooks. No live installation aid is offered, but this is fairly rare for ELDs: Samsara and Omnitracs are among the only few who offer in-person installation help.

The solution’s app is called “FC BigRoad ELD” on both Android (3.2 stars from 14,900 reviews) and iOS (3.8 stars from 2,500 reviews). It does not charge an upfront hardware cost. Users can have either plug-and-play or hardwired devices for each vehicle, and these can be paired with the BigRoad mobile app through Bluetooth.

EROAD’s Ehubo device (4.4/5) offers the features and functions a fleet needs to track HOS, offering both daily and weekly summaries covering data including on-duty status, rests, and resets, as well as needed alerts. Both OBD-II plugin and hardwired devices are available for a self-installation process.

• Digital HOS Logs
• Individual Driver reports
• DVIR Reports
• Compliance Breach Alerts
• Fuel tracking
• Handles short-haul exemptions
• Driver App Rating: 1 star
• Fleet App Rating: 3 stars

The Ehubo software tracks safety compliance as well as fuel tax compliance, which are two nice perks that not all ELDs handle. The physical device is durable and accurate, making it a good fit for harsh environments, and it comes with one unique feature, a “Smart Short Haul” function that automatically addresses short-haul exemptions from the ELD mandate.

As for the downsides, the driver app is unrated on Google Play and only has two one-star scores on iOS, making it hard to recommend and a far cry from the highest rated ELD app, Samsara, which averages 4.5/5 scores across both stores.

The $35 per month starting price will only provide you with a bare-bones ELD solution, however — additional features will cost $45 per month, or $60 per month for the most advanced abilities. Minimum contract lengths are three years, which is the same as Samsara but much longer than our other top pick, Matrack, which has a month-to-month contract.

If your fleet’s drivers want an ELD that makes roadside inspections quick and simple with little-to-no learning curve, the EROAD Ehubo is a simple solution, though perhaps not the best value, compared to some of the options listed above. Phone-based customer support is available from 5 am to 6pm PT on weekdays and 8 am to 2 pm PT on Saturday.

A strong suite of features and an easy-to-use interface make Motive (4.4/5) a solid ELD option. Add to that the service’s 24/7 support, and you have a recommended ELD option for any fleets that need to track their HOS in a streamlined, cost-effective manner. Contract lengths are for one year at a time, beating Samsara’s three-year commitment, while warranties last for a healthy five years for the most common hardware devices.

• Digital HOS Logs
• Individual Driver reports
• DVIR Reports
• Compliance Breach Alerts
• Two-way messaging
• Vehicle inspections
• 24/7 support
• Driver App Rating: 4.3 stars
• Fleet App Rating: 3.5 stars

Motive rebranded in April 2022 from its previous name KeepTruckin, and now offers an ELD solution for vehicles of any size, using a hardware unit called the Motive Vehicle Gateway. An app for managers, Motive Fleet App, is on iOS with 3/5 stars from 84 ratings and on Android with 3.9/5 stars from 221 ratings, both average ratings for the platforms (detractors cite a lack of app features compared to desktop).

The basic plan includes ELD-compliant logs, two-way messaging (not available on mobile), 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, making this service a great pick for particularly feature-heavy fleets that want to take every possible advantage and have the resources to do just that.

Motive Vehicle Gateway hardware units are $150 to lease, starting with a one-year contract. Similarly to Matrack and GPS Insight, Motive offers multiple types of hardware: Light and medium duty vehicle units can be hardwired to the OBDII port, while heavy duty vehicle units can be installed via 6-pin and 9-pin diagnostic ports. The advanced plan includes IFTA fuel tracking, vehicle diagnostics, and driver safety scorecards.

Motive’s 24/7 phone and email support, knowledge bases, and dedicated account managers earn it a perfect 5/5 support score, putting it along our other top picks for support, GPS Insight and Omnitracs.

Like Matrack, GPS Trackit’s ELD system (4.4/5) is available to fleets without locking them into any contract — not even for one year. The paid-monthly service offers simple, easy to install plug-and-play hardware units and a software that delivers all the essential features and abilities for an ELD mandate-compliant system. All customers will get a limited lifetime warranty for hardware.

The device stands out for its maintenance checklists, which can guide drivers through the process of inspecting air compressors, drive lines, and any other items needing regular checkups. Reports can also be generated and transmitted with the touch of a button.

The service does not offer traffic alerts or fuel tracking, and route optimization is not automatic, but many fleet system features are available, from dash cams to interactive maps, driver behavior scorecards, and vehicle theft protection.

