Azuga GPS Fleet Management Review

Why Azuga Is Best for Improving Driving Standards

In an age of live video streaming and ubiquitous social media activity, examples of poor driver behavior can tarnish a business’s reputation. Even a brief video of a vehicle bearing your firm’s branding being driven aggressively, erratically or inappropriately could create a public relations nightmare.

Azuga’s robust, feature-full fleet tracking platform aims to head off these problems with proactive driver evaluations, training, incentives and more. It allows fleet managers to rank drivers in a standards-based table to show how they compare to their peers, adding an element of gamification and tapping into their competitive spirit. Azuga also incentivizes excellent driving behavior ― meeting fuel efficiency goals, not triggering hard braking alerts ― with quarterly rewards from 15 retailers and brands like Domino’s, TGI Fridays and Amazon.

We love that Azuga prioritizes driver education and guidance. For example, its partnership with DriveActive provides driver courses and training to help correct concerning behavior. For these reasons and more, Azuga is our choice for the best fleet tracking system for improving driving standards.

Azuga monitors driving behavior and rewards drivers with excellent safety habits. Source: Azuga

Usability

Ease of use is crucial in a GPS fleet tracking system. Businesses want intuitive software, easy-to-install hardware and features that promote communication. Azuga checks all these boxes while providing robust fleet management features. Here’s how Azuga fares when it comes to usability: 

• Flexible refresh rate: Businesses need current information to address problems and react appropriately to situations. While Azuga refreshes location details every two minutes by default, we like that businesses can increase refresh frequency to every 15 or 30 seconds. In contrast, some competitors project vehicle locations based on past movements, giving an unrealistic picture of their precise location.
• Plug-and-play hardware: Azuga’s plug-and-play hardware can be installed in minutes.
• Intuitive dashboard: Azuga’s dashboard is easy to navigate, doesn’t require lengthy training sessions and can be accessed via a computer or mobile device. The company updated its dashboard interface to make it cleaner and more responsive. You can reach any function you need with a few clicks. We like that you can overlay geofence boundaries easily to know when a vehicle enters and exits a specific area. Additionally, drivers and fleet managers can message one another directly within the platform, streamlining communications. 
• Location sharing: Azuga’s location-sharing feature allows fleet managers and drivers to alert clients to their location, helping them track deliveries in real time. This function is ideal for sensitive appointments or perishable goods.
• Vehicle monitoring: We liked the color-coded Google Maps interface. Vehicles shown in red are engaged in harsh driving behaviors, orange vehicles are idling and green ones are proceeding normally. Fleet managers can get a comprehensive view of their fleet’s activity at a glance. 
• Context tools: We were impressed that fleet managers can overlay live weather and traffic data, helping them understand delays or a lack of movement by specific vehicles.

Azuga Features

Tracking Hardware

• Tracking devices: Azuga offers plug-and-play fleet tracking devices that are easy to install via the vehicle’s OBD II ports. However, you can also hardwire devices into place if preferred. You can choose a long-life tracker or rechargeable tracker. We were impressed with the long-life tracker’s five-year battery life. Standard devices should last six months on one charge. We also like that the OBD II devices are accurate to within five feet ― a helpful feature in built-up areas where multiple deliveries might be scheduled for the same street. 
• Dashcams: The front- and rear-facing dashcams record in high definition (HD) in 15-second clips with integrated microphones, which can be turned off by administrators. Azuga’s artificial intelligence (AI) technology can recognize when a driver eats and smokes while a dedicated parking mode records break-ins. We like that fleet managers can control what the videos capture ― you can activate or deactivate around 20 event types easily. Video is uploaded to the cloud automatically. The footage is available for up to 12 months but older clips may be accessible on request. 

Azuga offers simple hardware, such as plug-and-play vehicle trackers and dual-facing dashcams. Source: Azuga

Driver Safety

Azuga excels in driver safety features: 

• Driver scorecards: We particularly like Azuga’s driver scorecards. While scorecards are standard in the fleet tracking industry, Azuga’s functionality is exceptional. The vendors’ DriveSafe technology awards drivers an average score from 0 to 100, taking various “crash event predictors” into account. These scores help you identify your safest drivers and pinpoint those needing guidance. Azuga is also one of the few GPS fleet tracking services to share scorecard information, so administrators and drivers both understand where drivers need improvement and where they shine. 
• Real-time alerts: We like that fleet managers can monitor hard braking and acceleration, watch for speeding and help reduce a fleet’s idle time via real-time alerts. It’s even possible to have reversing noted as a breadcrumb ― ideal for businesses whose trucks aren’t allowed to reverse for safety reasons. 
• Block phone usage: Azuga also offers a unique add-on that lets you block drivers’ smartphone use when driving.
• Driver training and incentives: We were impressed that Azuga aims to help improve driver behavior, not just identify and punish “bad drivers.” Fleet managers can send specific training videos to drivers to address areas of concern. You can reward safe drivers with prizes, including discounts and gift cards. 

