{"id":1666,"date":"2018-02-14T06:19:10","date_gmt":"2018-02-14T06:19:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/?p=1666"},"modified":"2018-02-14T06:19:10","modified_gmt":"2018-02-14T06:19:10","slug":"your-ultimate-eld-mandate-guide-part-i","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/your-ultimate-eld-mandate-guide-part-i\/","title":{"rendered":"Your Ultimate ELD Mandate Guide \u2013 Part I"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019ve written about it a lot, but with the ELD mandate now upon us, we wanted to take a moment to put together what we hope is one of the most comprehensive guides to navigating the ELD mandate in existence. There is a lot to consider as one of the largest new regulations governing the trucking industry in a generation goes into effect and it is important to be prepared. Are you fully aware of every aspect of the ELD mandate? Get ready to bookmark these blogs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Whether you are a fleet manager, owner-operator, or shop technician<\/a>, the ELD mandate touches some aspect of what you do. What are some of your top ELD mandate questions? In Part I of our two-part series on the topic, we will go line-by-line to address what we hope are all the questions you could possibly have. Let\u2019s dive in.<\/p>\n

What is the ELD Mandate?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We get it, you likely don\u2019t have this question because if you work in the trucking industry, you probably know exactly what it is. A trucker would have to be spending most of his or her time in a cave to have not yet heard of the ELD mandate. Passed by the Obama Administration \u2013 and one of the remaining regulations under the Trump Administration \u2013 the electronic logging device mandate, as it is called in long-form, will have gone into effect on December 18, 2017.<\/p>\n

The mandate itself requires most fleets to cease using paper logs and begin using electronic logging devices. In cases where a fleet is using an AOBRD \u2013 or automatic on-board recording device \u2013 they will be able to continue using the devices for up to two more years. The final date by which AOBRDs will need to be switched out for an ELD is December 16, 2019.<\/p>\n

The ELD mandate was born out of a need to replace the legacy process of tracking time and movements by paper. While there have been many sides taken in the debate over the ELD, from both within the trucking industry and without, if the ELD mandate was intended for a benign reason, it was to streamline a process that had become quite cumbersome.<\/p>\n

While many do not agree with the ELD mandate, it certainly is here. With the industry required to comply with it, let\u2019s take a closer look at the device itself.<\/p>\n

Examining the ELD <\/strong><\/p>\n

An electronic logging device is a technical piece of equipment designed to record specific vehicle parameters and information. It is generally synchronized with the vehicle\u2019s engine and may or may not also be in communication with other sensors around the truck \u2013 or with dispatch.<\/p>\n

ELDs come from many different manufacturers, and finding one compatible with your fleet- and use-type is extremely important. ELDs should also allow truck drivers to add entries where their record of duty status (RODS) is concerned.<\/p>\n

A primary function of an ELD should also be to communicate with law enforcement where required. It should be able to adequately show compliance with existing hours of service regulations.<\/p>\n

ELDs are also quite different from the previously mentioned AOBRDs. It is important for fleets to remember that not all AOBRDs meet the specifications laid out by the FMCSA. ELDs are held to a higher standard. ELDs must be able to handle log edits, annotations, and communication with other systems, those used by both manufacturers, fleets and law enforcement.<\/p>\n

Yet, where ELDs must provide a new set of information, some fleets can still convert their AOBRDs into ELDs. There are cases where they look different, but they can still produce much the same information, depending on the application.<\/p>\n

Another question many have asked is whether an ELD must be its own specific device or not, or if can be a piece of software on a smartphone or other device, and the answer is yes. If the device being used meets the reporting and editing requirements set forth by the FMCSA, it is clear for use as an ELD device in a commercial motor vehicle.<\/p>\n

It is important to note that if you are using a smartphone or other wireless device, it must be mounted in an upright position during vehicle operation. Although smartphones and other devices can be used, in many cases they cannot meet some of the core mandate requirements. For example, without proper software, a smartphone by itself cannot record distance. Always ensure you are staying compliant by using the proper device. Specifically, the device must meet the requirements of 49 CFR 395.15<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Yet, an even more important thing is to ensure fleets know what the key components of the regulation are that their ELD must follow. It is one thing to have the device, but it is another to follow the rules.<\/p>\n

Examining the Regulation<\/strong><\/p>\n

While installing an ELD device that conforms to FMCSA-guided specifications sits at the core of the ELD mandate, there is a regulatory sub-surface driving the enforcement component. The regulatory component includes the following:<\/p>\n

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  1. Commercial truck drivers must use an ELD to prepare HOS records.<\/li>\n
  2. ELD manufacturers and the ELDs themselves must be certified and registered by the FMCSA.<\/li>\n
  3. Commercial truck drivers and motor carriers must have a specific set of supporting documents to cross-reference information contained within the ELD or requested by law enforcement.<\/li>\n
  4. Commercial truck drivers cannot be harassed based on ELD data.<\/li>\n
  5. A recourse for truck drivers who feel that they have been a party to harassment.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Expect both state and federal law enforcement to immediately begin applying specific regulatory guidelines regarding the rule come December 18.<\/p>\n

    How Does the ELD Do Its Job?<\/strong><\/p>\n

    An ELD designed to the correct specifications should do several different things. There are many different data sets that it tracks, and they include:<\/p>\n