Best Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) 2024 (2024)

If you can get past the sticker shock of $249.99 for the Garmin eLog, you’ll find it’s one of the best ELD devices around. Plus, it’s a one-time cost for the hardware and no ongoing costs for the service, which is rare for ELDs.

Garmin eLog doesn’t require a professional installation, so you can fit the device in your fleet of trucks yourself. It’s compatible with most semitrucks, though there are some exceptions and an adapter may be necessary. The Garmin app works on iOS, Android devices and it’s compatible with dēzl GPS devices. The app tracks hours of service (HOS), driver duty status and fuel.

There are two ways you can present your records: on your smartphone via a USB port or through the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) website via Bluetooth. You can view the data anytime through the app, though.

Who should use it:

Garmin eLog is a good choice for anyone who needs to ensure compliance with their fleet, especially if you don’t want any ongoing costs (but the hardware price is a bit steep).

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On Motive's Website

Motive ELD (formerly KeepTruckin ELD) makes Forbes Advisor’s list of the best ELD devices because it’s a good all-in-one tracker that is moderately priced. Most ELD services price subscriptions around $20 or $25 per month, which makes Motive ELD average for the industry. Its hardware costs $150 each to lease according to our research, which is a bit pricier than most. You’ll need a custom quote for exact pricing.

Motive ELD features an intuitive interface that makes it easy for drivers to log quickly, email alerts of HOS violations and two-way messaging. Motive offers a lot of features to help you monitor your fleet, dispatch drivers and manage fuel use.

You can use Motive’s apps on a smartphone or tablet to track HOS data in real time. And the app for drivers gives them a heads-up when they’re approaching an HOS violation. Transferring data to officials is easy, too—choose the dates you want to send and then pick how you want to transfer (via web service or by email). The only downsides to Motive ELD are that you have to agree to a one-year lease for hardware, pay monthly fees and the extra features (fuel tracking, vehicle diagnostics and driver management) cost extra.

Learn more: Read our full Motive ELD review.

Who should use it:

Motive ELD is a great pick for those looking to lease hardware to track fleets and HOS data.

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On Samsara's Website

Samsara offers a few different solutions with its fleet management software, including an app and hardware for compliance. Its easy-to-use app shows clear HOS data and compliance workflows, so you can be sure you pass inspections. Also, installing the hardware is easy right out of the box.

Perhaps Samsara’s best feature is that it offers a custom solution for businesses, not just ELD compliance. So you can choose what you need from GPS tracking and fuel maintenance to dispatching and equipment tracking. The real-time visibility you get with Samsara is standard among the top ELD devices.

From our research, Samsara’s hardware starts at free and the monthly price for ELD compliance is $19.95 per month, but you’ll need to contact Samsara for definitive pricing.

Learn more: Read our full Samsara review.

Who should use it:

Samsara is best for those who need more than an ELD and want full fleet management software.

Although Matrack ELD isn’t the only ELD service to offer hardware at zero cost, it does offer the most affordable monthly cost for basic service. You have your choice of two plans: Basic and Premium. The Basic plan costs $19.95 per month, per device and the Premium plan costs $24.95 per month, per device.

The differences between the two plans are significant but may not matter to you if you’re using a separate GPS tracker for your vehicles. Stick with the Basic plan if you only want HOS tracking for FMCSA compliance. For $5 more per month, per device, you can upgrade to the Premium plan for GPS tracking and International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) state mileage.

Matrack ELD devices are free, but you are required to pay $10 for shipping for every one to four devices. The good news is that you can cancel your subscription any time, as there’s no long-term contract. Unlike its top competitors though, Matrack doesn’t upload data to the cloud, only devices, such as smartphones, PCs, Macs and tablets.

Who should use it:

If you’re looking for one of the most affordable ELD devices and services for compliance, Matrack ELD could be an ideal choice for your fleet.

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On Teletrac Navman's Website

Teletrac Navman ELD does more than compliance via ELD devices. It’s a fleet management solution and as such, you can build a software bundle to include precisely what you want beyond ELDs for your fleet. Pricing is a bit of a mystery because the company doesn’t publicly publish costs, but smaller fleets may pay around $25 per vehicle, per month based on our research.