• Digital HOS Logs
• Individual Driver reports
• DVIR Reports
• Compliance Breach Alerts
• No contracts
• Custom alerts
• Maintenance checklist
• Driver App Rating: 2.7 stars
• Fleet App Rating: 2.0 stars

Another sign of how the service is designed for ease of use: Managers will be able to set up customized notifications or can pick the most popular options out of an array of industry-specific triggers and alerts. The driver app is not too well rated, but the service is free to download for iOS and Android.

GPS Trackit offers both hardware packages and BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) options. As with many ELD companies from Samsara on, tech support is available 24/7 by email and by phone. Online installation video and guides are on the website (with Spanish and Canadian French supported), and there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee as well. You can learn more about the solution in our GPS Trackit Review.

Azuga eLogs, Azuga’s ELD compliance solution, is available through the software company as an add-on to their full fleet management system (FMS) bundle which includes GPS tracking and geofencing among other fleet management perks. Our researchers gave the full FMS a 4.3/5 score, while the ELD earned a similar 4.4/5 rating.

Tablets are the only hardware needed for the eLogs, although plug-and-play Azuga Tracker units are available to plug into a vehicle’s OBDII port. This sets Azuga apart from all ELDs in this guide — every other provider from Samsara to Garmin requires a hardware unit to collect the data needed for compliance. No costly installation is needed, making for easy adaptation.

The service’s eLogs handle HOS logs and DVIR reports alike, offering alerts on hour limits to ensure drivers know when they are at risk of a violation. Driver reports are included for compliance, but no driver safety ratings are tracked.

• Digital HOS Logs
• Individual Driver reports
• DVIR Reports
• Compliance Breach Alerts
• Geofencing
• Custom locations
• 30-second refresh time
• Route optimization
• 24/7 support
• Driver/Fleet App Rating: 3.9 stars

An app is available on iOS and Android, with an impressive 3.9/5 stars on both platforms. With easy-to-use app menus, drivers will be able to tell at a glance how many hours they have remaining on a shift or a cycle. Managers, meanwhile, will have a comprehensive, timely, and error-free look at their fleet, with the full FMS allowing them to track everything from driving events like speeding and hard braking to cell phone distractions or regular service warnings. Reporting allows access to driver logs, violations, driver time, mileage summaries, driver availability, and more.

Azuga’s mobile app earned a 4/5 score from our Tech.co researchers, tying it with Lytx as the best ELD mobile app, after Samsara’s 5/5 mobile offering.

Azuga’s FMS plans cost between $25 and $35 per vehicle, per month, but their eLog-specific plans may cost less — you’ll need to get a custom quote to know for sure. Read more in our full Azuga FMS review.

Verizon Connect’s ELD solution is baked into their larger fleet management system, Verizon Connect Reveal. While this might scare off fleets looking for a quick ELD-compliant solution, it actually 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. Our researchers scored the FMS solution a 4.7/5 overall (the highest score of any top FMS service alongside Samsara), though the ELD alone, if that’s all your after, earned a 4.3/5 score.

The main ELD add-on from Verizon is called Logbook, and gives drivers the notifications they need to track their HOS and avoid violations, while giving managers an eagle’s-eye view of which drivers have the time to take on another assignment.

• Digital HOS Logs
• Individual Driver reports
• DVIR Reports
• Compliance Breach Alerts
• FMS add-ons
• Admin dashboard
• 24/7 support
• Free demo
• Driver App Rating: 2.3 stars
• Fleet App Rating: 4.6 stars

Support options include phone, live online, chatbots, webinars, and training materials. Logbook includes the engine connectivity hardware for free, and includes a free demo, though fleets will need to provide their own smartphones and tablets in order to run the drivers’ mobile apps (which have high ratings: Android has 4.5/5 stars, while iOS has 4.7/5 stars). The system’s minimum contract length is three years.

Verizon does not make their Connect Reveal pricing public, so total costs are unclear. The lack of transparency isn’t uncommon among ELD providers, however. Samsara doesn’t have public pricing either, though Matrack does. You can get in touch for a personalized quote for your business.

The Geotab GO software solution (4.3/5) can be bought directly from the telematics supplier Geotab, for use with their hardware, but the best version is available through the Lytx fleet management solution, making this another ELD-compliance service that brings the full power of fleet management software to bear.

Lytx’s full fleet management 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.

The driver mobile app is available on Android (3.6/5 stars), and on iOS (4.3/5 stars). These ratings make Lytx one of our top three best mobile apps for ELDs, tying with Azuga and coming in just below Samsara.

