Our ELD solution gives you a comprehensive suite of easy-to-use, compliant fleet management tools. With GPS Trackit, it’s compliance made easy.
What is the ELD mandate? What’s the ELD compliance timeline? Get the answers all your questions and access the most up-to-date information with our ELD FAQ’s below. Not sure if the ELD mandate applies to your business? Take our free, online ELD Assessment to find out.
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The Electronic Logging Device (ELD) rule was published by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in December 2015. This rule requires drivers to keep an electronic log of the time they spend driving, also known as their Hours of Service (HOS).
The ELD rule went into effect in February 2016, and became mandatory in December 19, 2019.
As a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Rule, the ELD mandate applies to commercial motor vehicle operations and drivers required to keep paper Records of Duty Status (RODS).
ELD stands for Electronic Logging Device. ELDs enable commercial motor operations and professional drivers to track and keep a verifiable record of their HOS (hours of service). Every driver required to keep a Record of Duty Status (RODS) is subject to the ELD rule and should log their hours electronically.
Technically, AOBRDs (Automatic On-Board Recording Devices) are Electronic Recording Devices, though not all AOBRDs are compliant with the regulations established by the FMCSA. If your current AOBRD does not meet the FMCSA’s requirements, you will need to upgrade to a compliant ELD system.
Yes. Drivers can use portable ELD devices to record their hours of service. As long as these devices are mounted in a fixed position in the vehicle and are visible to the driver from their seat, they can qualify as compliant.
To be considered compliant, your ELD hardware must offer the following:
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As an FMCSA rule, all CMV operators who keep Records of Duty Status (RODS) are subject to the ELD mandate.
Yes. To become an active user of an ELD-enabled vehicle, a driver can log in from an ELD app on their mobile device, choose the vehicle they will be using and begin driving. To change the active driver, the new driver simply logs in and selects the vehicle in association with their account.
According to the FMCSA, a driver using an ELD must have the following in their commercial motor vehicle:
While few drivers would describe a DOT inspection as “easy,” an ELD from GPS Trackit makes the process as painless as possible with a convenient Roadside Inspection portal. In this portal, a DOT officer can review logs for the current 24-hour period and the previous 7 consecutive days, receive a copy of the driver’s logs via email and view vehicle inspections.
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Once you select an ELD provider, they will be responsible for supplying the ELD devices, compliant logbook software and ongoing support. It’s important to choose a provider that offers unlimited training and can be with your fleet through every step of the implementation process, both of which GPS Trackit offers free of charge.
A GPS vehicle tracking system is not necessary for compliance with the ELD mandate. That said, GPS-based fleet software can offer many benefits and significant savings for any ELD-enabled fleet. Check out our fleet management solutions to learn more.
Good question. While price important, it shouldn’t be the only factor in your decision to purchase a solution for your fleet. Let one of GPS Trackit’s Fleet Advisors take you through a demo of what an ELD system can do for your fleet, plus go over any questions you might have on cost or implementation. Additionally, you can get a custom quote for further detail.
Since its inception, the ELD rule has gained plenty of supporters and dissenters. While the former cites the rule’s anti-harassment protections, the latter focus on the difficulty and cost of compliance. Though the debate may rage on for years to come, the fact is that the ELD mandate is now law.
There are only a few exceptions to mandatory ELD implementation. The following drivers may qualify for an exemption:
Even if you or your drivers qualify for an exemption, you will still be expected to provide authorized safety officials with any motor carrier records they require.
Yes. Unless they qualify for an exemption, drivers from Canada and/or Mexico must use a compliant electronic logging system to record their HOS when operating in the United States of America.
ELD installation is simple and can be completed in a matter of minutes. Drivers should consider installing their ELD system as soon as possible to give themselves plenty of time to become accustomed to electronic logs.
