An electronic logging device (ELD) or e-log came into use as a substitute for the hours-of-service paper records for commercial vehicle drivers. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued the final ELD ruling in December 2015 and the first deadline to comply was December 2017. The mandate required that by December 2017, fleets must have implemented certified ELDs for keeping hours of service records. However, those fleets that already had loggers or recorders were allowed until Dec 2019 to have complied with the published specifications.
What is an Electronic Logging Device?
Electronic logging devices are gadgets used by commercial motor vehicle drivers to automatically document driving time and hours of service (HOS). Any driver required to keep a Record of Duty Status (RODS) has to make use of an ELD to record their compliance with the HOS rule. The e-log also captures other crucial data such as the miles covered, the vehicle’s movement, and data regarding the engine.
Moreover, the e-log keeps the driver and the dispatcher informed in real-time about the driver’s status. It helps them to comply with the legal requirements, and enable planning and inspections. The ELD comprises many components which include the automobile tracking gadget that connects to the vehicle, the software for fleet management, and a mobile app.
What are the Benefits of an Electronic Logging Device?
An ELD has many benefits which include the following:
Ensures compliance
Primarily, ELDs are intended to ensure compliance with the FMCSA’s ELD rule that requires all commercial motor vehicles to have the e-logs to capture driver’s hours of service. If a fleet operator fails to comply with the rule, they could face fines and penalties, and other punitive measures; hence the need to have the devices fitted on all vehicles that fall under the category required by law. It is also necessary to ensure that the ELDs that a fleet operator installs on their vehicle are accepted by the authorities. To this end, it would be best to buy them from recognized and reputable vendors. Luckily, you can buy compliant ELDs from the leading company without any hassle. You only need to visit the website of the company and get in touch with them to arrange your purchase and installation.
Reduces Administrative Work
Given that the electronic logging devices automatically monitor and record the vehicle’s movements, it eliminates a lot of paperwork and administrative burdens. Fleet management staff and even the drivers have no need to manually capture the records of hours of service, save them, and store them. The e-logs help to save lots of effort, time, and costs and the fleet drivers also do not have to spend many hours on the records.
Provides Timely Vehicle Diagnostics
Besides compliance, the electronic logging device helps a great deal by providing timely vehicle diagnostics because it is automatically connected to the automobile’s diagnostic port allowing maintenance staff to keep an eye on the fault codes. This way, the fleet operators and drivers are always on top of the vehicle maintenance needs thanks to the detailed reports and real-time notifications. Additionally, operators can monitor recurring issues from historical fault code reports in addition to getting real-time alerts.
Conclusion
On top of the above benefits, an electronic logging device enables tracking driver’s idle hours helping to save fuel and lost labor hours. It also shows the location of the vehicle through GPS tracking allowing route enforcement and reducing unauthorized use of company vehicles.