Customer-Managed Installation Guidelines for Motive Devices

This article provides installation guidance and recommended best practices for customers who choose to install Motive devices themselves or engage third-party installation resources who are not part of Motive’s contracted professional installation network.

These guidelines are advisory in nature and represent Motive’s recommended installation practices. All installations should be performed by individuals with appropriate training in automotive electrical systems and familiarity with vehicle-specific requirements. Motive does not provide installation training through this article.

Recommended installation supplies 

Tools & Supplies

• Plastic panel removal tools (prevents scuffs) 
• Hand tools such as sockets, bits, and drivers
• A powerful cordless drill depending on the type of installation being performed
• Cable ties - UV, Heat, and Chemical Resistant when installed outside of the cab
• Spare isopropyl alcohol (70-99%) to clean any extra-dirty mounting surfaces 
• Two-sided VHB tape and VHB-backed reclosable fasteners such as Duo-lock
• Various types of automotive fuses and weatherproof fuse holders
• PPE (personal protective equipment appropriate to your installation environment)

Tools for hardwiring electrical connections, mounting devices, or routing wire external to a cab

• 16-18 AWD Primary Wire to extend any wire leads (TXL grade or better)
• 1/4" Split plastic loom/conduit or better
• Stainless steel heat shrink or solder seal butt connectors and ring terminals specific to your installation requirements
• Super33+ electrical tape or better, and dielectric grease
• 2-sided rubber grommets and weatherproof 100% silicone to protect and seal any wire pass-through holes used or created 
• 100% weatherproof silicone to seal any pass-throughs used or made 

Tools for installing an Asset Gateway on a semi-trailer 

• Drill, bits, and sockets
• Stainless steel or zinc-coated bolts, self-tapping screws, or rivet nuts. 
• A portable power pack and a 7-pin SAE J-560 compatible cable to perform powered testing on the trailer’s 7-pin connector circuit and the Asset Gateway. 

Pre-installation checks

Before beginning installations:

1. Conduct a thorough inspection of the vehicle. 
2. Document any illuminated malfunction indicator lights or other issues, including failure to start, inability to shift into gear, or operation limited to limp mode.

Post-installation checks

1. Verify that the installed equipment is working properly by using the Motive Fleet installation app. 
2. Ensure that the vehicle starts, idles, and runs as it did before installation, and that no new malfunction indicator lights have appeared. 

Installation Policies

Approved electrical connection methods

1. All Motive provided cables
2. Add-a-circuit fuse holders
3. OEM splice pack pin connectors 
4. Rivet nuts - Normally reserved for Omnicam installs and/or Asset Gateways mounted on a semi-trailer’s aluminum skin. 
5. Posi-Lock connectors - Posi-Tap for dry areas and Posi-Tite in areas exposed to moisture. 
6. Stainless steel, heat-shrink butt connectors, ring terminals, and bullet connectors. 
7. Solder – If you lack soldering experience, we recommend that you do not attempt it during an installation.
   • Take precautions to avoid dripping solder, which can damage interiors or other wiring.

Unsupported connection methods

Note: For customers managing their own installations, Motive strongly recommends against using these connector types due to reliability and safety concerns. However, customers who choose to self-install assume all risk for their chosen methods.

1. Never source power or ground by making a wire-to-wire splice to an OBD-II or other type of diagnostic connector 
2. Scotch locks
3. T-taps
4. Wire nuts
5. Spade connectors
6. Fuse blades
7. Poke and Loop/Wrap technique

Fusing standards

1. All power feeds to Motive devices must be installed using a 3–5 amp fuse located within 6" inches (15cm) of the connection to the power source unless otherwise specified. 
   • Use a 2-amp fuse for OmniCam installations.  
2. Inline fuses (3–5 amp) must be added within 6” inches (15 cm) of any unfused power feed.
3. Waterproof fuse holders are required when a fuse must be added to a power line connection including fuses installed inside and outside the cabs of vehicles and assets.

Electrical connections inside a dry cab

For acceptable connectors, see the Approved electrical connection methods section above.

1. Stainless steel connectors with heat shrink are required in all install locations whether inside or outside a dry cab. 
2. Conceal wiring under trim or sill panels, headliners, and carpet.
3. Always protect wire runs in areas exposed to moisture, debris, or high traffic with protective plastic wire loom.

Electrical connections outside a cab

1. Stainless steel connectors with heat shrink are required in all install locations, whether inside or outside a dry cab.
2. Only use stainless steel or zinc-coated weather-resistant mounting screws and bolts.
3. Consider applying dielectric grease to any connection that is not located in a dry area.  
4. Refer to Acceptable connectors: see the Approved electrical connection methods section above.