• Digital HOS Logs
• Individual Driver reports
• DVIR Reports
• Compliance Breach Alerts
• Secure cloud-based data upload
• Driver notifications
• Driver App Rating: 4 stars

Geotab GO through Lytx uses a cloud-upload process to store data recorded both from the driver’s mobile app (duty status logs) and from the OBDII plug-in 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. Hardwired ELDs are not supported, but this isn’t unusual for ELDs, as even our top rated solutions, Samsara and Matrack, offer only OBDII plug-in hardware.

Managers can easily track each vehicle’s speed, idle times, stops, distance and duration from one dashboard, and can quickly monitor any violations that might occur. All the extra data makes it easy for managers to spot recurring patterns that might help them avoid violations or increase driver safety. Support is available at Lytx via phone or support ticket, with courses and webinars available online. You’ll need to get in touch with Lytx for a personalized quote.

Like Samsara, Teletrac Navman is a well-known fleet management service provider that’s worth the hype. It earned a solid 4.2/5 score from our researchers, the same score as the ELD-specific compliance module, Director ELD. This service includes role-based support for drivers and administrators, with a 12-month hardware warranty. It offers both on-demand and live ELD training, including a range of courses preloaded on each ELD device.

• Digital HOS Logs
• Individual Driver reports
• DVIR Reports
• Compliance Breach Alerts
• Role-Based Support
• Google Maps traffic alerts
• Free Demo
• 24/7 Phone Support
• Driver App Rating: No rating
• Fleet App Rating: 3.8 stars

The Director ELD features 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 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.

Live customer support is available by phone 24/7 in both Spanish and English (no other service claims to offer multilingual support, although GPS Trackit has installation aid in Spanish and Canadian French). Support is also available through email and online.

Teletrac Navman doesn’t make their pricing public, so you’ll need to contact them for a quote.

Omnitracs ELD (3.9/5) 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, while 24/7 online support can guide operators through any concerns.

• Digital HOS Logs
• Individual Driver reports
• DVIR Reports
• Fuel tracking
• Safety reporting
• Driver monitoring
• Free Trial
• 24/7 Support
• Driver App Rating: 2.6 stars
• Fleet App Rating: 2.7 stars

Omnitracs offers one ELD compliance-oriented unit, in addition to the full Omnitracts fleet management system, which we won’t cover here. The Omnitracs XRS device is a plug-and-play unit, so it won’t have to be hardwired into the vehicle. It brings with it the common range of features required, 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.

One big perk is missing: Along with Garmin, Omnitracs is the only ELD on this list that lacks compliance breach alerts, a tool that could notify the fleet operator the moment that a driver exceeds their legal hours. Compliance is the main point of an ELD, so this might be a make-or-break functionality, and is one reason Omnitracs sits near the bottom of our list.

The mobile app has 2.5/5 stars on Android and 3.8/5 stars on iOS. Depending on your hardware device, you may need to pay an installation fee, as the IVG comes with an initial $199 installation fee, plus another $25 per vehicle.

When it comes to customer support, around-the-clock phone and email availability, a knowledge base, and dedicated account managers earn it a 5/5 score, making it even better in this area as our highest-rated-overall ELD, Samsara.

Garmin eLog can come with a big 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 the best long-term ELD investments: You’ll have no contract, a one-year warranty, and the potential for a better deal from a third-party seller (Walmart may be selling it for as low as $125).

Garmin lacks some compliance features, however. As with Omnitracs, managers won’t have alerts to warn them of user compliance breaches, and will have to find out after the fact. Users also won’t get driver reports beyond HOS logs and DVIR reporting.

As a result, Garmin earns just a 3/5 compliance score, lower than any other ELD in this guide. If those compliance features aren’t a concern, though, the Garmin eLog can save a business thousands of dollars a month.

• Digital HOS Logs
• DVIR Reports
• Fuel tracking
• Data backed up on mobile app
• 24/7 Support
• Driver App Rating: 4.2 stars
• Fleet App Rating: None

The fist-sized Garmin eLog offers ELD compliant logs, which can be locally accessed via USB and Bluetooth for roadside inspections. A free-to-download mobile app allows drivers to enter their on-duty status manually, and easily see their remaining available hours. IFTA fuel tracking is also a supported feature.

Garmin’s hardware units can be installed in 6-pin and 9-pin ports, but not in the popular OBDII port. This deficiency that earns Garmin a 2.5/5 installation score, our lowest for any ELD in this category, and well below the 4/5 score typical of our top picks, like Samsara, Matrack, and GPS Insight.

