ELD Mandate

The FMCSA's final rule regarding electronic logging devices (ELDs) will have wide-reaching consequences across all industries. ELDs are tablet computers installed inside commercial motor vehicles and allow drivers to record all Hours of Service (HOS) and driver vehicle inspection report (DVIR) information. The FMCSA’s rule will require commercial vehicles to carry these devices in an effort to reduce compliance issues and improve road safety. It is a wide-sweeping mandate that will affect businesses across the nation.

How to know if your business qualifies.

Any company that is currently required to track HOS and DVIR information will need to use ELDs. Typically, these companies use commercial vehicles that satisfy any one of these criteria.

• Weighs 10,001 pounds or more
• Is designed or used to transport 16 or more people, including the driver, without compensation
• Is designed or used to transport 9 or more people, including the driver, with compensation.
• Transports hazardous materials.

If any vehicles in your business are used for interstate commerce and satisfy any one of the bulleted criteria, the FMCSA ELD mandate applies to you.

How ELDs will affect your business.

ELDs eliminate manual paperwork for HOS and DVIR logs and the burdensome task of completing these records. This greatly reduces the potential for human error and failed federal audits. ELDs also allow fleet managers to see their drivers’ HOS and DVIR statuses directly on their computers, leading to better job planning and maintenance scheduling. It is important to remember that the mandate’s rules apply regardless of the nature of your business – whether you’re an independent carrier, a towing company, a chemical transporter, or a company fleet, the mandate can affect your business.

How to introduce ELDs into your fleet.

ELDs can be included as part of a larger fleet management system. These systems can measure federal compliance, vehicle performance, and driver behavior to satisfy not only government regulations but company requirements and financial goals as well. As a tool, ELDs provide substantial savings to an organization. As Teletrac customer A.N. Webber attests, "The solution has eliminated all of our violations because the HOS logs are instantly and automatically updated." 

Click here to learn about Teletrac Navman's ELD compliant solution