Grounding instructions

Improper grounding can damage vehicle electronics and create safety hazards. The following are Motive’s recommended grounding methods. Installers should have expertise in vehicle electrical systems and verify the appropriateness of any grounding method for the specific vehicle being serviced.

Heavy trucks & construction equipment 

Do not ground to the cab’s chassis with a self-tapping screw. 

The chassis of these vehicles often rides on rubber grommets, which make ad-hoc chassis grounding a risk to damage ECM/ECU’s and other sensitive electronic equipment. 

You may create a heavy truck, construction, or agricultural equipment ground using the following methods: 

1. Factory-marked OEM splice packs ground wires
2. A factory-marked grounding bolt or buss bar
3. Extend the device ground to the battery’s negative terminal
4. An engine location with an existing grounding point 

Light-duty vehicles

Tie into an OEM-designated grounding point when available. If one is not available, use a heatshrink ring terminal and a self-tapping screw to make an isolated chassis ground.

Butt connectors, ring terminals

• Use stainless steel connectors with heat-shrink for all electrical connections inside or outside the cab. An exception for Add-A-Circuits is allowed. 

Add-a-circuit holders

1. Use only add-a-circuit style adapters, never standard fuse taps.
2. Protect new circuits with a 3–5 amp fuse feeding the tracking device. Use no larger than a 2 amp fuse for OmniCam installations.

Posi-lock connectors

These connector types are allowed for use under the following guidelines. 

1. Use Posi-Tap connectors in dry areas
2. Use Posi-Tite in wet areas and areas regularly exposed to the elements. Environments such as sea air contain enough salt to quickly corrode connectors.

Cable management

Installation of devices and harness routing should never interfere with the driver or normal operation of the vehicle. 

1. Create a 6” circular loop with any excess harness length and zip tie it to a stable location.

2. Pay special attention to avoid moving parts such as shift levers, steering column, telescoping steering wheels, and sources of high heat. 
3. Devices and harnesses must be secured to stable brackets and/or wiring bundles. Use as many tie wraps as necessary to secure the device.  
4. Secure harnesses outside the cab using tie-wraps every 12” at minimum and/or by using cable management mounts. 
5. Create a drip loop when necessary to prevent water ingress where a harness enters/exits a vehicle or asset.

Drilling guidelines

1. Always obtain customer permission before drilling into vehicles or assets.
2. Always check both sides of the surface before drilling to ensure no adjacent equipment will be damaged. 
3. Use 2-sided rubber grommets and protective loom when routing any wiring through a pass-through hole.
4. Use weatherproof 100% silicone to seal pass-throughs.

Mounting and securing Vehicle Gateways and Asset Gateways

1. Approved fastening methods include cable ties, screws, industrial-grade VHB fastener tape, hook-and-loop, and dual-lock fasteners with an industrial-grade VHB backer depending on device type and mounting surface.
2. Install Vehicle Gateways with the Motive logo facing up or outward toward the vehicle body. 
3. Do not mount devices under metal support plates or components that will appreciably degrade GPS/Cell signal strength.
4. Do not unplug vehicle gateways during setup or firmware updates. 

Mounting and securing Dashcams

1. Clean and dry the mounting surface with the supplied alcohol wipes before applying the adhesive device mounts.
2. Position road-facing cameras so they are able to see the hood and mirrors with the horizon near the center of the camera’s vertical view.
3. Position Driver-facing cameras to capture the Driver from the waist up, with minimal obstructions. 
4. Do not unplug cameras during setup or firmware updates.

Compliance with FMCSA Regulations (U.S.A.)

Ensure the Dashcam’s mounting location complies with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Regulations.

This summary is provided for informational purposes only and represents Motive’s understanding of applicable regulations. 

Installers must independently verify compliance with all applicable federal, state, and local regulations. Motive assumes no liability for regulatory non-compliance. When in doubt, consult with legal counsel or regulatory experts before proceeding with installation.

Summary of FMCSA regulation Title 49 CFR § 393.60(e)(2)(ii)(ABC)

Devices with vehicle safety technologies must be mounted:

(A) Not more than 216 mm (8.5 inches) below the upper edge of the area swept by the windshield wipers;

(B) Not more than 175 mm (7 inches) above the lower edge of the area swept by the windshield wipers; and

(C) Outside the driver's sight lines to the road and highway signs and signals.

