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Telematics & ELD Buying Guide for 3PLs

Telematics & ELD can help 3pls capture vehicle location, driver activity, hours, and diagnostic signals. Evaluate each option against how your team manages multiple customers, facilities, contracts, service levels, billing rules, and transportation partners.

Why this category matters here

For 3pls, the most relevant fit is telematics for operated fleets. Confirm that the product supports this workflow in practice and fits the people, systems, controls, and exceptions already in place.

Capabilities to evaluate

  • Vehicle data
  • Location visibility
  • ELD and driver-log workflows
  • Vehicle location and trip history
  • Diagnostics, safety events, and alerts

Questions to ask vendors

  • Which devices, vehicles, and ELD workflows are supported?
  • How can drivers review and correct records?
  • Which dispatch, maintenance, safety, and customer systems receive the data?
  • How will this fit the way your team manages multiple customers, facilities, contracts, service levels, billing rules, and transportation partners?

9 marketplace profiles are listed for Telematics & ELD and 3PLs. Compare their listed details with your requirements and confirm fit with each provider.

Options for 3PLs

  • Geotab ELD & Telematics

    Open fleet telematics platform; Geotab reports approximately 6 million connected vehicles and assets and more than 100,000 customers company-wide.

    Listed features: Electronic logging & hours of service (supported devices), MyGeotab cloud fleet-management software operates the documented Cloud ELD service., SDK and APIs support MyGeotab integrations; validate each connection and required setup.. Listed integrations: Remove pending product-specific marketplace evidence., Remove pending product-specific integration evidence., Remove pending product-specific integration evidence..

  • GPS Insight

    GPS fleet tracking with field service capabilities for 225K+ vehicles

    Listed features: GPS fleet tracking and utilization, Video telematics (in-cab cameras), Field service management (FieldAware). Listed integrations: ServiceTitan (customer API authorization required), Fleetio (API token/account and matching VINs required), Whip Around (App Token, matching VINs; feature may be plan-dependent).

  • J.J. Keller Encompass ELD

    ELD and GPS tracking options integrated with J. J. Keller's Encompass fleet safety and compliance platform.

    Listed features: Electronic logging & hours of service (supported devices), VT100 Two-in-One Device, Real-time GPS Tracking. Listed integrations: Not listed.

  • Motive ELD & Fleet Platform

    Integrated fleet operations platform for fleet management, safety and compliance.

    Listed features: ELD compliance and HOS management, AI dashcams with coaching, GPS fleet tracking. Listed integrations: McLeod Software, AscendTMS, Rose Rocket.

  • Rand McNally DriverConnect

    Legacy DriverConnect ELD/fleet service; Rand McNally announced that services are being sunset beginning June 1, 2026. Contact Rand McNally for status and migration options.

    Listed features: Electronic logging & hours of service (supported devices), Truck-Specific Navigation, Real-time GPS Tracking. Listed integrations: Travel Centers of America, Fleet Portal, OEM Integrations.

  • Samsara ELD & Telematics

    Connected operations cloud with real-time GPS, AI dash cams, and fleet telematics.

    Listed features: Connected Operations Cloud platform, AI dashcams with driver safety scoring, GPS fleet tracking and visibility. Listed integrations: Fleetio, Esri ArcGIS, Ford Cloud-to-Cloud.

  • Solera Omnitracs ELD Compliance

    Omnitracs offers hours-of-service and ELD solutions for over-the-road fleets; now part of Solera.

    Listed features: Electronic logging & hours of service (supported devices), Video safety and dashcams, Routing and fleet intelligence. Listed integrations: Drivewyze (Omnitracs weigh-station-bypass feature; confirm plan/configuration).

  • Transflo Telematics

    Geotab-powered ELD and fleet telematics with AI safety analytics.

    Listed features: Electronic logging & hours of service (supported devices), Geotab GO Device Integration, AI Dash Cameras. Listed integrations: Transflo Mobile+, ELD Hardware, Geotab.

  • Verizon Connect Reveal

    Comprehensive fleet management with GPS tracking and telematics solutions

    Listed features: GPS tracking/live maps and near-real-time position; remove unsupported universal 30-second refresh., Extended View Cameras (supported US configurations), AI dashcam/video options are available; verify camera hardware and plan as optional/add-on.. Listed integrations: Remove pending current Marketplace proof., Remove pending proof of exact native integration and supported Reveal product/plan., Remove pending current Marketplace proof..

