NexTraq review

More than a regular GPS and asset tracking solution

Website screenshot for NexTraq
(Image: © NexTraq)

TechRadar Verdict

NexTraq, a prominent and widely recognized brand in the fleet management industry, provides comprehensive solutions for businesses seeking to optimize their fleet operations. Their platform offers real-time GPS tracking, allowing companies to monitor the location and movement of their vehicles at all times. This information enables efficient route planning, dispatching, and response to customer requests. Furthermore, NexTraq's fleet management system includes features for vehicle maintenance tracking, fuel consumption monitoring, and driver behavior analysis. By providing insights into these areas, NexTraq helps businesses reduce costs, improve safety, and enhance overall fleet efficiency.

Pros

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    No minimum fleet size

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    User-friendly software

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    Driver safety features

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    Extensive reporting

Cons

  • -

    Opaque pricing

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    Lack of online training material

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NexTraq, a leading telematics solutions provider headquartered in Atlanta, USA, and a proud member of the Michelin Group, empowers businesses with a comprehensive suite of fleet management software tools. These encompass real-time GPS fleet tracking, an intuitive job scheduling board, automated driver assignment, efficient route optimization, and instant alerts to keep operations running smoothly.

With a legacy spanning almost two decades, NexTraq has established itself as a trusted partner across a diverse range of industries. Its solutions cater to the specific needs of sectors such as construction and heavy equipment, food and beverage, manufacturing, transportation and logistics, oil, gas and mining, agriculture, distribution, as well as government and public safety organizations. By leveraging NexTraq's advanced telematics technology, businesses can enhance productivity, optimize resource allocation, improve driver safety, and ultimately achieve greater operational efficiency.

NexTraq: Plans and pricing

In contrast to many fleet tracking services that readily provide pricing information on their websites, NexTraq takes a different approach. They require businesses to reach out to them directly for a personalized quote. This strategy may be due to a variety of factors, such as the company's desire to tailor pricing to specific customer needs, the complexity of their offerings, or the fluctuating costs of hardware and software components. Regardless of the reason, potential customers will need to invest some time contacting NexTraq to get an accurate price estimate.

NexTraq's suitability for businesses of all sizes is a notable advantage. There's no restriction on the number of vehicles that can be included in a contract, which means both small businesses with a handful of vehicles and large enterprises with extensive fleets can utilize their services. This flexibility makes NexTraq a versatile solution for a wide range of fleet management needs.

The company offers multiple channels for contact, including phone, chatbot, and a website contact form. This multi-channel approach caters to different communication preferences and ensures that potential customers can choose the method that's most convenient for them.

A major selling point for NexTraq is their free installation and no activation fee policy. Recognizing that many customers lack the expertise or experience to install hardware on vehicles and machinery, NexTraq eliminates this potential hurdle by providing professional installation services at no extra cost. This not only saves customers time and effort but also ensures that the tracking system is properly installed and configured for optimal performance.

Similar to many competitors in the fleet tracking industry, NexTraq typically offers three-year contracts. This contract structure provides a level of predictability for both the company and its customers, as it establishes a clear timeframe for service provision and payment. The hardware cost is usually paid upfront, which covers the physical tracking devices and any associated equipment. The recurring monthly payment is primarily for the software license, which grants customers access to NexTraq's fleet management platform and its features.

NexTraq: Features

NexTraq, a cloud-based fleet management solution, provides a cost-effective approach for businesses to manage and track their moving assets, as well as optimize resources to achieve maximum output. Powered by Google Maps, NexTraq's system offers precise, real-time location and terrain information, refreshing every 30 seconds.

The user-friendly software includes features such as geofencing, two-way communication, and reporting to monitor driver performance. Additionally, NexTraq ensures compliance with industry standards and government regulations through ELD, HoS, DVIR, and FMCSA compliant solutions.

NexTraq's software offers numerous beneficial features for fleet management. Its cloud-based accessibility allows users to monitor their fleet from any device with internet connectivity, regardless of the operating system. Additionally, the software integrates with popular back-office systems for streamlined operations and vehicle monitoring.