You can view available driver hours in a dashboard and drivers can see an itinerary of workable hours and mandatory breaks. With an integration (Promiles), you can calculate IFTA taxable miles so you don’t pay extra in taxes. You can also add dash cams that provide real-time alerts and you can give drivers coaching through them.

Also, Teletrac offers on-demand training and live training for its products, though many user reviews say it’s an easy-to-use program.

Who should use it:

Teletrac Navman ELD can track all the basics to keep your drivers safe and compliant, but it’s better used to create a custom fleet management solution in addition to ELD services.

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On Verizon Connect's Website

Verizon Connect ELD is similar to other fleet management systems in that it provides ELD devices and logbooks along with advanced features. Verizon’s ELD solution is standard, but where it shines is in its scalability and affordability.

Although Verizon doesn’t publish its pricing publicly, its estimated monthly cost is $20 per vehicle. As is the case with all the best ELD devices, Verizon shows you the miles driven, speed and hours a driver has been on the road.

Upgrading will get you access to even more features, such as harsh driving alerts, a live map to show all vehicles and alerts about idling time. Although the app’s interface is intuitive, it gets poor user reviews for frequent crashes and bugs.

Learn more: Read our Verizon Connect ELD review.

Who should use it:

Verizon Connect ELD is suitable for almost any fleet size, but businesses that should consider it should be those looking for more of a fleet management solution to scale up to.

GPS Trackit ELD is more than an ELD device and app—it’s a full fleet management solution with asset tracking, dash cams and maintenance planning. When you sign up for GPS Trackit, you get devices included for a single monthly price, but even better is that there’s no contract required. So if it doesn’t work for your business, you won’t be stuck with it for a year or more.

There is no pricing made public for GPS Trackit ELD, but estimates put the bare minimum plan at around $25 per month, per vehicle. As you add features, pricing inevitably will go up. The drivers’ app has an easy-to-read interface, so your drivers will be able to see precisely how much time they have left to drive before taking a break.

Who should use it:

GPS Trackit ELD is one of the few ELD services that includes hardware with its monthly cost and requires no contract, so you can cancel any time.

EROAD Ehubo ELD offers flexible pricing for compliance for your fleet. You can choose to pay for devices upfront (pricing not published) and agree to $25 per month, per vehicle or get devices free and pay $35 per month, per vehicle.

The ELD device is easy enough to install yourself, and then simply use the app to view the data. As with most e-logbooks, drivers download an app made for iOS or Android smartphones or tablets to view and access RODS. Statuses are color-coded so you know when you’re good to drive (green), getting close to an HOS violation (yellow) or currently committing a violation (red).

User reviews are mixed on the app and the service from EROAD. There are reports that the tech support team doesn’t respond quickly to issues. And there were similar reviews regarding sales not returning calls.

Who should use it:

Companies that want to choose between paying upfront for devices or paying a higher monthly fee with no charge for ELD devices may want to consider EROAD Ehubo ELD.

BigRoad offers multiple bundles for fleet management and compliance. DashLink is the ELD compliance bundle, but it comes with more features than most of its competitors at no added cost. Pricing isn’t transparent with BigRoad, but based on our research, you can expect the monthly price to be around $25 per vehicle. It’s best to call for a quote.

The features you get with BigRoad DashLink go beyond basic compliance. You get IFTA mileage tracking and messaging via the app, which most other ELD services charge extra for. If you want to upgrade for more management features, there are two other plans: Fleet Management Bundle and Ultimate Bundle.

Who should use it:

BigRoad DashLink offers more features than just ELD compliance, including IFTA mileage tracking and messaging via app.

Lytx has integrated with Geotab GO Cloud ELD for fleet compliance. In addition to an e-logbook for drivers, managers and officials, Lytx’s ELD solution includes an inspection checklist. It isn’t an automatic checklist to maintain vehicle safety, but rather a manual one for drivers to check off what they’ve noted needs work or is in good working order.

Lytx only gives pricing through quotes because it wants to help you create a custom solution for your fleet. As such, you can only get the Geotab GO Cloud ELD if you pair it with Lytx fleet management features.

Who should use it:

Lytx joined up with Geotab GO Cloud for ELD compliance, but it includes more features that are great for drivers, such as an inspection checklist for maintaining vehicle safety.