Picking an ELD is a bigger money decision than it looks. The law says you need one, but the monthly fees, the hardware bill, and the contract you sign can eat into your cash flow for years. Here’s what each of the three big names costs and who each one suits. 

The short version 

Motive and Samsara both charge a monthly subscription, roughly $25 to $50 per truck. Garmin skips the subscription entirely: you pay once for the hardware and that’s it. 

Provider	Monthly fee per truck	Hardware per truck	Contract	Best for
Motive	$25 – $50+	$0 – $150+ (depends on promos and plan)	1 to 3 years	Small to large fleets that want strong safety tools and compliance
Samsara	$27 – $33+	$99 – $148+	3-year minimum, billed annually	Mid-sized to large fleets that want one enterprise system
Garmin	$0	$250 – $300 (eLog adapter)	None	Owner-operators who only need basic hours-of-service logging

Which one makes sense mostly depends on whether you need advanced telematics or just a legal logbook. 

Motive 

Motive (the company formerly known as KeepTruckin) runs $25 to $50 per truck each month, depending on the plan and the size of your fleet. Hardware can cost anywhere from nothing to about $150 per truck, depending on what promotion is running and which tier you pick. It’s one of the most widely used tools in US trucking. 

What you get at each level: 

• Standard tier ($25 – $35/month): FMCSA-compliant logs, GPS tracking, vehicle diagnostics, and IFTA fuel tax reporting. 

• Pro and Enterprise tiers ($40 – $50+/month): Everything above, plus stronger safety features, driver coaching, fuel analytics, and support for AI dash cams. 

• Contract length: Usually one to three years. 

Samsara 

Samsara’s core telematics runs $27 to $33 per truck per month. On top of that, you’ll pay $99 to $148 or more per vehicle for hardware. Add AI dash cam licenses and the monthly number creeps toward $40 or higher. 

The breakdown: 

• Software license: $27 – $33 per truck monthly, billed annually. 

• Vehicle Gateway (VG34) hardware: $99 – $115 per unit. 

• AI dash cams (CM series, optional): $148 – $200 per unit. 

• Contract: A mandatory three-year minimum usually billed yearly in advance. 

That three-year commitment is the catch. Samsara is built for companies that plan to stay put. 

Garmin 

Garmin costs nothing per month. You buy the eLog adapter once for about $250 to $300 and you’re done: no subscription, no cloud license, and no data fees. 

Things worth knowing: 

• The adapter plugs into your truck’s 9-pin or 6-pin diagnostic port. 

• Your log data lives on your phone or a compatible Garmin dēzl GPS, connected over Bluetooth. 

• You give up a lot. There’s no live remote tracking, no automatic IFTA reporting, and no central dispatch tools like Motive and Samsara offer. 

For someone running a single truck who just wants to stay legal without a monthly bill, it’s hard to beat. 

So which one should you pick? 

• Garmin fits you if you’re an owner-operator with one rig and you’d rather never pay a software subscription again. 

• Motive fits a small or mid-sized fleet that wants an easy-to-use app, solid safety coaching, flexible plans, and good IFTA tracking. 

• Samsara fits a larger fleet that wants enterprise-level telematics, AI dash cams, asset tracking, and reporting across the whole operation. 

Common questions 

Are there hidden costs? 
Yes, a few. Watch for diagnostic port cables ($20 – $50), professional installation ($50 – $100 per vehicle), third-party integration fees, cellular data overages, and early termination penalties on multi-year contracts. 

Can I get Motive or Samsara without a long contract? 
With Samsara, no. The three-year minimum, billed annually, is firm. Motive usually offers one- to three-year terms. Some authorized resellers offer shorter terms, but you’ll likely pay a higher monthly rate for that flexibility. 

What happens to my log data if I switch? 
FMCSA rules require carriers to keep hours-of-service records for at least six months. Before you cancel Motive or Samsara, export and save all your driver logs, vehicle inspection reports (DVIRs), and IFTA records as CSV or PDF files.