NexTraq's data and insights enable the creation and management of fuel-efficient routes, while its fuel cards aid in tracking, managing, and monitoring fuel consumption for each vehicle, thereby reducing fuel waste and promoting better fuelling habits among drivers.

NexTraq maps

(Image credit: NexTraq)

The NexTraq mobile app, available for both Android and iOS devices, allows drivers to log their daily attendance, including start times, break times, and finish times. This data can then be used to generate various reports, such as individual or team attendance reports, or to compare historical data.

Unlike other fleet management companies, NexTraq places a strong emphasis on safety. It provides a detailed comparative report based on driver performance, which can be used to reward top performers and provide necessary coaching to those who are lagging behind.

NexTraq mobile tracking

(Image credit: NexTraq)

NexTraq offers a suite of features that ensure driver safety and accountability, and encourage good driving habits. The NexTraq Dashcam provides HD video evidence that can be used to show driver accountability in situations such as disputed claims, negligent driving, insurance fraud, and staged accidents. It can also be used to encourage safe driving practices, which can help lower insurance costs.

The NexTraq MobileBlock feature locks a driver's smartphone or tablet while the vehicle is in motion, helping to keep the driver's attention on the road and preventing them from texting, playing games, or checking email.

NexTraq Driver Training provides drivers with personalized training based on their performance reports. This can help drivers break bad habits, such as speeding or texting while driving, and encourage defensive and fuel-efficient driving, which can help the company optimize its resources.

The NexTraq Driver Safety Scorecard provides detailed reports on driving habits, fuel efficiency, and other metrics. These reports can be used to hold drivers accountable for their actions and to identify drivers who need additional training or who are performing well and should be recognized.

Finally, the NexTraq Driver Awareness tool helps drivers adhere to company policies while driving. An automated beep alerts the driver whenever the vehicle is involved in an event, such as harsh acceleration or braking, reminding the driver to drive safely.

NexTraq: Support

NexTraq provides multiple avenues for customer support. Primarily, they offer telephone support six days a week. Customers can reach a dedicated helpline from 7:30 am to 6 pm EST on weekdays and from 8 am to 3 pm EST on Saturdays. For those who prefer written communication or have inquiries outside of phone support hours, email support is also available.

In terms of self-service resources, NexTraq's website offers limited training materials. These include an FAQ section for quick answers to common questions, whitepapers for more in-depth information on specific topics, and a blog that may provide insights and updates. Additionally, NexTraq's YouTube channel hosts explainer videos designed to assist first-time users and drivers. However, it's important to note that the channel's content may not be entirely up-to-date, as the most recent videos were uploaded nearly three years ago.

Despite some customer complaints, NexTraq maintains a positive reputation with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), holding an A+ rating. Some customers have expressed dissatisfaction with price increases during the three-year contract and the associated cancellation fees. However, based on available information, it appears that these issues, when escalated to the BBB, were resolved satisfactorily for all parties involved. This suggests that NexTraq is committed to addressing customer concerns and maintaining positive relationships.

NexTraq: Final verdict

NexTraq stands out as a strong contender in the GPS fleet tracking market due to its multiple advantages. The company prioritizes safety, ensuring that businesses can monitor and improve driver behavior, thereby reducing accidents and associated costs. Furthermore, NexTraq doesn't impose any minimum vehicle requirements, making it accessible to businesses of all sizes, regardless of their fleet size.

The company also offers free installation, eliminating upfront costs and simplifying the onboarding process. Additionally, the lifetime hardware warranty provides peace of mind and protection against unexpected expenses, demonstrating NexTraq's commitment to customer satisfaction and product quality.

These combined features make NexTraq a reliable and cost-effective solution for businesses seeking to enhance fleet management, improve driver safety, and optimize operational efficiency. Finally, keep in mind that at the time of this writing, NexTraq is transitioning to joining with the Michelin Connected Fleet service.

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Jonas P. DeMuro is a freelance reviewer covering wireless networking hardware.

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