Verizon Connect GPS Fleet Management Review

Why Verizon Connect Is Best for Industry-Specific Companies 

Companies focused on a particular industry tend to share specific characteristics. They need granular asset supervision, the ability to vary access privileges according to staff seniority, cross-state coverage, and compatibility with different time zones. Verizon Connect delivers in all these areas. Formed from the merger of Telogis, Verizon Networkfleet and Fleetmatics, Verizon’s solution is quite distinct from its more generic rivals. For example, instead of using Google Maps, it uses a proprietary mapping system.

Organizations focused on a specific industry will welcome the sheer depth of customization options under Verizon’s hood. We appreciate the platform’s simple touches, like the ability to relabel specific assets within the system. This personalization ensures a level of industry-specific focus that rival platforms struggle to replicate. We also like that Verizon can supply an analytics expert to ensure data and reports are tailored to your sector’s characteristics. Even the fleet solutions listed on Verizon’s website are grouped by industry – distribution, construction, etc.

Verizon Connect’s customizability extends to its easily scalable subscriptions – a huge plus for growing businesses. Additionally, its wealth of training and educational resources impressed us – the platform can even educate you on optimizing your fleet. For these reasons and more, Verizon Connect is our choice for the best fleet tracking system for companies seeking an industry-specific solution.

Verizon Connect’s analytics experts can help you glean data insights to make business-specific decisions. Source: Verizon Connect

Usability

Verizon Connect is a powerful fleet management tool that comes with a wealth of features. However, its exceptional customization options may make the platform’s initial setup time-consuming as you learn your way around the software. We believe this time investment is worthwhile because the platform will ultimately streamline your fleet management processes. We like that Verizon Connect eases the learning curve with live training options on topics such as onboarding, outcome courses, ELD compliance, integrated video, fieldwork and nonpowered assets. 

Verizon says 70 percent of total customer usage time is spent on the platform’s live map interface, where a traffic-light color-coding system identifies stationary, idling or moving vehicles. Navigating this interface is relatively straightforward. Right-clicking a vehicle icon reveals more data, including daily reports, Google Street View location images, and device health check reports. You can run exemption reports showing only moving vehicles or trucks with temperature-controlled cargo. You can even amend how long an engine can idle before it’s flagged.

Verizon’s live map interface allows fleet managers to keep tabs on their entire fleet in near real time. Source: Verizon Connect

Verizon Connect Features

Verizon Connect provides valuable, industry-specific services for fleets of all sizes, and the platform works on desktop and mobile devices. Features include the following:

Hardware

Verizon Connect has several hardware options, ranging from simple plug-and-play technology to more advanced devices. You can install the plug-and-play devices into OBD-II ports yourself or have technicians install hardwired devices into trucks and larger fleets. We like this hardware flexibility; it’s ideal for fleets with various types of vehicles and assets. Many competitors we reviewed offer only plug-and-play devices. 

We appreciate that Verizon’s system can identify underutilized hardware or machinery that isn’t contributing to the company’s bottom line with its existing usage levels. Additionally, we were impressed that Verizon’s latest generation of equipment asset trackers extends coverage to Canada and has various wired-install versions for powered heavy equipment alongside battery alternatives for trailers and dumpsters. Battery life has been extended to 10 years, while better CATM LTE coverage ensures connectivity even without 2G or 3G network availability.

Verizon Connect also offers AI-powered dashcams. There’s a road-facing camera you can upgrade with a driver-facing camera add-on and a dual-facing camera. While there’s no livestreaming, videos are saved to an SD card, where they’ll continue recording even in remote areas with no cellular coverage. The SD cards are 256GB, capable of storing approximately 170 hours of footage on a road-facing camera or 115 hours on a dual-facing camera.

Verizon’s hardwired and plug-and-play trackers track your fleet and assets wherever they are. Source Verizon Connect

Customization

Verizon Connect’s customizability impressed us, setting it apart from many competitors we reviewed. We like that users can tailor various features to personalize the platform to their fleet. For example, you can set multiple time zones and languages, which is ideal for companies whose fleets span various states and regions.

