{"id":2317,"date":"2020-05-11T15:57:05","date_gmt":"2020-05-11T15:57:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/?p=2317"},"modified":"2020-05-11T15:57:07","modified_gmt":"2020-05-11T15:57:07","slug":"why-truckers-need-tough-devices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/why-truckers-need-tough-devices\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Truckers Need Tough Devices"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Truck drivers are on the road working long hours and putting their devices and driving accessories through a lot of use. And since the ELD rule first took hold way back in 2017, trucking companies have found themselves having to adjust how they monitor their truck drivers and what technology they use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>                                                                 [wp_ad_camp_2]                  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As of December, of last year, the ELD rule is finally,\ncompletely in place. As it stands, the ELD mandate requires truck drivers to\nuse an electronic logging device to record their hours of service as part of\ntheir normal record of duty status (RODS) time. While there are some exceptions\nto the rule, for the most part, those who are not properly logging their time\ncan expect a violation that impacts both truck driver and motor carrier. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>No one wants to be put out of service, but you never know\nwhat could happen. In some extreme circumstances, a fleet\u2019s entire operation\ncan be put under the spotlight of an audit by the FMCSA. This is the worst-case\nscenario. That is why it is so important to ensure you are using the proper\ndevice and properly complying. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A Recap on the Rule<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To ensure compliance with the ELD mandate, truck drivers are\nrequired to provide an inspector with either a printout of their RODS or they\nmust be able to pull it up on the display of the ELD. Truck drivers must also\nhave a data transfer capability that supports Bluetooth or USB 2.0 data\ntransfer. Although these may seem like technical matters, not complying with\nthem can easily result in a needless violation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The ELD mandate consists of many regulations. For the\npurpose of today\u2019s blog article, we are going to talk about the rules that\ncover the device\u2019s display. There is a rule that allows for a computer, tablet,\nor smartphone to be used to e-sign and store a truck driver\u2019s RODS information.\nFor more specific information on the display guidelines, see <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fmcsa.dot.gov\/regulations\/title49\/section\/395.8\">FMCSR 395.8<\/a>.\nIn short, the display must show:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>A daily header<\/li><li>A graph grid<\/li><li>Driving duty status changes<\/li><li>Daily log data<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Today you can get an ELD that has all of these and more.\nMany companies now offer comprehensive telematics integration into their ELDs.\nYou can track everything from events to specified driving data. We went from a\nsituation with too many disparate devices to a more unified environment. But\nwith so much at stake, how do you ensure your trucking company stays in\ntechnical compliance?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Maintaining Technical Compliance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the biggest problems motor carriers have been having is remaining in technical compliance. From 2017 to 2018, it was the wild, wild west of ELD compliance. New companies were coming onto the market and fleets were not entirely yet sure what was a quality product and what would be insufficient and result in a violation. Fleets would sign up with a company only to find them go out of business and then there is no support for the machines they just purchased. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>                                                                 [wp_ad_camp_2]                  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Motor carriers now look to partner with vendors wo have a\nproven track record and longevity in the industry. The last thing a successful\nfleet manager wants is to be left high and dry when their preferred ELD vendor\ngoes out of business. Fortunately, there are other providers who can step into\nthe gap. But how much business is lost in the meantime?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Maintaining technical compliance becomes a lot harder when a\ndevice cannot be relied on. If an ELD is detached from the main docking\ncomponent in the cab, what if it is dropped? Will you have to find yourself\nanother ELD provider because the device you have now is not rugged enough for\nthe job? This is especially true if you are operating in harsh environments.\nBut how do you go about finding a vendor that has the device you need?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Finding a Vendor<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now that the rule has been in place for a few years, the\nmarket has had time to mature. Most of the players in the space now have been\nsuccessful and offer solutions that can be relied upon. These aren\u2019t companies\nthat are likely to go out of business tomorrow. Still, that does not mean it is\ngoing to be easy to pick the right partner. