Q. How do I know a vendor is ELD certified?
A. Manufacturers are responsible for registering their ELDs with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration by certifying that they meet the technical specifications set forth in the ELD rule.
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A. Drivers are not the only ones who will have to adjust to ELDs. Law enforcement officials will need to be trained as well. Given the variety of automated onboard recording devices (AOBRDs) and electronic logging devices (ELDs), along with the different software platforms, there may be some confusion at the time of a roadside inspection.
Fleets would be wise to make sure all their drivers are well educated about the information they need to provide during an inspection. Make sure your drivers can identify which hours of service (HOS) recording method they are using and make sure they understand which data displays are appropriate for each HOS recording method.
As of December 18, 2017, ELDs must support one of two options for electronic data transfer, according to the ELD rule:
1. The first option is a "telematics" transfer type ELD. At a minimum, it must electronically transfer data to an authorized safety official on demand via wireless web services and e-mail.
2. The second option is a "local" transfer type ELD. At a minimum, it must electronically transfer data to an authorized safety official on demand via USB2.0 and Bluetooth.
Drivers must be able to transfer data for the last seven days and the current day.
To ensure that law enforcement is always able to receive the hours of service data during a roadside inspection, a driver must be able to provide either the display or a printout when an authorized safety official requests a physical display of the information. However, it's unknown when or how many enforcement officials will be using the electronic transfer functions, especially at first. It is the driver's responsibility to display the log, and if the driver fails to do so, the officer will write the driver up for not having the log or not being trained on how to use the logging device.
Inspectors will ask drivers to hand the ELD outside the vehicle. This means the ELD needs to be designed in such a way that the display can be seen without the inspector entering the vehicle.
Drivers will also need to have the user manual for the device, a sheet with step-by-step instructions on how to transfer data, and a supply of paper grid-graphs to record driving status for at least eight days in the event the ELD malfunctions.
Associate VP, Commercial Vehicle Solutions
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A. Manufacturers are responsible for registering their ELDs with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration by certifying that they meet the technical specifications set forth in the ELD rule.
A. What types of rule sets and exemptions do you support? Do these meet your organizational needs? Does your device meet the Hours of Service (HOS) compliance and reporting requirements?
A. Firstly, it's important to establish policies and practices to address any challenges that you foresee with ELD implementation by meeting with your fleet team.
A. What information is recorded by the ELD? How accurate is the data recorded by the device?
A. ELDs in combination with advanced Open Platform telematics capabilities provide remote engine monitoring, fuel usage monitoring, MPG, receipt and invoice scanning at the point of delivery, and the ability to geofence trucks and track arrival and departure dates and times.
A. Light-and medium-duty fleets have been capitalizing on the benefits for several years, so now is the time for the trucking industry to enjoy those same benefits.
A. You can improve routing efficiency and reduce drive time by planning routes based on customer locations, pick-up and drop-off times, and traffic patterns.
A. Cost can be an issue to some fleets before they understand the overall return on investment and cost savings that are made possible with a open platform fleet management solution.
A. Regardless of your fleet's size, telematics can reduce costs, reduce idling, improve driver behavior, and keep your vehicles well-maintained and running smoothly.
A. To remain in compliance with the ELD mandate, owner-operators must install these ELDs.
A. Telematics not only helps you keep track of your current fleet, but can help you make data-driven decisions about its future.
A. When it comes to telematics, it's important to consider a solution that provides much more than just GPS location on a map.
A. As with any new technology or process that you introduce, there will be a transition and training period. The great news is that you can begin equipping some of your trucks with ELDs now, letting your business and drivers become familiar with them well ahead of the deadline.
A. On February 15, 2017, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration issued new guidance on the use of older logging devices and compliance extension dates. Fleets will now have until December 2019 to comply with the ELD mandate.
A. Experts say that fleets will likely see a drop in productivity when transitioning from paper logs to ELDs. This can be chalked up to the expected learning curve when adapting to a new technology.
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