{"id":1017,"date":"2016-08-26T18:45:41","date_gmt":"2016-08-26T18:45:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/?p=1017"},"modified":"2017-02-07T23:12:41","modified_gmt":"2017-02-07T23:12:41","slug":"unanswered-questions-on-eld-usage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/unanswered-questions-on-eld-usage\/","title":{"rendered":"Unanswered Questions on ELD Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

For some, the need for electronic logging devices (ELDs) comes with a list of unanswered questions. Many believe the devices aren\u2019t completely necessary, although for larger fleets ELDs help make back office duties run much more efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n

[wp_ad_camp_2]<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

Others point to the potential fuel savings brought on by ELD use, but are there other, more effective ways to reduce idling, speed, safety gains or unnecessary miles? Perhaps, but that may not be the full story.<\/p>\n

The fact is, the hours-of-service rules likely cause accidents not because of anything the ELD can fix, but because truck drivers are forced out of their natural rhythms and sleep patterns.<\/p>\n

Another point of contention lies in parking issues. It is likely many HOS violations happen because the operator finds a hard time finding a place to rest during their mandated downtime. As they drive and drive to find a spot, they may be going over hours. The expectation is that an ELD will only make it worse.<\/p>\n

Does No Paper Make Up for It?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Of course, having a lot less paperwork with no logbooks to manage is definitely a big draw for both company drivers and owner-operators. But are the benefits on the front end outweighed by the potential costs?<\/p>\n

While dispatchers should never ask operators to stretch the numbers, just as operators should not want to fudge them, where is the margin for those who, say, can\u2019t find a place to park in that moment? Is there enough flexibility built into the system?<\/p>\n

Beyond questions of what may arise on the fly, other questions come in other forms, one such being what operators do when they have to rent a truck.<\/p>\n

What If It\u2019s a Rental?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Trucking experts know quite well that the December ELD implementation rule will not be a simple matter of getting rid of the old to make way for the new. There are hiccups that will arise as companies cope with the new paradigm.<\/p>\n

In fact, the Truck Rental and Leasing Association was reportedly \u201cdisappointed\u201d when their recommendation for a rental vehicle exemption rule as not accepted by the FMCSA once the final rule was published.<\/p>\n

The main concern lies in what trucks rented to different businesses and commercial customer types will do when renters have varying ELD log requirements. Another consideration is in how managed the data that ELDs produce. With different technologies and different platforms working together, the FMCSA has provided no clear guidance on who does what.<\/p>\n

Who Does It Effect?<\/strong><\/p>\n

While it must be noted that the majority of rental companies would be exempt, due to their 100- and 150-mile radius, there is a certain percentage who would fall under the regulation\u2019s umbrella.<\/p>\n

What this does is require every truck in a rental fleet to be retrofitted with ELD technology<\/a>, whether or not the customer needs to utilize it. Having to deal with ELD data generated by different platforms makes it crucial for a motor carrier to find the right telematics partner.<\/p>\n

The expense required to retrofit vehicles and find the time or partner to analyze the data is not small, and it is likely some smaller rental companies may not survive the change. There are some questions to consider, however, before selecting an ELD solution:<\/p>\n