If you’re considering ELDs for your fleet, it’s essential to understand what they are and how they work. This comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know about ELDs, including the ELD mandate, who requires them, and how they benefit truck drivers and companies. ELDs are electronic solutions that record a driver’s Hours of Service (HOS) status to ensure compliance with FMCSA regulations. They also include GPS trackers that provide real-time vehicle location data.
How ELDs Work
ELDs are electronic devices that track hours of service (HOS) for commercial drivers, making them a crucial part of any fleet. They automate HOS by recording data points automatically, eliminating the need for manual logging and streamlining compliance. They also help reduce fuel wastage, lower commercial insurance premiums, and improve route management. Fleet managers must install electronic logging devices in each vehicle and comply with federal regulations. The device collects information about the car and driver’s engine diagnostics and then transmits that information to a mobile app for logging. Most ELDs use a cellular connection to share data, but some require an adapter and can use Bluetooth. A wide range of ELDs are for sale, so choosing one that suits your needs is essential. Look for a device that is FMCSA-registered and meets the minimum requirements. The ELD must also be durable enough to withstand the rigors of the road and easy to install and use for truckers.
ELD Regulations
The ELD mandate requires motor carriers to switch from paper logbooks to electronic logging devices. Though some exceptions exist, most trucking companies and owner-operators must install an ELD solution. When choosing an ELD for your fleet, consider how easy it will be for your drivers to install and use. Some vendors require proprietary in-cab hardware, while others allow for “bring your device” (BYOD), which can be cheaper and easier to manage.
Some ELDs also include additional features to help make life on the road more accessible for your drivers, like engine fault reporting and GPS tracking. These can help you cut down on maintenance costs and improve driver productivity. When selecting an ELD, check that it has FMCSA compliance certification. The FMCSA maintains a list of self-certified and registered ELDs, but it’s essential to research the quality of an ELD to ensure it meets the required specifications.
ELD Benefits
ELDs provide several benefits that extend beyond compliance and avoiding fines. They improve driver safety by reducing drowsy driving and helping drivers stick to regular sleep habits, which helps reduce accidents, vehicle damage, liability claims, traffic tickets, and fuel costs. They can also help fleet managers optimize routes, track vehicle maintenance, and detect risky driver behavior like harsh braking or sharp cornering with built-in accelerometers and gyroscopes and engine fault reporting that allows for proactive truck maintenance. In addition, many of the best ELDs offer a geofencing feature that can alert dispatchers whenever vehicles leave predefined locations, which can be helpful for security and loss prevention. Lastly, they save drivers time by eliminating the need to fill in paper logs or manually fax them at fuel stops. They also let drivers easily display standardized data on a screen or for print during inspections.
ELD Pain Points
ELDs make fleets more efficient by allowing drivers to focus on driving and informing dispatchers of their status in real-time. Moreover, they reduce the risk of HOS violations by eliminating the need to log hours on paper manually. As with any operational transition, switching to ELDs will entail some growing pains. However, this change is incredibly challenging because of the different functionality required from ELDs compared to AOBRDs. For example, accounting for unassigned driving events, personal conveyance, and yard moves requires an ELD to distinguish between edits and annotations.
It will require comprehensive training for drivers and administrative employees interacting with the data from an ELD device. By ensuring that everyone involved understands how ELDs work and what is expected of them, most usage-related issues can be prevented. Ultimately, fleet managers should be patient with their drivers during the learning curve and communicate that it will take some time for them to get used to the technology.
