NexTraq GPS Fleet Tracking Review

• NexTraq has advanced safety features like mobile phone blocking and in-vehicle alerts.
• NexTraq helps businesses maintain ELD and IFTA compliance.
• NexTraq offers road-facing and driver-facing cameras.
• This review is for small business owners and fleet managers who want to understand NexTraq's GPS fleet tracking offering.

NexTraq, a Michelin Group company, is our choice for the GPS fleet tracking service with the best safety features. If your business is primarily focused on your drivers' safety, you need a GPS system that gives you a 360-degree view of their performance. NexTraq does just that. With its comparative driver analysis, driver coaching features, engine diagnostics, preventative maintenance details, and add-on safety options, NexTraq can help you build a safer fleet. Additionally, it offers flexible pricing, one- to three-year contracts, and free device installation. The company provides both plug-and-play and advanced hardware, and it doesn't require any minimum number of vehicles. 

Editor's Score: 84/100

Why NexTraq Is Best for Safety Features

Although every GPS fleet tracking system offers basic driver safety features, NexTraq takes it to the next level with advanced tools. You can monitor your fleet's performance with driver scorecards and dashcams, and then improve unsafe behavior with driver training courses. NexTraq also offers less common features, like in-cab alerts for when a driver engages in dangerous behavior and mobile phone blocking while the vehicle is in motion.

Did you know? NexTraq offers more than 40 different driver training courses.

Drivers are safer when their vehicles are well maintained and their routes optimized. NexTraq helps you ensure safe and efficient driving with fuel cards, vehicle health reports, and maintenance schedules. You can also keep a close eye on your drivers' locations and safety with features like geofencing and mapping.

Source: NexTraq

NexTraq Pros

• You can track all driver performance metrics using driver scorecards.
• NexTraq has in-cab alerts to notify drivers when they are engaging in unsafe behavior.
• You can visually monitor your drivers with dashcams.
• NexTraq offers dozens of driver training courses.
• You can choose how often the data refreshes (every 30 seconds to 15 minutes).

NexTraq Cons

• Online customer support is delayed at times.
• You will need to contact a representative for a price quote.

Usability

It is easy to get started with NexTraq because the company will install the devices for you. The platform is cloud-based, so you can access your fleet data with a computer, tablet or smartphone. NexTraq also offers two separate mobile apps: Drivers can use NexTraq Connect, and managers can use NexTraq View.

You can view data in near-real time, which is the industry standard; however, NexTraq offers one unique feature here. Its standard refresh time is every two minutes, but you can customize it to the interval that works best for you. For example, you can choose every 30 seconds, 60 seconds, two minutes, five minutes, 10 minutes or 15 minutes. We didn't see that level of customization in many of the systems we analyzed.

Features

Here are some of the services you can receive with NexTraq.

Driver Safety

NexTraq provides a host of safety features to keep you on top of your drivers' performance. It offers detailed metrics on your fleet's safety so you can cut down on aggressive driving and save money on fuel consumption. We especially like that you can view driver safety scorecards, which identify risky driving behaviors and improve employee accountability. By tracking driver behavior, you get a better understanding of how your fleet operates. You can also see if you need to prioritize driver safety education and develop strategies to boost your fleet's performance. In case your drivers do require additional coaching, NexTraq offers 44 driver training courses – above industry average.

Like many of its competitors, NexTraq offers dashboard cameras. We find these to be especially useful in identifying poor driving behavior, insurance fraud, staged accidents, and conflicting reports of actual events.

Source: NexTraq

NexTraq offers advanced safety features, like in-cab buzzers to alert drivers when they engage in poor driving behaviors. You can also sign up for MobileBlock, an advanced tool that blocks active drivers from unacceptable cell phone activity. This technology, which not many other GPS tracking systems offer, works through a pod that you can mount in company vehicles to coordinate with an app on the driver's phone, locking the phone's screen to help keep your drivers focused on the road.

Source: NexTraq

Alerts and Reporting

We found it easy to access reports through NexTraq's cloud-based platform and mobile app. We like that you can schedule reports on your fleet to manage fuel usage better, understand vehicle history, and analyze overall fleet status. We also like that you can set live alerts to receive a text or email when a safety hazard occurs or when a vehicle needs maintenance based on diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). These notifications ensure you know at all times when issues need tending to. There are more than 30 alerts to choose from. Drivers can also receive in-cab alerts when they engage in unsafe behavior, like hard braking, harsh acceleration, or aggressive cornering.

Source: NexTraq

Maintenance and Optimization

NexTraq provides fuel cards that track, monitor and analyze your vehicles' fuel consumption. Not every competitor offers this feature, and it can help you reduce inefficiencies and prioritize more fuel-efficient driving practices. NexTraq also provides data and insight on how you can optimize your fleet's routes for efficiency and when your vehicles are ready for maintenance repairs. Keeping your drivers in healthy vehicles on optimal routes is a great way to keep them safe.

You can also keep your drivers and fleet safe and healthy with NexTraq's electronic logging device (ELD) compliance features. With add-ons like NexTraq Vehicle Inspection and NexTraq Elogs, you can keep your vehicles up to code and access reports like hours of service (HOS), driver's vehicle inspection reports (DVIR) and records of duty status (RODS).

Geofencing and Mapping

Part of keeping your drivers safe is limiting where they can go and informing them about what their route entails. NexTraq lets you do this by setting geofences, powered by Google Maps. You can ensure your drivers are in the correct locations by setting up alerts for when they enter and leave geofenced areas.