Again, check for third-party resellers before you commit. The Garmin eLog’s price might drop as low as $85 when sold used on sites like Ebay, potentially saving you a bundle.

You might balk at the idea of spending more than the lowest legally-compliant amount on a little box that tracks your trucks, but the best ELD devices offer additional features that enable you to recoup your investment over time. For example, gas costs will decrease, and you should find that your drivers make fewer mistakes while on the road.

Your business matters, so understanding every aspect of it is crucial — and a good ELD device will let you do just that. Compare ELD price quotes with our free, no-obligation tool to get the bottom of what the costs would actually look like for your company.

What’s Better Than the Best ELD?

What can beat the features of the best ELD? A full fleet management system (FMS) – designed to serve the same needs, and do a whole lot more.

All of the best fleet management software providers offer data tracking that maintains ELD compliance. Granted, an FMS will cost more per vehicle than an ELD – but an FMS pays for itself over time, thanks to its many money-saving features.

An FMS can be worth adopting early, too, given the infrastructure it offers. For example, with a simple ELD like the Garmin eLog, you won’t get a central dashboard that can support a manager’s routing and dispatch management.

If a small fleet starts to grow, its need for better routing features will grow, too. Avoiding an upgrade to a full FMS means that a fleet will miss out on chances to improve routing efficiency — as well as the financial savings that would result.

Here’s a look at how the two fleet-oriented services overlap in terms of features.

ELD vs. Fleet Management Software

Best ELD Devices With Fleet Management Included

If you’re open to exploring fleet management companies, these are the top ELD-compliant choices to consider.

Verizon Connect

The biggest of the FMS options, Verizon Connect offers a fleet management system that tracks IFTA, DVIR, and ELD data. As an FMS, however, the service offers far more ways to save fuel than simply tracking IFTA data.

Route optimization finds the best routes, while real-time route updates help drivers avoid bad traffic. Unneeded idle times and fuel card fraud can be tracked and deterred, while additional features include work order delivery, engine diagnostics, and weather alerts.

Fleets that need to track high-value assets can opt for Verizon Connect Asset Tracking – this lets managers locate non-vehicle assets in real time through a desktop or mobile interface, in order to deter theft and further boost efficiency. Field service management software can also be added to the central dashboard.

For more on features, pricing, and support, check out Tech.co’s full Verizon Connect review.

Samsara

Samsara’s ELD service can be upgraded smoothly to an FMS service. The FMS retains the same dashboard, but adds features including routing and dispatch, driver safety, vehicle diagnostics, improved fuel tracking, and asset tracking.

The easy-to-use interface, intuitive hardware units, and 24/7 support options make this FMS an attractive option, and one that’s easy to adapt if your fleet doesn’t need a full FMS yet, but plans to use one in the future.

Read Tech.co’s full review of Samsara FMS for more details on its features, support options, and pricing.

Teletrac Navman

Teletrac Navman provides more features than a high-end ELD, but at a lower cost than a typical FMS. If you’ve read this far, you’ll likely recognize its ELD compliance, GPS fleet tracking, two-way messaging, and safety alert features. In addition, Teletrac tracks drivers’ fuel usage, idle times, vehicle authorization, harsh turning, rapid acceleration, or instances of speeding – any of which can be set to automatically send alerts to managers when triggered.

A customizable dashboard allow managers to decide which KPIs are the most important, and whether they’d prefer to see their fleet in real time via the satellite view, a GPS map, a list of vehicles, or even a street-level camera.

Check out Tech.co’s full Teletrac Navman review for more details on these features, pricing, and support.

These three FMS systems are far from your only options: Check out Tech.co’s comparison of the best fleet management systems for a more detailed breakdown. You can also read our guides to the best trucking software and the best route planning systems.

Next Steps for Choosing ELD Tracking

Prices in the ELD industry are not always public knowledge, and are subject to change. Once you know which vendors you are interested in, you’ll want to compare prices to make sure you’re getting the best deal. If you operate a large enough fleet, the vendor may offer you a custom quote aimed specifically at your needs.

To find the best prices to ensure ELD compliance while saving your operation money in the long term, you’ll need to find and compare prices which are tailored to you. It’s not as complicated as it sounds, though – just take a couple minutes to fill out Tech.co’s handy fleet management quote comparison tool, and you can easily track down the best ELD-compliant fleet management system for your business.

Finding the right ELD device is something you’ll want to get right – with the industry worth 21643.24 million in 2028, the market is set to continue to grow.

FAQs About the Best ELD Devices