A dash cam for truckers is set apart from a non-commercial dash cam mainly by the width of the video footage it captures. This width is measured in degrees: the view of a front-facing camera on a typical trucker dash cam might be as wide as 170 degrees, though 165 degree and 150 degree views are also common. Car dash cams offer less, and even a smartphone camera could qualify if paired with one of the best dash cam apps.
Commercial vehicles also handle more extremes than non-commercial automobiles. Truckers need a dash cam that can record continuously for hours on end, handle bumps and jolts, and function despite temperature fluctuations. The best dash cams for truckers also include a raft of additional features aimed at helping commercial motor vehicles specifically record their route. Many pro-grade dash cams include GPS data embedded in video footage, can be triggered to record and upload a quick clip when they register a collision or a harsh driving incident, and will record HD video that can capture license plate numbers in both dark or bright lighting.