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Post by Jan 5, 2023 12:35:49 PM · 2 min read

ELD Implementation Guide for Carriers

ELD Mandate Approaching Compliance Date.

The ELD (Electronic Logging Device mandate is a U.S. Federal Government regulation specifying that operators of commercial motor vehicles covered by this law will be required to use ELDs.

December 18th, 2017 marks the Compliance Date which comes 2 years after the ELD Rule Publication on February 16th, 2016. There will also be a phased-in compliance phase over the course of 2 years: December 18th, 2017 to December 16th, 2019. During this timeframe, carriers and drivers subject to the rule can still use AOBRDS (Automatic on-Board Recording Devices) if they were installed prior to December 18th, 2017, otherwise Self-Certified and registered ELDs with FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) are required.

After December 16th, 2019 all drivers and carriers subject to the rule must use self-certified ELDs that are registered with FMCSA.

With the introduction of this mandate, Logistics Management will arguably become more accurate, easier to track and will increase driver work environment. However, trucking companies and drivers are trying to raise awareness about the negative impacts they anticipate from the ELD mandate, mostly around skyrocketing costs without providing the promoted safety benefits. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association also opposes the mandate. Congressman Bill Babin is supporting a bill which would delay the mandate by 2 years until December 2019. As of yet, the ELD mandate implementation date has not been delayed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Carriers – Compliance Checklist

Transportation companies covered by the ELD mandate have the ultimate responsibility of providing the necessary and lawful tools to all parties involved.

1.) Evaluate and select ELDs. Very important for carriers to keep in mind is that the ELD’s are self-certified by the manufacturer and not the FMCSA. Therefore, requirements need to be scrutinized when selecting a device.

2.) Develop and implement training programs for Drivers, Administrative Staff, Compliance Managers and any other ELD users. Crucial for the success of the ELD usage implementation is the development Best Practices related to topics such as: compliance requirements and processes, submission & retention of required supporting documents, reporting & resolving ELD malfunctions or other technical issues, proper editing of records and others.

3.) Ensure the derivers understand and have the ability of using ELDs by deadline.

4.) Ensure availability of required documentation in vehicles. Carriers must have available no more than 8 documents per day for each driver, retained for 6 months.

5.) Ensure maintenance of ELD data backup on separate systems. Backup data must be available at all times for past 6 months and it also must be securely stored for privacy protection.

6.) Comply with harassment protection.

 

ELD Exceptions

The following are not required to use ELDs under the U.S. federal regulation:

1.) Drivers who use paper logs for no more than 8 days during any 30-day period.

2.) Driveaway-towaway drivers (were the vehicle driven is the commodity) or the vehicle being transported is a motor home or a recreation vehicle trailer (at least one set of wheels of the vehicle being transported must be on the surface while being transported).

3.) Drivers of vehicles manufactured before model year 2000.

While the lawmakers and the transportation industry seem to not fully agree on the matter, the deadline is approaching. Will December 18th 2017 mark the ELD mandate implementation day or will the powers to be grant a delay? We’ll soon find out.

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