Explore the full interactive guide · Browse Telematics & ELD listings

Telematics / ELD for 3pl buying guidance

At a glance: Telematics is a broad term for connected vehicle and fleet data services, often including location or vehicle information. An electronic logging device (ELD) is a specific system for recording HOS records of duty status when the federal rule applies. The terms are often bundled in a sales offer, but GPS tracking, cameras, IFTA reports, dispatch, and general exports are not interchangeable with regulated ELD functions. General Information about the ELD Rule; Registered ELDs; ELD Functions FAQs

Fit for 3pl (adjacent)

A 3PL may use telematics for owned assets or visibility but should define whether the need is ELD compliance, live visibility, or customer-facing tracking. ELD Functions FAQs

Workflow: Map driver/vehicle events into shipment milestones and identify data ownership. ELD Functions FAQs

Ask in a demo: Test time stamps, location cadence, access controls, and any carrier data handoff. ELD Functions FAQs

Check before choosing: A visibility integration does not prove an underlying carrier's ELD compliance. ELD Functions FAQs

Common workflows

  • Applicability and device verification: Identify the driver, vehicle, operation, RODS obligation, and exception before selecting an ELD. Obtain the precise make, model, and identifier, then check the current FMCSA registered and revoked lists. Listing is provider self-certification, not FMCSA endorsement. General Information about the ELD Rule; Registered ELDs
  • Log review, transfer, and malfunction response: Test log creation, certification, correction/annotation, roadside transfer, and a realistic malfunction/fallback sequence. Verify assigned carrier and driver responsibilities against 49 CFR Part 395. 49 CFR §395.34; 49 CFR §395.8—Records of Duty Status
  • Optional fleet-data workflows: Separately test live location cadence, offline behavior, cameras, driver-facing analytics, dispatch, maintenance, and IFTA/business reports. Confirm each source, contract module, data retention, user access, and integration. ELD Functions FAQs; 2026 IFTA Procedures Manual

Questions to ask providers

  • What specific driver, vehicle, jurisdiction, and RODS cases do you believe are covered, and who validates that determination?
  • What exact ELD model, version, identifier, and hardware will we receive, and how can we verify the current FMCSA list status?
  • Demonstrate certification, correction, roadside transfer, co-driver/vehicle changes, and a loss-of-connectivity case.
  • What is the malfunction playbook, including written notice, fallback records, carrier repair ownership, and vendor support escalation?
  • Which location, camera, IFTA, maintenance, and dispatch functions are optional modules, and what data does each collect or retain?
  • What are hardware, connectivity, service, integration, training, data-export, renewal, and exit costs and terms?

Frequently asked questions

Who needs an ELD?

Generally, drivers required to prepare records of duty status under the federal HOS rules must use an ELD unless an exception applies. Applicability depends on the specific operation and facts. General Information about the ELD Rule; 49 CFR §395.8—Records of Duty Status

Does private ownership exempt a fleet?

No blanket private-fleet exemption exists. Check whether the operation falls within the rule and whether a specific exception applies; ownership or hauling one's own goods does not decide the test. General Information about the ELD Rule

Is a listed ELD FMCSA-approved?

No. FMCSA says registered devices are manufacturer self-certified and the agency does not endorse ELDs. Carriers remain responsible for checking current registration and revocation status. Registered ELDs

Is ELD location the same as live GPS tracking?

No. The ELD rule defines HOS-related location data; that is not necessarily continuous business tracking. Confirm update cadence and location services separately. ELD Functions FAQs

Does an ELD automatically create IFTA reports?

No. FMCSA states that tax-purpose mileage tracking is not part of ELD data established under Part 395. Verify required IFTA distance and fuel records separately with your base jurisdiction. ELD Functions FAQs; 2026 IFTA Procedures Manual

What is the ELD malfunction repair period?

Under 49 CFR §395.34, the carrier generally must correct a malfunction within 8 days of discovery or driver notification, whichever occurs first. An extension is not automatic; a request is due within 5 days after driver notification and FMCSA decides it. 49 CFR §395.34

Do all telematics packages include the same features?

No. Location, diagnostics, cameras, routing, maintenance, exports, and ELD functions can be packaged separately and depend on the device, vehicle, plan, and integration. Ask for a configuration-specific demonstration and written scope. ELD Functions FAQs

Sources (6)
  1. General Information about the ELD Rule — FMCSA
  2. Registered ELDs — FMCSA
  3. ELD Functions FAQs — FMCSA
  4. 49 CFR §395.34 — Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
  5. 49 CFR §395.8—Records of Duty Status — Electronic Code of Federal Regulations
  6. 2026 IFTA Procedures Manual — International Fuel Tax Association