We’re currently in what the FMCSA has dubbed the “Awareness and Transition Phase”. While ELD use is not totally mandatory yet, drivers and fleets are expected to use this time to transition to electronic logging. Here’s what to expect in the coming years:
The FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) has Hours of Service (HOS) regulations in place for commercial motor vehicle drivers. The regulations are in place to help ensure that drivers are rested and not fatigued while driving. There are several major HOS regulations that drivers must comply with, including: * 30-minute Rest: A drive must take a 30-minute break after 8 cumulative hours of driving time. * 14-hour Rule: A driver can only work for 14 consecutive hours. Once the 14 hours are up, the driver must take a 10-hour break. * 11-hour Rule: Within the 14-hour window, a property-carrying driver can drive at most 11 hours, after 10 consecutive hours off duty. A passenger-carrying driver can drive at most 10 hours. In order to keep track of their hours, drivers use a log book. The log book is a record of when a driver starts and stops working, as well as their break times. Drivers must make sure that their log books are accurate and up-to-date. If a driver violates any of the HOS regulations, they can face fines. It is important for fleet managers to be familiar with the HOS regulations and ensure that their drivers are following them.
There are a couple categories of drivers that are exempt from the 30-minute break rule: Short-haul drivers who qualify for the 100 air-mile radius provision, and Short-haul drivers who qualify for the 150 air-mile radius provision and operate non-CDL vehicles. Property-carrying drivers can use the 16-hour short haul exemption to extend their driving window to 16 hours once every seven consecutive days. To be eligible for this exemption, the driver must meet the following conditions:
Further, the “adverse driving conditions” exemptions let drivers extend the maximum driving limit by 2 hours amidst unusual circumstances, like unexpected fog or snow, or a road closure caused by an accident. These emergency conditions are often declared by state governors, the FMCSA, or even the President. An official federal or state institution needs to acknowledge an emergency state. Similarly, there’s an exemption for direct emergency assistance, which also only applies if an official institution has acknowledged an emergency state.
The main purpose of the hours of service regulations for truckers is safety. The regulations limit the number of hours truckers can drive in a day, in order to prevent driver fatigue. Driver fatigue can lead to dangerous accidents, so by limiting the number of hours truckers can drive, we can help ensure their safety and the safety of others on the road. Ultimately, the hours of service regulations are in place to protect everyone on the road. By keeping truckers well-rested, we can help prevent tragic accidents and save lives.
Commercial truck drivers are responsible for following hours-of-service (HOS) regulations to ensure they are rested and ready to operate their vehicles safely. Unfortunately, many truckers violate these regulations, putting themselves and others at risk. The most common HOS violations are:
It is important for truckers to be aware of these common HOS violations and take steps to avoid them. By following the rules, drivers can help keep themselves and others safe on the road.
The 60/70 hour rule is a federal regulation in the United States that limits the number of hours truckers can drive in a week. The rule is intended to prevent truckers from driving for too long and becoming exhausted, which can lead to accidents. A driver under a carrier who operates CMVs every day of the week can accumulate a maximum of 70 hours of on-duty time in a rolling 8-day period. If the carrier doesn't operate a CMV every day of the week, then its drivers can't drive over 60 hours of on-duty time in a 7-day rolling period. Some truckers and businesses have criticized the 60/70 hour rule, arguing that it hurts economic productivity and increases costs. Others argue that the rule protects public safety by preventing exhausted drivers from getting behind the wheel.
When calculating how many hours of service a truck driver has, there are a few things to take into account. The first calculation is how many hours the driver spends driving. This is determined by subtracting the time the driver spends resting, eating, and performing any other necessary duties from the total hours in a work day. These driving hours need to be calculated for the last 7 days, and the average number of driving hours is then used to calculate the total number of hours a driver can work in a week. It can be tricky to keep track of all of these regulations, but using a good Hours of Service tracker can help make things easier.
Carriers need to ensure that drivers have at least 10 hours off-duty time in a day. Off-duty time means the time when a driver is not working or driving. This includes things like meal breaks and time spent resting in the sleeper berth.
Different companies have different logging policies, but a driver often has to remain on duty while the truck is being unloaded. However, if the driver isn't counting the load or assisting in any other way, they can be off duty.
Convenient alerts keep drivers informed, reducing violations. Set up custom alerts or choose from an extensive selection of industry-specific triggers and notifications.
When a logbook error could lead to a DOT violation, accuracy is everything. Automation and alerts keep the potential for error to a minimum.
Get compliant and reduce your fleet’s paper waste. Greener and cleaner, going paperless eliminates the need for keeping track of paper logs.
Avoid penalties and stay one step ahead of the DOT. Our system is designed to make managing HOS compliance achievable for every business.
