Whether you’re new to the business or have a wealth of experience in the field of courier work, it’s a great idea to invest in a dash cam. These tiny bits of tech can be crucial for anyone who finds themselves involved in a road incident or falls victim to fraudulent behaviour, but even more so for those who rely on their vehicle for business.
According to insurance companies worldwide, there’s been an increase in the so-called ‘crash for cash’ schemes, and in some areas fake pedestrian hit and run accidents are even being orchestrated. With a dash cam installed you’ll have a constant recording of footage, meaning that if you ever find yourself in such a situation, you’ll be able to provide essential evidence and ensure that a claim goes as smoothly as possible.
While the basic functions of most dash cams are the same, many boast an array of additional features, ranging from WiFi to improved sensor quality. Here are three of the best on the market right now.
Nextbase
The leading name in the dash-cam market, this dual camera unit offers users the benefit of front and rear coverage, as well as Wide Dynamic Range, meaning that night time recording is easy (very useful for late-night courier work).
Although the resolution isn’t as good as some superior competitors, the handy recording feature means that any incident detected will automatically be saved to the MicroSD card. There’s also built-in GPS tracking and a timestamp is embedded on the footage, providing additional evidence. Among a raft of pros, Nextbase’s only con is the lack of WiFi or Bluetooth connectivity.
BlackVue
This model may have a hefty price tag, but the multiple additional features make it justifiable. The only catch: the dual cameras need to be hardwired into the power supply. However, for anyone doing courier work, the time and money investment are definitely worth it.
Detailed parking surveillance, excellent HD footage and a top of the range 2MP CMOS sensor make Blackvue an excellent solution for professional drivers. And the best thing is that this gadget has Over-the-Cloud abilities, which means drivers can access live footage from the car via smartphone or laptop, even when it’s stationary!
Z-Edge Z3
This is a great little model for those looking for a fuss-free camera that gets on and does the job. Voted the best in its class multiple times, the Z-Edge Z3 offers Ultra 2K HD imaging, an excellent 145-degree field of view and is very easy to use. Thanks to the automated functionality, all you have to do is set it up and leave the rest up to the camera.
Loop recording and incident detection mean any valuable evidence is automatically preserved. Advanced image processing gives super sharp footage, so even far off licence plates are shown in perfect clarity. Not much not to like…
In Summary
As well as for legal and insurance reasons, a dash cam assures peace of mind: fewer people are likely to target a vehicle with a security camera sitting in the window. In today’s world of advancing technology, even those at the lower end of the budget scale can find a top-class camera perfect for courier work.
Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day courier work in the express freight exchange industry. Numerous transport exchange businesses are networked together on their website, trading jobs and capacity through what is now the fastest growing Freight Exchange in the UK.
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