Yes indeed – it is finally here! So what does that really mean for you?
Well, if you have been required to use paper logs to document your drive time and hours of service, then the mandate will require you to use an ELD – otherwise known as an electronic logging device.
Overdrive magazine reported earlier today that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced that the federal rule to require truck operators to use electronic logging devices to keep records of duty status is slated to be published in the Federal Register this Friday. The rule will take effect Dec. 10, 2017, giving carriers and drivers a two-year window to comply with the rule’s requirements.
And this should come as no surprise to the trucking community. The impending publication of the ELD rule has been under review at the OMB since July 30 and had been previously scheduled for publication as recently as this past September. Discussion and debate of the pending ELD mandate has been epic over the last year – specifically – what the final publication would hand down as rule for drivers and carriers.
But not to worry! BigRoad has already begun analyzing the final legislation for you – all 500 pages of it! What we know to be true is that the ELD mandate will apply to ALL drivers required to keep records of duty status (RODS), except drivers who:
- Keep records of duty status in 8 or fewer days out of every 30 working days
- Drivers in drive-away and tow-away operations
- Truckers operating vehicles older than model year 2000 (a change made from 2014’s proposed version of the rule)
The rule also spells out safeguards against driver harassment making it illegal for carriers to use the devices to needlessly bother drivers, puts fines in place for this improper activity while providing a systematic way for drivers to report any such condition or instance during their work day.
But the final ruling is not just for drivers and carriers. The publication also sets forth specifications for minimum ELD device standards for manufacturers as well. These hardware device specs range from automatic collection of vehicle, engine and drive time data to on-demand data transfer during roadside inspections. Yes – that means no more roadside printing problems!
Not sure where you fit into this? Not to worry – BigRoad can help you!
Check out our ELD resource page and get your questions answered.
Want to chat with someone directly? Call our ELD Hotline at 1-888-305-8777 ext. 2.
Want to drop us a line? Email our ELD Hotline at [email protected].
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