Azuga generates drivers’ scores based on behaviors like hard braking, speeding, distracted driving and seat belt usage. Source: Azuga

Maintenance and Optimization

We love that Azuga helps businesses maintain safe vehicles and equipment and optimize fuel usage by providing real-time data:

• Proactive maintenance: Fleet managers can view past service records and note items that must be fixed immediately. The software can notify you automatically if equipment is overdue for an inspection or maintenance. Maintenance can be customized or scheduled, including reminders and service records while services can be booked and confirmed proactively. You can also view tire pressure in real time ― with underinflation or overinflation highlighted ― which can play a significant role in accidents. The company is also planning a tread life-monitoring feature. These proactive maintenance measures help optimize fleet safety.
• Reduce fuel costs: Azuga also offers unique features to help reduce fuel costs, such as fuel card integration and Azuga FuelSaver, which tells drivers where the closest gas station with the cheapest fuel is located. Other fleet management platforms we reviewed weren’t as fuel-cost-conscious. 
• Fuel alerts: Fleet managers can also set alerts if a vehicle’s fuel levels drop below a certain level. This feature ensures drivers won’t drain their tanks, drawing the grit that accumulates at the bottom of a gas tank into the engine and risking expensive repairs.
• Maintenance discounts: Azuga’s discounts on tire and vehicle maintenance (courtesy of its parent company, Bridgestone) impressed us. Businesses get 15 percent discounts on retail rates at the 2,500 Firestone garages across North America, with all Bridgestone locations highlighted in the Schedule Service tab on the Azuga dashboard. 

Azuga can alert drivers to the nearest gas stations with low fuel prices and provide directions. Source: Azuga

Reporting and Compliance

Small businesses can access various live, scheduled and customized reports through the Azuga platform. These reports include essential details regarding driver safety and behavior, geofencing, vehicle maintenance and fuel efficiency. 

Some plans also have diagnostic reports, such as battery and fuel levels, check engine lights and panic and sensor alerts. You can cull data from the last 12 months or longer if you approach Azuga directly for assistance.

The system can also help ensure fleet health and safety compliance regarding rules for electronic logging devices, the International Fuel Tax Agreement, hours of service regulations and more.

Communication Tools

We like that Azuga can help fleet managers locate the nearest available drivers with Uber-esque real-time tracking. They can share driver data with customers and chat with drivers. We were also impressed that fleet managers can quickly locate the nearest available vehicle for urgent deliveries using locations or local landmarks. 

Mobile Apps

Every Azuga plan comes with access to Azuga Fleet Mobile, a feature-rich mobile app for iOS and Android devices. The mobile dashboard has a dozen buttons, placing everything managers and drivers need on their screens. 

The app includes views and features for drivers and admins, including a wealth of fleet management functions. Drivers can use the Fleet Mobile app to identify themselves using quick response codes while administrators can use the same portal to track driver progress. Managers can view fleet health and maintenance, trip logs and tags, driver timecards and performance, rewards programs and vehicle diagnostics. We liked a notable feature that helps drivers locate their vehicle quickly, helping them get on the road faster.

The Azuga mobile app has administrator and driver features to facilitate communication and efficiency. Source: Azuga

Azuga Cost

Azuga charges a one-time device fee and a recurring monthly service charge. We were disappointed that the company doesn’t list its pricing online. While this isn’t uncommon in the industry, we appreciate a vendor that provides clear and transparent pricing. For example, our review of ClearPathGPS details that service’s preset pricing plans. 

However, Azuga did confirm some ballpark figures with us: 

• $25 per vehicle per month for a GPS-only solution
• Around $50 per vehicle, per month, for the GPS solution with a dashcam
• $60 per month per truck for a GPS and AI safety camera setup

Paid add-ons include enhanced tracking tools, scheduled maintenance functions, electric vehicle data, enhanced vehicle data and trip logs and tags. Additionally, you can opt for the following services: 

• Fuel card account integrations 
• SpeedSafe (identifies risky driver behavior)
• SafetyCam (dual-facing HD cameras that can report in real time on dozens of risky behaviors) 
• Azuga Coach (video-based safety coaching) 

We like that Azuga is highly customizable and flexible, allowing users to create a solution that best suits their business. 

Azuga Setup

Azuga offers plug-and-play devices you can easily install yourself:

1. Insert the device into the OBD II port of your vehicle.
2. Wait two minutes.
3. Turn on your vehicle and let it idle for a couple of minutes. 
4. When the LED starts flashing and changes color, the device is ready to track your vehicle and driver data.

Once installed, the hardware connects with the vehicle’s computer and GPS satellites to gather data on the vehicle and its location. That information can be accessed instantly via Azuga’s easy-to-use software. 

Azuga Customer Service

Azuga provides 24/7 customer assistance via phone, email, web chat and an online ticketing system. During our investigation, we were pleased with the promptness of the representatives and the assistance they provided.

We also found Azuga’s online resources quite helpful. The company’s website is filled with blogs, webinars, videos, documentation, success stories, open application programming interface information and return on investment ROI calculator. If you still have questions about Azuga’s services, you can access product training resources.

Azuga Drawbacks

• Long contract commitment: Azuga requires a 36-month contract if your plan includes a dashcam (most businesses opt for this). This contract length is relatively standard in the fleet tracking industry, but it’s a substantial commitment. If this is a deal-breaker for you, read our review of Force Fleet Tracking. This vendor offers month-to-month contracts.
• No BBB accreditation: Azuga isn’t accredited by the BBB, although it does have a positive reputation on many online review sites. Still, if you’re a stickler for BBB accreditation, check out our review of Samsara. This vendor is BBB-accredited and has an A+ rating.
• No container tracking: Depending on your industry, you might be disappointed that Azuga only offers vehicular tracking devices. You can’t attach them to containers. If asset tracking is a priority for you, read our review of FleetUp. This vendor offers various asset-tracking tools, including temperature sensors.

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, 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 improving driving standards, we focused on driver scorecards, training options, driver reward systems, incentivization plans and other tools that promote safety. 

Overall Value

We recommend Azuga for…

• Businesses that are eager to use every possible mechanism to improve driving standards.
• Companies that want a fleet tracking solution that is easy to learn and use.
• Businesses that want access to 24/7 customer support.

We don’t recommend Azuga for…

• Businesses that need hardwired vehicle trackers.
• Startups looking for short-term or month-to-month contracts.
• Companies that require to-the-second tracking.