In response to the risks associated with drowsy driving, the federal government has implemented Hours of Service (HOS) laws to regulate how much a truck driver can be behind the wheel before resting. Drivers can realize the benefits of electronic logging devices (ELDs), which are paperless, user-friendly and efficient devices for tracking compliance with HOS regulations.
Drowsy driving is now considered a form of distracted driving, accounting for an estimated 10-20 percent of accidents involving large trucks or buses on U.S. roadways according to a report by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA).
ELD devices must meet guidelines imposed by the FMCSA and must be installed no later than December 18, 2017, for drivers using paper logs, and December 16, 2019, for drivers already using automatic on-board recording devices (AOBRD).
Benefits of ELDs
To better enforce these laws, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) now requires drivers and their employers to install ELDs in all commercial trucks.
An ELD is a paperless, user-friendly and efficient device for tracking compliance with HOS regulations. Each device must meet guidelines imposed by the FMCSA and must be installed no later than December 18, 2017, for drivers using paper logs, and December 16, 2019, for drivers already using automatic on-board recording devices (AOBRD).
While the device was first developed to address the risks associated with drowsy driving, it can also provide additional benefits for drivers. ELDs eliminate the need for drivers to maintain paper records by enabling the electronic storage of data to simplify a driver’s day-to-day record keeping tasks.
Key features and benefits of ELDs include:
- Easy-to-see hour logs to help trucker keep track of time worked.
- A tamper guard that prevents the loss of data.
- Software to track speed and acceleration if data is needed following a crash.
- A direct line to the truck’s engine to detect whether the vehicle is in use.
- Transmittable data to be used by law enforcement officers enforcing HOS regulations.
However, to be compliant with the FMCSA’s standards and reap the benefits of the device, drivers must not only possess ELDs – they must also understand how to use them.
With the new law causing exceptional demand, employers may struggle to obtain the devices in time to provide proper training.
PFS is working with driver operators to ensure we meet compliance deadline in December 2017.
PFS Is Focused on ELD Compliance
PFS has already installed ELDs in most of the trucks driven by its Owner Operators and Lease Purchasers partners. We are working with all of our Owner Operators and Lease Purchasers to ensure we meet the December 2017 compliance deadline. Our classes give drivers an in-depth understanding of how the equipment can be used by drivers and law enforcement officers, providing drivers with the knowledge required to fully comply with the requirements now in place. The customized training allows drivers to seamlessly make the transition and become familiar with their new equipment and maximize the benefits of ELDs.
PFS pays 100 percent of the cost of the ELD and the service for our Owner Operators and Lease Purchasers. All of our ELD units come from iGlobal, LLC, a vendor with whom we have a strong and trusted partnership. It’s just one of the ways PFS helps Owner Operators and Lease Purchasers build their business.
Learn more about what it takes to drive for Paramount Freight Systems.
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Categorized in: ELD Mandate