Because larger fleets and industry-specific companies tend to have a distinct hierarchy of workers, additional security measures are often required. Verizon Connect offers the unique capability of customized security levels with unlimited users. We like that you can customize day-to-day tools like scripts and alerts and set unique term labels. For example, a construction company might want to change the generic term “vehicle” to “crane” within the system so that it makes more sense to their team. Not all platforms offer this level of control.

Verizon Connect lets fleet managers customize time zones and languages. Source: Verizon Connect

Geofencing and Mapping

As you’d expect, Verizon Connect offers geofencing support. A geofence is a virtual shape added to a map that triggers an alert when a vehicle enters or leaves it. It’s a helpful security tool that can prevent and track fleet equipment theft. We were impressed that Verizon Connect will proactively suggest geofence locations receiving regular visits, helping to identify important addresses and clamp down on potential moonlighting. 

You can also use Verizon Connect to plan optimized routes, schedule and dispatch drivers, and view traffic and data overlays. Most of the companies we reviewed have a GPS engine backed by Google Maps, which provides a host of GPS features. However, we really like that Verizon Connect is backed by Verizon’s proprietary mapping software – your vehicles will be tracked by one of the most reliable communications companies on Earth. Unique features include weight and height restriction data for certain roads – a feature truck drivers will appreciate.

Verizon Connect can suggest appropriate geofence locations to help keep your assets secure. Source: Verizon Connect 

Alerts and Reporting

Verizon Connect provides access to various customized alerts and reports based on its tracking data. Tracking data is updated every 30 seconds. While this is fairly standard in the industry, some rivals offer second-by-second updates. Read our review of Samsara and our Motive review to learn about vendors with true real-time updates. 

We love that Verizon Connect lets you set custom alerts for numerous events. Fleet managers can monitor hard braking and acceleration and excessive engine idling, which can help reduce a fleet’s idle time and boost productivity. You can also set alerts for late starts, speeding, harsh driving, geofence breaches and video events – invaluable tools for managing larger fleets. 

Verizon Connect’s analytics and reporting capabilities also impressed us. Various reports can be viewed in regular updates, timelines or continuous feeds. We like how customizable its reports are. You can break them down into categories – safety, fuel, compliance, etc. – and choose the groups, vehicles and drivers you want to include. Reports can be run at the frequency you prefer – over 30 days or daily. These reports can provide valuable insights to inform educated business decisions across an entire organization. 

Unlike many competitors, Verizon Connect can supply an analytics expert to help guide you through its numerous reports – an option that impressed us.

Verizon Connect’s extensive analytics data contributes to custom reports. Source: Verizon Connect

Driver Safety and Performance

If you’re a stickler for fleet health and safety compliance, you’ll be pleased with Verizon Connect’s driver safety and performance features. 

• Driver scorecards: The platform’s tracking features will collect driver data and compile it into driver scorecards to help fleet managers better understand drivers’ performance. We like how this data can be used to incentivize great driving habits or coach inexperienced drivers with training videos.
• Roadside assistance: We also like that Verizon Connect prioritizes road safety by offering optional roadside assistance for commercial trucks, including towing and winching
• Dashcam driver monitoring: In-cab HD dashcams allow supervisors to view harsh-driving events, with incidents immediately uploaded to the cloud and viewable for 90 days. Dual-facing dashcams with built-in AI can identify driver-facing and road-facing hazards beyond the standard harsh braking and acceleration. For example, they can detect drivers eating or smoking while driving, having an unfastened seat belt, being distracted or using their phone, tailgating, and more.

Verizon Connect automatically reviews and classifies every uploaded video, with a reported 110 million clips already processed by its machine learning software. Clips are graded by severity; fleet managers can rate the AI’s verdict on each clip to improve the system’s accuracy.

Verizon Connect’s AI dashcam can detect unsafe driver behaviors, including phone usage. Source: Verizon Connect

Fleet Maintenance and Optimization

Verizon Connect is a great option for businesses that want to optimize their fleets and reduce fleet fuel costs. For example, the platform can show you how much money you lose when fleet vehicles don’t achieve your target fuel economy figures. 

We like that the platform has measures in place to help prevent fuel fraud. For example, Verizon Connect says its software can prevent a fuel card holder from filling up a personal vehicle by calculating metrics like sales receipts, tank capacity and previous mileage. 

