Electronic logging devices (ELDs) automate the recording of commercial driving hours – Hours of Service (HOS) – to make sure drivers adhere to the legal limits, with the aim of reducing unsafe or fatigued driving. ELDs would also make the collection and reporting of driver hours easier and quicker.
Provision for ELDs was included with MAP-21 (Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act), which was designed by the FMCSA to modernize transport systems and signed into law on July 6, 2012.
The ELD mandate rules were published in the United States on December 2015 by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and compliance was expected of all drivers using paper logbooks by December 18, 2017. Drivers currently using Automatic Onboard Recording Devices (AOBRDs) were required to transition to e-logs by December 2019 (also known as the “grandfather clause”).
The ELD mandate specified that commercial drivers needed to use one of the self-certified logging devices listed on the DOT website to record driving hours.
Some commercial drivers, vehicles and driving operations are currently exempted including:
The FMCSA are reviewing exemptions and may update these in time. Read this article to learn more about ELD exemptions.
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Any change can be hard but there are benefits for switching from paper logs to a digital ELD solution.
The use of ELDs can make it easier for truck drivers to stay compliant, automating the recording of on-duty, off-duty and driving operations. Because the hardware is directly connected to the vehicle it improves the accuracy of HOS logs and can reduce the chance of being fined for things like missing or out-of-date logs, exceeding the daily limit, and form and manner errors.
A certified ELD solution can help give drivers peace of mind during inspections, reducing downtime and minimizing the chance of fines or demerit points, which can cost your business thousands of dollars and even require you to cease operations.
With automated ELD record keeping and reporting, any DOT audits and roadside inspections can be managed quickly, efficiently and with a minimum of stress.
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