NTTC Supports Mandatory Electronic Logging Devices

The National Tank Truck Carriers announced that its membership supports mandatory electronic logging devices for documentary compliance with hours of service rules.

The NTTC voted to support the electronic logging mandate at its summer membership meeting last July, but withheld issuance of any public proclamation pending any related developments in the HOS rulemaking.

The association's announcement follows that of the National Private Truck Council last week, and previous announcements by the Truckload Carriers Association and the American Trucking Associations.

Like the Truckload Carriers Association, which calls the technology e-logs, the NTTC chooses to not use the term electronic onboard recorders, or EOBRs.

"Personally, as a former professional driver myself, I've been a strong proponent of in-cab technology for years," said Steve Rush, NTTC chairman and CEO of New Jersey-based Carbon Express. "Our NTTC membership recognizes that ELDs will allow all carriers to equally police themselves which can only lead to safer, better operations across the board"

Rush also said electronic log technology will greatly contribute to improved working conditions for professional drivers, which will be a large factor as capacity tightens and driver recruiting grows more challenging.

In March, TCA adopted a new policy in favor of electronic logging and will support the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's proposed near-universal mandate for electronic onboard recorders (EOBRs) to track driver hours of service.

The American Trucking Associations followed suit earlier this month, announcing that its membership endorsed a policy supporting federal laws and regulations that would require trucking companies to use electronic logging devices to monitor driver hours-of-service.

The current FMCSA rule, which will go into effect June 4, 2012, says that carriers that violate hours of service rules 10 percent of the time, based on single compliance review, must use electronic onboard recorders to track driver hours. It will affect only 5,700 interstate carriers.

The rule the agency is now proposing, which will go into effect three years after it is made final, will cover all of the approximately 500,000 carriers now required to maintain driver logs.

The Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association opposes mandatory electronic logs.