TT_021518_AllPages

thetrucker.com
Cliff Abbott
cliffa@thetrucker.com
One strategy some drivers are using for
ELD implementation is to hope that Congress
passes legislation that reverses the FMCSA
mandate, or at least postpones implementation
until the year 2147 or so. If OOIDA and other
groups have their way, it might just happen.
Still, getting compliant might be a better
strategy in the short term, just in case. While
some states are delaying citations for drivers
who aren’t in compliance until April 1, others
aren’t waiting to get started. At some point,
violations will count against the carrier’s CSA
score and could impact insurance rates and
even the ability to secure loads.
If you’re still using paper logs, or if you
aren’t sure whether the ELD you’re using is
compliant, read on.
According to the FMCSA, the ELD can be
permanently mounted or a portable device can
be temporarily mounted while the vehicle is in
operation. Even a smartphone will work, if the
other requirements are met. A list of those requirements
is available on the FMCSA website
at fmcsa.dot.gov/hours-service/elds/choosingelectronic-logging-device-checklist.
A pdf version
is available for download for handy reference.
According to the FMCSA, the most important
consideration is to make sure the device you
are considering is on the agency’s list of registered
ELDs. It’s a self-certification list, meaning
that the vendor who markets the ELD has certified
that their product is compliant with all of the
technical specifications.
Even with self-certification, however, some
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Business February 15-28, 2018 • 23
In lieu of waiting until or if feds reverse ELDs, better to buy one from FMCSA’s list
Fleet Focus
products will be better than others. Checking out
some online reviews or even checking with the
Better Business Bureau might turn up information
that helps in the decisionmaking process.
However, you can familiarize yourself with
the requirements by visiting csa.fmcsa.dot.gov/
ELD/List on the web.
A major requirement is that the device has
“integral synchronization” with the engine control
module of the vehicle and can automatically
record when the engine is running as well as
when the vehicle is in motion. If your truck is
leased to a carrier that requires installation of a
telematics system, the ELD may simply be an
additional program incorporated into that system.
If the ELD is a stand-alone unit, it will connect
to the vehicle’s Onboard Diagnostic (OBD)
port to access the data.
Some products, such as ELD programs for
smartphones, connect with a Bluetooth device
that is plugged in to the OBD port.
The ELD must also record most of the same
data that is required on paper logs. For example,
the driver must be able to certify that entries are
true and correct. Since the driver can’t “sign” an
electronic record, certification is accomplished
with a click or two.
The device must retain data, including the
familiar grid, for the current 24-hour period plus
the previous seven days. The ELD must also
prevent tampering with the data once recorded.
One phrase that has long been familiar to experienced
drivers, “Let me see your logbook,”
is drastically different. The ELD must be able to
display the collected data, both to the driver and
to law enforcement officials on demand. This
display can be either printed or electronic.
There are several ways the record can be accessed
electronically. Some ELD systems, especially
those used by larger carriers, make duty
status records available on the web. Copies of
See Focus on p25 m