ELD Mandate News: Keep Your Fleet Compliant and Informed with the Latest ELD News

Stay up to date with current ELD news

The ELD mandate went into effect on December 18, 2017, and its impact continues to be felt among trucking companies, fleet managers, and truck drivers alike. To keep your fleet compliant and avoid ELD violations, it's important to stay up to date on current ELD news and announcements.

To help, we've compiled the latest news to keep you informed on the most recent ELD insights in the trucking industry.

December 2019

NO 'SOFT ENFORCEMENT' AFTER AOBRD ELD EXEMPTION ENDS DEC. 16

December 5, 2019 via Transport Topics

The news: "Commercial vehicle inspectors will not offer a “soft enforcement” grace period for truckers who have not migrated to electronic logging devices from grandfathered automatic onboard recording devices by Dec. 17, the date that full enforcement of the federal ELD rule takes effect."

Why it matters: Unless you operate a vehicle under a shorthaul rule exemption, all truckers without an ELD, or those who have not converted their AORBDs to an ELD, will face an out-of-service violation after the Dec. 16 deadline.

November 2019

ELD MANDATE’S HARD DEADLINE IS HERE AND ADOPTION RATES ARE STILL A CONCERN

November 7, 2019 via Freight Waves

The news: ELD adoption rates remain low, even as the FMCSA repeatedly states that there will be no soft enforcement of the mandate past the December 16 deadline.

Why it matters: With less than a month to go before the deadline, making the switch to ELDs sooner rather than later reduces the risk of compromising your compliance status. If you’re still looking for a new ELD provider, Samsara can help your fleet simplify ELD compliance while providing additional benefits like improved driver safety, decreased admin work, reduced maintenance costs, and more.

October 2019

TRAINING KEY FOR SMOOTH TRANSITION FROM AOBRDS TO ELDS

October 6, 2019 via Transport Topics

The news: As the trucking industry completes its transition to ELDs, motor carriers should not underestimate the amount of planning and training needed to ensure a smooth rollout, according to a panel at the American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference & Exhibition on October 6.

Why it matters: As the transition from AOBRDs to ELDs approaches, fleets need to be prepared. The switch will require significant training for drivers as well as operations staff, and fleets should plan accordingly. To make sure your team is prepared, read our final AOBRD to ELD checklist.

September 2019

ELD VIOLATIONS ARE DOWN, BUT DRIVERS STILL MAKING SIMPLE MISTAKES

September 18, 2019 via Truckinginfo

The news: An update from the FMCSA's Joe DeLorenzo found that Hours of Service compliance has steadily improved since the ELD mandate's launch in December2017, but there are still a number of simple ELD violations popping up during roadside inspections.

Why it matters: This news brings additional insights to fleet managers wanting to train drivers on ELD best practices. If fleet managers weren't sure where to spend their coaching efforts, they now have more clarity on the three most common ELD offenses: failing to maintain paperwork, devices that don't transfer log data, and devices that are not correctly mounted.

August 2019

WAITING ON HOS CHANGES? IT MAY STILL BE A WHILE

August 18, 2019 via Fleet Owner

The news: Even with the expected publication of the updated Hours of Service proposal in the Federal Register, it might not be until the end of 2020 until the new rules go into effect.

Why it matters: This news brings a more concrete timeline to the trucking industry about when to expect changes to Hours of Service to take place, making it possible for fleets to better plan ahead.

July 2019

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR OPINION: DRIVER SLEEPER BERTH OFF-DUTY TIME NEED NOT BE COMPENSATED

July 23, 2019 via Transport Topics

The news:The U.S. Department of Labor released a statement that said any time drivers spend in sleeper berths does not need to be compensated, unless they are actually performing work or are on call.

Why it matters: This opinion clarifies confusion over whether or not sleeper berth time should be paid for and will help the trucking industry better understand compliance regulations moving forward.

June 2019

ELD HAS MORE TO IT THAN BEING A HOURS OF SERVICE TIME STAMP RECORDER

June 13, 2019 via Transport Topics

The news:The highly-anticipated Canadian ELD mandate officially has a launch date. On June 13, 2019, Canadian Minister of Transport Marc Garneau announced that the Canadian version of the ELD mandate will go into effect in Canada on June 12, 2021.