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As we have learned throughout this process, not all ELD\nhardware is created equal. On a fundamental level, an ELD vendor needs to have\nexperience and a positive reputation within the trucking industry. Do they come\nwith solid referrals from other trucking companies? How well do they <a href=\"https:\/\/quicktransportsolutions.com\/blog\/what-to-do-if-your-eld-is-not-compliant\/\">abide\nby the rules<\/a>? Consider the following questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Can the provider verify that its device meets\nall of the technical specifications in the ELD Rule?<\/li><li>Does its display include the required\nstandardized data to authorized safety officials on demand \u2014 including the\nthree display elements: a daily header, a graph grid showing driving duty\nstatus changes, and detailed daily log data?<\/li><li>Is it capable of transferring data either via\nUSB 2.0 or Bluetooth and\/or via a web or e-mail transfer interface?<\/li><li>Does it have a volume control or mute\nfunctionality?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If there is a malfunction or problem with the device, what\ncontingency plans does the vendor have in place? And how quickly can they come\nto your aid if you have questions, comments, concerns or recommendations?\nAlways remember that there is a timeline between when you discover a problem\nwith your device and when it needs to be fixed: Only eight days. And it does not\nmatter whether you have one device or 100, they all need to be addressed within\nthat eight-day window. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beyond finding a vendor, however, you need to consider the\ndevice. If you are running construction loads on heavy dirt roads or getting in\nand out of your truck, it may be time to consider a device that can take a\nbeating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Why Rugged Devices Are Practical<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Truck drivers are using their devices daily. And if you are\nusing smartphones or tablets to emulate the job an ELD does, then you want to\nmake sure the device doesn\u2019t prematurely break. These things are not cheap. So,\nwhat should you look for in a tough tablet?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The ability to handle constant wear and tear.<\/li><li>Resistance to major fluctuations in temperature.\n<\/li><li>Not easily breakable when dropped from a short\ndistance.<\/li><li>Portable and strong cellular or WiFi\nconnectivity.<\/li><li>Long-lasting batteries that won\u2019t require truck\ndrivers to constantly monitor their systems.<\/li><li>A bright, easily readable display that can be\nread just as easily at noon as it is at midnight.<\/li><li>All-environment support with the ability to be\noperated while the user is wearing gloves. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>When you work in an industry with lots of movement,\nvibration, and location changes, it is not difficult to see how investing in\ntough devices is a smart investment decision. The fact is a tough device will\nhelp keep a fleet operating violation-free no matter what conditions they are\nworking in. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Also consider that tough, rugged devices are more reliable\nand offer longer up-time than their more conventional counterparts. Devices\nbuilt for toughness generally have a far lower failure rate all while they can\nbe used in tougher and more taxing environments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The Final Word<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One thing to consider is cost. Because a higher level of\nengineering goes into making devices that last, you will usually find they come\nwith a higher price tag. But consider your return on investment. Generally, the\nlong life of these devices will result in them paying for themselves within the\nfirst 12 months of use. It does not matter what size your fleet is, there are\ntough tablet and rugged device options for any size and application. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In many cases, you can also find a variety of comprehensive warranty and customer service options for tough devices. You want to go with an option that provides for repairs and replacements within 24 hours of the original service ticket being entered. Is there also an end-of-life cycle option? Some OEMs provide replacements provided the fleet turns in the old devices. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>                                                                 [wp_ad_camp_2]                  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the end, you will have more peace of mind knowing the\ndevices you invest your hard-earned money on won\u2019t prematurely fail on you.\nAfter all, it was a wise man that once said, \u201cThe bitter taste of low quality\nlingers far after the sweet taste of low price fades away.\u201d Do the smart thing\nand pick quality over quantity when you are investing in compliance-critical\ndevices. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Truck drivers are on the road working long hours and putting their devices and driving accessories through a lot of use. And since the ELD rule first took hold way back in 2017, trucking companies have found themselves having to adjust how they monitor their truck drivers and what technology they use. 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