Truck Component
Omnitracs (now Solera) Roadnet + Omnitracs ELD
Solera (formerly Omnitracs) · Telematics / ELD · ELD + route optimization + fleet management
Class 7-8
In production
Telematics / ELD
Manufacturer
Solera (formerly Omnitracs)
Category
Telematics / ELD
Subtype
ELD + route optimization + fleet management
Class
Class 7-8
What this component does
Omnitracs is one of the oldest North American commercial telematics companies — founded 1988 as part of Qualcomm's commercial vehicle telematics business. Acquired by Vista Equity Partners (2013), then merged with Solera (2021). Omnitracs historically dominated large long-haul fleets (Werner, Schneider, J.B. Hunt) but has lost significant share to Samsara/Motive in the last decade. The platform's strength: deep enterprise integration with shipper TMS systems and decades of operational data. Weakness: aging user experience and slower innovation pace vs newer cloud-native competitors.
Specifications
- Manufacturer
- Solera (formerly Omnitracs)
- Category
- Telematics / ELD
- Subtype
- ELD + route optimization + fleet management
- Truck class
- Class 7-8
- Production
- 1988–present
- Applications
- Long-haul enterprise fleet, regional, distribution
Design and engineering
Vehicle device + in-cab display (legacy hardware) or driver app on phone (modern). ELD-compliant. Route optimization via Omnitracs Roadnet (separately licensed). Integrated with major shipper TMS platforms.
Generations
- Qualcomm Omnitracs (1988–2013)Original platform.
- Omnitracs Independent (2014–2020)Post-Vista acquisition modernization.
- Solera-owned (2021–present)Merged with Solera, ongoing platform updates.
Reliability and longevity
Decades of fleet deployment — proven hardware. Cellular reliability strong.
Common problems
Aging user experience. Some fleets transitioning to Samsara/Motive due to UX gap. Pricing not particularly competitive vs newer entrants.
Maintenance schedule
Maintenance-free. Annual subscription, enterprise pricing varies.
Pros and cons
Pros
- ✓Decades of enterprise fleet deployment
- ✓Deep TMS integration
- ✓Strong Roadnet route optimization
- ✓Trusted by largest fleets
Cons
- !Aging UX
- !Losing share to Samsara/Motive
- !Slower innovation pace
- !Higher enterprise pricing
Trucks that use this component
Related DTC codes
Other Telematics / ELD components
- Bendix SafetyDirect / SmartDrive video safetyBendix Commercial Vehicle Systems
- Geotab GO9 / GO9+ (ELD + fleet management)Geotab
- Lytx DriveCam / DriveCam Plus (AI dashcam + coaching)Lytx
- Motive (formerly KeepTruckin) ELD + AI dashcamMotive (formerly KeepTruckin)
- Platform Science Rio (OEM-integrated telematics)Platform Science
- Samsara VG34 / VG54 (ELD + telematics)Samsara
Related
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Omnitracs (now Solera) Roadnet + Omnitracs ELD?
The Omnitracs (now Solera) Roadnet + Omnitracs ELD is a fleet telematics platform used in Class 7-8 commercial trucks. Omnitracs is one of the oldest North American commercial telematics companies — founded 1988 as part of Qualcomm's commercial vehicle telematics business. Acquired by Vista Equity Partners (2013), then merged with Solera (2021). Omnitracs historically dominated large long-haul fleets (Werner, Schneider, J.B. Hunt) but has lost significant share t
Is this an FMCSA-registered ELD?
The Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate went into effect December 18, 2017 — every interstate carrier must use an FMCSA-registered ELD to record driver hours-of-service. The FMCSA maintains a public ELD registry at csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/ELD/ListOfELDs — verify any telematics product is on the current list before purchasing. Self-certification was tightened in 2020 and many non-compliant vendors were removed; check the registry, not the vendor's marketing claims. If you operate within a single state only (intrastate) or fall under the short-haul exemption (49 CFR 395.1(e)), you may be exempt from the ELD requirement.
How much does fleet telematics cost?
Subscription pricing typically ranges $25-60 per truck per month depending on features. Entry-level ELD-only: $25-35/month (Motive, Geotab base). Mid-tier with GPS + driver scoring: $35-50/month (Samsara base, Motive Pro). Premium with AI dashcam + coaching: $50-80/month (Samsara full, Lytx). Hardware costs vary: $200-1,000 per vehicle one-time for gateway + dashcam. Multi-year contracts typically discount 10-20%. Most fleets see ROI through reduced insurance premiums (10-30% reduction), fewer accidents, and lower fuel costs from driver behavior coaching.
Will this platform integrate with my TMS?
Most major platforms have APIs and standard integrations with the leading TMS systems (McLeod, TMW, AscendTMS, Trimble TMS, MercuryGate). Samsara and Motive have the broadest pre-built integrations. Geotab's Marketplace ecosystem includes 200+ pre-built integrations. For custom integrations, all major platforms provide REST APIs. If you use a smaller or proprietary TMS, ask the telematics vendor for a sandbox account to validate API compatibility before committing.
What about driver-facing cameras and privacy?
Driver-facing cameras are a major adoption barrier for many fleets. The privacy concern is real: drivers feel constantly monitored, and some carriers report increased turnover after implementing inward-facing AI cameras. Counter-arguments: AI dashcams reduce accidents 20-40% in fleet studies (Lytx, Samsara published data) and clear video evidence protects drivers from false claims after collisions. Best practices: (1) be transparent with drivers about what is recorded and reviewed; (2) use AI-event-triggered recording (not continuous) to reduce privacy footprint; (3) include drivers in safety review meetings showing how the data is used; (4) reward improved scores, not just penalize bad ones. Some states have specific consent and notice laws — check Illinois BIPA, California CCPA, New York biometric laws.
How does this affect CSA scores?
Quality telematics platforms with driver coaching reduce CSA violations significantly: HOS BASIC violations drop 50-70% in carriers transitioning from paper logs to ELD (per FMCSA data), Unsafe Driving BASIC improves 20-40% with AI dashcam + coaching deployment, and Vehicle Maintenance BASIC improves with engine-fault-code monitoring catching DTCs before roadside citations. Insurance carriers increasingly require telematics on heavy-truck policies (commonly Samsara, Motive, or Lytx-equivalent) to maintain coverage above the minimum FMCSA $750K liability.