Why it matters: Although the implementation of the ELD mandate is still two years away, it's important to start understanding its implications and preparing your fleet.

May 2019

ELD HAS MORE TO IT THAN BEING A HOURS OF SERVICE TIME STAMP RECORDER

May 3, 2019 via FreightWaves

The news: As the December 16, 2019 deadline to switch from AOBRD to ELDs fast approaches, FreightWaves looks at some of the ELD tracking and reporting changes that might coincide with the second phase of the ELD mandate.

Why it matters: Whether your fleet already uses ELD or is planning to install one this year, it's important to understand how the mandate will impact your operations. As fleets shift away from AOBRD, other trends are likely to surface as well. Stay abreast of new developments—like changes to available networks and data collection—to make sure the the switch is as seamless as possible for your business.

April 2019

LIVESTOCK HAULERS RAISE ELD CONCERNS TO CAPITOL HILL

April 1, 2019 via Transport Topics

The news: The Department of Transportation actively looks to adjust Hours of Service rules after livestock haulers raise concerns about the ELD mandate’s lack of flexibility for the agriculture industry.

Why it matters: It’s becoming clearer that the one-size-fits-all regulation may not hold up to certain industry operating standards. With policy measures on the horizon, this could open up more room for concerns—or revisions—to the ELD mandate.

March 2019

FMCSA USES ELD DATA TO INFORM POTENTIAL CHANGES TO HOS RULES

March 12, 2019 via Truckinginfo

The news: FMCSA administrator Ray Martinez reports that initial ELD mandate data is starting to shape future changes: "Although full implementation of the electronic logging device mandate is yet months away, data gleaned from current ELD-compliant operators is already informing the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s plan to propose changes to the bedrock hours-of-service rule."

Why it matters: The ongoing rollout of the ELD mandate continues to inform the FMCSA on potential revisions to the ruling, particularly to HOS rules.

LEARNINGS FROM THE ELD MANDATE SO FAR AND A LOOK AT WHAT’S AHEAD

March 7, 2019 via Truckinginfo

The news: A look back at the ELD mandate’s impact and new predictions on how it will continue to shape industries in 2019 and beyond.

Why it matters: The ELD mandate forecasted improvements in driver safety, among other positive developments in the trucking industry. With over a year under its belt, see how the ELD mandate measured up to its goals.

February 2019

CANADA CONSIDERS THIRD-PARTY CERTIFICATION FOR ELD

February 26, 2019 via Truck News

The news: The Canadian ELD mandate continues to undergo updates ahead of its June 2019 launch date. Most notably among the changes, Canada considers using a third-party certification for its ELDs.

Why it matters: If Canada approves and implements third-party certification for ELD devices, United States carriers operating north of the border will need to make sure their ELD provider is legal to use in Canada. Currently, all US ELDs are self-certified.

January 2019

NEW YORK TO BEGIN ENFORCING ELD MANDATE AFTER A YEAR IN LIMBO

January 18, 2019 via Transport Topics

The news: The New York State Department of Transportation announced that state inspectors will begin enforcing the ELD mandate after a year-long stretch during which a lawsuit prevented its adoption.

Why it matters: New York's adoption of the ELD mandate grants the state eligibility to receive the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program (MCSAP) funding, something it was previously prohibited from when it was not ELD compliant. The funding will be used on initiatives that help reduce the number and severity of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles (CMVs).

What is the ELD Mandate?

The ELD mandate, or ELD rule, is a US regulation requiring operators of commercial motor vehicles to use electronic logging devices to track Hours of Service (HOS). Electronic logging devices, also known as electronic logbooks or e-logs, connect to a vehicle's engine and automatically record driving time, providing a reliable way to collect HOS data. They replace paper logs which were historically used in the trucking industry to record Hours of Service.

The second phase of the ELD mandate goes into effect on December 16, 2019, and will require all vehicles using Automatic On-Board Recording Devices (AOBRD) to electronically track Hours of Service to switch to ELDs.

Samsara's electronic logging device is an FMCSA-registered ELD that connects directly to a commercial vehicle's engine through the OBD port. Request a free demo today to learn about Samsara's complete solution for ELD compliance and simplified fleet management.

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