Customers outside the United States should refer to their country’s national and local regulations when mounting camera systems.

Note: For U.K. customers, refer to DVSA and MOTS inspection requirements for cameras mounted to windscreens in Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV). The Motive AIDC+ camera qualifies as a driver monitoring safety system, which allows mounting in the area defined as ZONE B of their requirements.

Roll-over protective structures (ROPS)

• Roll-over protective structures, Tip-over protective structures, and Falling Object protective structures will be collectively referred to as ROPS in this document.  
• Do not drill into, or use any size mounting screws or bolts on, any part of the ROPS. Doing so may violate OSHA and Department of Labor requirements and may create costly repair or recertification issues. 
• ROPS are a critical piece of safety equipment. OSHA regulations require these operator and equipment protective structures for some, but not all construction equipment, agricultural, and heavy trucks in official OSHA and Dept. of Labor guidance. When uncertain whether a structure qualifies as ROPS or whether a proposed installation method is permissible, installers should consult the equipment manufacturer, a qualified safety engineer, or an OSHA compliance specialist before proceeding. Motive assumes no liability for installations that compromise ROPS integrity or violate safety regulations.

How to identify roll-over protective structures

Per OSHA requirement 1928.51(c), each ROPS structure shall have a label, permanently affixed to the structure.

1. Check for an ROPS label: This is the most direct way to confirm a structure is a certified ROPS. The label must include:
   • The manufacturer's or fabricator's name and address.
   • The ROPS model number, if applicable.
   • The specific tractor or equipment makes, models, or series numbers the ROPS is designed to fit.
   • A statement that the ROPS model was tested in accordance with OSHA requirements.
2. Inspect the structure: A ROPS will appear as a sturdy, securely mounted frame:
   • It can be a two- or four-post frame.
   • The structure is designed to provide a zone of protection for the operator.
   • Some ROPS may be folding, designed to reduce overhead clearance.
3. Look for a seatbelt: A ROPS structure works in conjunction with a seatbelt to keep the operator within the protected zone. The presence of a manufacturer-installed seatbelt is a strong indicator that the structure is a certified ROPS. 
4. Consult the equipment's owner's manual or the equipment manufacturer to verify the specific structures the manufacturer defines as ROPS. 

Warranty and support implications

Customers who do not follow these guidelines may experience limitations in warranty coverage and support. 

Specifically: 

• Installations using unsupported connection methods or materials may void applicable product warranties.
• Improper installation may limit Motive’s ability to provide technical support or troubleshooting assistance.
• Motive reserves the right to deny warranty claims or support requests where installation does not meet these guidelines or where installation quality contributed to the reported issue.
• For complete warranty terms and conditions, refer to your product warranty documentation and purchase agreement.
• Installation partners who consistently fail to meet these guidelines may have their partnership agreements suspended or terminated.

Important Notice

These installation guidelines are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute professional installation advice, instructions, or specifications. Installation of Motive devices should only be performed by trained, qualified professionals with expertise in automotive electrical systems and vehicle modification.

Motive makes no representations or warranties regarding the completeness, accuracy, or adequacy of these guidelines for any particular installation. The customer assumes all risk and liability for installation outcomes, including but not limited to vehicle damage, safety issues, regulatory non-compliance, or product malfunction.

If you choose to install Motive devices yourself, you proceed at your own risk. Motive strongly recommends using authorized installation partners and disclaims all liability for self-performed installations.

Disclaimer

These guidelines are provided for informational and guidance purposes only and do not constitute professional installation advice, instructions, warranties, or guarantees of any kind.

• No liability: Motive assumes no liability for installation outcomes, vehicle damage, equipment malfunction, personal injury, property damage, safety issues, or regulatory non-compliance arising from following or deviating from these guidelines.
• Professional installation required: Installations should only be performed by trained, qualified professionals with demonstrated expertise in automotive electrical systems, vehicle modification, and applicable safety regulations.
• Independent verification required: You are solely responsible for independently verifying compliance with all applicable federal, state, local, and international laws, regulations, and industry standards, including but not limited to FMCSA, OSHA, and Department of Labor requirements.
• Customer acknowledgment: Customers who choose to perform their own installations or engage third-party installation resources outside of Motive’s professional installation partner agreements do so entirely at their own risk.
• No training provided: This document does not provide installation training and should not be relied upon as a substitute for proper professional training and certification.
• Warranty implications: Installations not meeting these guidelines may void product warranties and limit Motive’s support obligations. Refer to your product warranty documentation for complete terms and conditions.

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