Electronic Logging Devices – About Time for the FMCSA ELD Mandate

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) declared a long-awaited change in December 2015 to transport industry regulations – all motor carriers must carry electronic logging devices. The ELD Final Rule (also known as the FMCSA ELD Mandate) has 4 major elements –

1. Commercial truck and bus drivers must adopt ELDs within two years instead of using paper log books;
2. Strict safeguards against driver harassment arising from the use of the ELDs;
3. Performance, design and technology requirements for ELDs for standardized implementation;
4. Establishing new hours-of-service supporting document (shipping documents, fuel purchase receipts, etc.)

An Electronic Logging Device (ELD) electronically records a driver’s duty records, and is set to replace pen-and-paper provisions to record the time on duty of drivers still used by many transporters. Transporters have been awaiting these regulations for some time now. The regulation will allow technology to prevent compliance issues and ensure the safety of drivers. It is estimated to save around $1 billion by reducing the reliance and use of paper. Also, it is predicted that this rule will save 26 lives and prevent some of the 1,844 crashes that involve transport vehicles annually. The FMCSA Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Mandate is thus a harbinger of positive change, and a good illustration of how the use of technology can increase efficiency, especially with positive changes in transportation industry regulations.

THE FMCSA ELD Mandate not only lays down guidelines for the implementation of this new compliance requirement, it also lays down some protections for employees and a 2 year period before these regulations come attached with liability. This is the perfect opportunity for transporters to adopt these regulations and ensure that come the December 18, 2017 deadline, they are ready to roll out their fleet in compliance. Their drivers should be fully aware of their safeguards, and their systems should be ready to account for the data from ELDs and being able to use them.

The ELD Mandate: How it Will Affect You!, a webinar hosted by AudioSolutionz with expert speaker Mark Dixon, will addresses the impact of the mandate on your trucking company and help you prepare for the deadline dates and discuss the provisions of the new ruling. The ELD Mandate will affect everyone in the trucking industry and knowledge is the key to preparedness.