The Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Mandate has been a wildly popular topic of discussion for years. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced that motor carriers must begin using ELDs on all trucks and commercial buses. Carriers and drivers have until December 18, 2017 to comply.
What does this mean for you?
The ELD mandate is designed to increase commercial motor vehicle safety, reduce paperwork, and improve Hours of Service (HOS) compliance.
Impact on Capacity
The estimated 3 million drivers who are currently using paper logs, are likely to experience decreased capacity when switching to electronic logs. The drivers that will be most affected by the mandate are the ones that have not been compliant with the HOS regulations. These drivers are estimated to see as much as a double-digit reduction in productivity.
Long-term Benefits
While this new regulation will see negative short-term impacts, the long-term benefits outweigh the costs.
In the immediate future, trucking companies will pay around $500 per truck for the ELD device. The FMCSA estimates the mandate will save the industry around $3 billion annually through reduced paperwork and fewer accidents.
The ELD mandate will also make it more difficult for drivers to misrepresent their driving time, consequently reducing HOS violations. By enforcing this policy driver fatigue will be reduced and prevent fatalities and injuries.
The mandate will also reduce liability to shippers due to fewer accidents by non-compliant drivers.
Do I need to be ELD compliant?
Drivers who are currently using automatic onboard recording devices (AOBRDs) or install those before the December deadline will be grandfathered in – giving them an additional 2 years to update the technology.
Additionally, drivers who operate under the short haul exemption don’t have to comply with the mandate. A short haul driver “operates within a 100 air-mile radius of the normal work reporting location,” according to FMCSA. This exemption is only if the driver’s duties are less than 8 days in a 30-day period.
Questions about the ELD mandate? Contact one of our truckload specialists today.
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