Every trucking insurance underwriter asks the same question during the quoting process: "Do you have dashcams?" The answer affects your premium — but not always in the way fleet owners expect. Having cameras is good. Having the right cameras, with the right protocols, integrated into a documented safety program — that's what actually moves the needle. The Premium Impact: Real Numbers Based on our experience placing hundreds of accounts: Forward-facing only: 3-5% premium credit from most carriers Forward + driver-facing: 8-15% premium credit AI-powered systems with event recording: 10-20% premium credit No cameras: Increasingly, some carriers won't quote you at all The math is straightforward. On a $25,000 annual premium, a 15% credit saves $3,750 per year. A quality dual-camera system costs $200-500 per truck plus $20-40/month for cloud storage. The ROI is immediate. What Underwriters Actually Want Not all dashcam setups are created equal in the eyes of an underwriter. Here's what they're looking for: Continuous recording, not just event-triggered — Event-triggered cameras miss the 30 seconds before an incident that often prove the truck driver wasn't at fault. Continuous loop recording with event flagging is the standard. Driver-facing cameras — This is where many owner-operators push back, but it's where the biggest premium credits come from. Driver-facing cameras prove your driver wasn't on their phone, wasn't drowsy, and was paying attention. In litigation, this footage is worth millions. Cloud backup — Local SD card storage is better than nothing, but cards get lost, damaged, or "disappear" after incidents. Cloud backup ensures footage is preserved regardless of what happens to the truck. Retention policy — Most insurers want 30-60 days of continuous footage retention and permanent retention of any flagged events. Document your retention policy in writing. The Litigation Advantage Dashcams don't just reduce premiums — they reduce claim costs, which reduces future premiums. Here's how: Fraudulent claims — Staged accidents and exaggerated injuries are common in trucking. Forward-facing footage eliminates these claims immediately. Comparative fault — In states with comparative negligence, proving the other driver was 60% at fault instead of 40% can mean hundreds of thousands of dollars in reduced liability. Nuclear verdict defense — Plaintiff attorneys build nuclear verdicts on the narrative that trucking companies are reckless and don't care about safety. A comprehensive camera program with documented review processes destroys that narrative. Which Systems Insurers Prefer We won't endorse specific brands, but here's what the top-rated systems have in common: - Dual-facing (road + driver) with at least 1080p resolution - AI-powered event detection (hard braking, following distance, lane departure) - Real-time alerts to fleet managers - Cloud storage with minimum 60-day retention - GPS integration for speed and location verification - Easy footage retrieval for claims and legal requests The Protocol That Matters More Than the Hardware Underwriters don't just want cameras — they want evidence that you use them proactively. Document these processes: Weekly review — Someone reviews flagged events weekly and coaches drivers on identified risks. Keep records of these reviews. Post-incident protocol — Within 1 hour of any incident, footage is flagged, preserved, and sent to your insurance company. Don't wait for a claim to be filed. New driver onboarding — Every new driver is informed about the camera system, signs an acknowledgment, and understands the footage review process. Quarterly safety meetings — Use camera footage (anonymized) in safety meetings to illustrate common risks and proper responses. Common Mistakes That Negate the Benefit Installing cameras but never reviewing footage — Underwriters will ask about your review process. "We have cameras but don't really look at them" is worse than not having cameras at all — it suggests you know about problems and ignore them. Allowing drivers to disable cameras — If drivers can cover, unplug, or disable cameras, you don't have a camera program. You have expensive decorations. Not preserving footage after incidents — If you can't produce footage when a claim is filed, the assumption is that the footage showed your driver at fault. Preserve everything. How Trux Maximizes Your Camera Credit When we submit your account to underwriters, we include documentation of your camera system, your review protocols, and your safety meeting records. We present it as part of a comprehensive safety program — not just a box to check. If you're shopping for cameras or upgrading your system, call us first. We'll tell you exactly what the carriers we work with want to see, so you invest in equipment that actually reduces your premium.