Verizon Connect also records various fleet and driver data to help businesses maintain their vehicles and assets and reduce fleet maintenance costs. Diagnostic data supports proactive service alerts and scheduled maintenance based on time, engine hours or distance traveled; a vehicle’s service status will automatically update across your entire system. 

Verizon Connect can help optimize fuel usage and minimize fraud by monitoring fleet and driver data. Source: Verizon Connect

Verizon Connect Cost

We were disappointed by Verizon Connect’s lack of pricing transparency. Previously, the company listed pricing starting from $0.76 per vehicle per day, with standard packages typically costing about $40 per vehicle per month. However, businesses must now complete an online questionnaire to receive a custom quote. 

We do appreciate that Verizon Connect is interested in creating custom solutions for a business’s industry and specific fleet requirements (though you’ll likely pay more for add-ons like roadside assistance and fuel card integrations). And we like that Verizon Connect’s offerings can scale to meet a business’s needs. However, the company typically requires a 36-month commitment. This contract length isn’t unusual in the industry, though some competitors offer monthly subscriptions that may be better suited to some businesses. 

Verizon Connect Setup

Because Verizon Connect has so many features, getting everything set up and customized may take a while. This platform will involve a steeper learning curve than plug-and-play providers with generic software. However, the platform’s robust features and usability will likely offset your initial time investment.

We appreciate that Verizon Connect provides step-by-step setup instructions, including a quick-start checklist. These resources can significantly ease the burden of setting up your fleet management platform. Verizon also offers assistance with hardware installation.

Once your tracking system is up and running, operation is simpler than setup. You can easily access the dashboard to monitor and assess fleet analytics from a desktop computer, tablet or mobile phone. Reports can be run on data up to two years old to identify insights and extrapolate forecasts. 

We like the fact that Verizon Connect provides 24/7 support by phone, live chat, ticketing and email. We were also impressed that the company provides a designated contact for your fleet tracking account. This personalized support is a standout feature. It’s nice to know that even with a company as big as Verizon, your business won’t get lost. Your contact can also help with technical and support issues or direct you to a specialist who can provide a solution.

Verizon Connect also offers helpful online resources, like blogs, e-books, case studies, webinars, glossaries, product demos and live training. The platform’s self-service portal allows customers to add comments to support case files, request case closures or flag duplicate inquiries. You can also reassign cameras to new vehicles without having to call Verizon support. 

Verizon Connect Drawbacks

• Poor reviews: Verizon Connect has poor reviews with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). It is not accredited with the BBB and boasts an F rating. While this is not necessarily a direct reflection of the type of service you’ll receive with Verizon Connect, we like to see our top picks have more positive ratings. 
• Opaque/expensive pricing: Verizon Connect doesn’t share pricing info but is generally considered to be on the pricey side for GPS fleet tracking software. Custom pricing that’s on the higher end likely won’t be a problem for midsize fleets that need an industry-specific solution. However, if you’re looking for an affordable solution with upfront transparent pricing, read our review of Force Fleet Tracking. This vendor costs $20 per vehicle per month.
• Long contract: Verizon Connect’s 36-month contract requirement isn’t unusual in the industry. However, if you’d prefer less of a commitment, check out our GPS TrackIt review. This vendor operates on a month-to-month basis. 

Methodology

Finding the right GPS fleet tracking system can be challenging, so we did some of the hard work for you. We spent hours researching and analyzing the best 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. We got hands-on experience with demos and product videos when possible. When searching for the best GPS fleet tracking system for industry-specific companies, we focused on overall customizability, access privilege options, security options, and personalization features like asset labeling. 

Overall Value

We recommend Verizon Connect for …

• Midsize and larger fleets that want industry-specific functionality.
• Businesses requiring video telematics with driver-facing and roadside-facing dashcams.
• Businesses that want customization options for time zones, languages, employee access, security levels, workflow scripts and alerts.

We don’t recommend Verizon Connect for …

• Fleets that want a preset GPS fleet tracking plan with online pricing.
• Businesses that want a clear, unambiguous pricing structure from the outset.
• Companies looking for a short-term or month-to-month contract.