Source: NexTraq

Managers can use the mapping feature, also powered by Google Maps, to get a real-time view of the driving conditions their team encounters. For example, you can see how heavy or light the traffic is, what the weather is like, and a Doppler radar. If your drivers encounter severe weather or aggressive traffic, you'll know.

Tracking Hardware

NexTraq provides several hardware options for small businesses, with plug-and-play devices, advanced hardware, electronic logging devices, asset trackers, trailer trackers, heavy equipment trackers, and dashcams. NexTraq devices are tamper-proof and provide minute-to-minute tracking. You can also enhance your fleet management system with features like driver ID sensors, power take-off sensors, temperature sensors, and pick-up and drop-off sensors.

Source: NexTraq

We like that the company offers free installation, so you don't have to worry about correctly installing devices in your vehicles.

Cost                

Like many telematics companies, NexTraq doesn't list its pricing information online. If you want to find out how much NexTraq's services will cost for your business, you'll have to speak with its sales team for a custom quote. NexTraq requires a one- to three-year contract for its services, which is standard for the industry. It offers hardware installation free with any purchase, which is something that many competitors charge for.

When we reached out to NexTraq about a standard GPS tracking plan for a fleet of 20 vehicles, we were quoted prices of $80 per unit, plus $16.96 per vehicle per month for a one-year plan, or $17.95 per vehicle per month (with no upfront costs) for a three-year plan.

Users looking for additional safety features can opt for NexTraq's Driver Safety package, which includes features like driver's vehicle inspection reports (DVIRs), in-cab buzzers and dashcams. We were told that a three-year plan would cost roughly $39.95 for outward-facing cameras or $42.95 for dual-facing cameras. These prices are just estimates based on our criteria, so you will need to contact a representative for a quote specific to your needs.

Key takeaway: NexTraq offers customizable fleet management plans with one- to three-year contracts.

Setup

You can choose between plug-and-play and hardwired devices, and your installation time will depend on which type you select. However, NexTraq simplifies this setup process by offering free hardware installation with every purchase. This is a valuable offering that companies typically charge for. Having a professional install your devices not only makes the installation process easier for you, but also ensures that each device is installed correctly and securely. This way, you can rest assured that it will accurately record driver safety data. 

Customer Service

We found NexTraq's library of online resources to be quite valuable. It offers case studies, news and events, whitepapers, FAQs, blogs, and a savings calculator. If you need more personalized assistance, you can reach customer support by phone, email, webchat and ticketing. To get a feel for NexTraq's customer support, we posed as fleet managers and reached out to its representatives. Their answers were thorough and helpful, but their online response took a little longer than we would have liked. Based on this experience, we recommend that you schedule a demo or call for immediate assistance. They're available Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. EST, and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Did you know? NexTraq's support team offers training. If you are looking for training on using NexTraq, you can call or email them to set up a time that works for you.

Drawbacks

Although NexTraq offers customer support in various ways, you may find its online support lacking. When we reached out to representatives, posing as fleet managers, we were disappointed that their online response was slightly delayed. We were ultimately pleased with the content and thoughtfulness of their answers, but the delayed response leads us to believe that users would be better supported by scheduling a live demo or calling. This is something to consider if you need a GPS tracking solution with instant online support. If customer support is your top priority, read our review of Azuga.

Another potential drawback to note is that NexTraq doesn't list its pricing online. Instead, it offers custom quotes for custom fleet management plans. Although this is common in the industry, it can be a problem for businesses that need an immediate online cost estimate for fleet services. If you need a GPS fleet tracking service with preset plans and online pricing, check out our ClearPathGPS review.

Methodology

Finding a GPS fleet tracking system can be challenging. That's why we did some of the heavy lifting for you. We spent countless hours researching and analyzing GPS fleet tracking systems to identify the top solutions on the market. We looked at hardware, features, pricing and contracts, usability, refresh times, and customer support, and we even got hands-on experience with demos and product videos when possible. When searching for the best GPS fleet tracking system for safety features specifically, we focused on features like driver scorecards, driver safety alerts, vehicle health alerts, dashcams, and driver training.

What Is GPS Fleet Tracking?

GPS tracking systems offer a combination of hardware and software that tracks and records various fleet information, such as location, driver safety and performance, vehicle health and maintenance, and fuel usage and optimization. Businesses often use fleet management systems to optimize their overall fleet performance, as well as to ensure their drivers, vehicles, and assets are safe and secure. The reports generated from GPS fleet tracking data can help fleet managers make educated business decisions and improve their processes.

The typical industries that benefit from GPS fleet tracking systems include construction, utilities, heavy equipment, agriculture, landscaping, retail, manufacturing, distribution, government, oil and gas, food and beverage, and rental fleets.

FAQs

Who are the typical users of NexTraq?

NexTraq is a comprehensive fleet management platform that serves a variety of industries. Typical NexTraq users include those working in home services, transportation, food and beverage, utilities, manufacturing, government and public safety, oil, gas, mining, distribution, construction and heavy equipment, agriculture, cable and telecom, and enterprise and rental fleets.

Which mobile platforms does NexTraq support?

The NexTraq platform works on various mobile devices, and it even offers two different mobile apps for iOS and Android devices – one for drivers (NexTraq Connect) and one for managers (NexTraq View).

Overall Value

We recommend NexTraq for ...

• Businesses that want to improve and maintain driver safety.
• Businesses that need to maintain ELD and DVIR compliance.
• Businesses that want to optimize their fleet performance.

We don't recommend NexTraq for …

• Companies looking for transparent online pricing.
• Companies that need quick customer support, available 24/7.