The New Normal…
Is there an upside to the ELD Mandate?
The objective of The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) rule mandating electronic logging devices (ELDs) is to strengthen commercial drivers’ compliance with hours of service (HOS) regulations which were created to combat fatigue. ELDs automatically record driving time and monitor engine hours, vehicle movement, miles driven and location information. Some feel that the industry has relied on paper logs for too long.
The ELD Final Rule will change how fleet management is operated by requiring drivers to use an app or on-board logging device that’s compliant to the FMCSA’s mandate. Device developers revealed that ELDs will streamline the operating systems of fleet companies, from logging a driver’s hours of service to sending proactive alerts to both fleet managers and drivers if a trucking operation is about to commit a violation.
Will the new mandate affecting millions of trucks operating in the U.S. significantly reduce commercial vehicle gas usage? The ELD Rule will improve fuel efficiency because the drivers’ operations will be tracked automatically. Operators will be able to use the data received from an ELD to re-evaluate their routes and potentially find a more efficient route. This will help companies be economical in terms of the fuel they use. The FMCSA says that ELDs will save companies around $1.6 billion annually by enhancing fuel efficiency.
The FMCSA also predicts a decrease in crashes involving large commercial motor vehicles that would save 26 lives and prevent 562 injuries annually. They also stated that it is expected to drive “an annual net benefit of more than $1 billion – largely by reducing the amount of required industry paperwork.” Safety is the number one benefit of ELDs and fleet management systems which could ultimately reduce a fleet’s insurance rates.
Can the ELD mandate help reduce driver turnover? With the driver shortage among us, the ELD mandate should alleviate the paperwork drivers were required to complete and submit on their return. Efficient routes and less paperwork would result in sending drivers home sooner.
Whether the ELD Final Rule will be successful won’t be determined until the law has been in full effect.
“Differing opinions on pending ELD implementation are firmly intact”
www.logisticsmgmt.com article
Jeff Berman, Group News Editor
7/28/2017
“New Mandate Pushes Trucking Industry Fuel Efficiency
www.oilprice.com article
Robert Rapier
10/29/2017
“Why fleets should be looking beyond ELD”
MiX Telematics White Paper
Pete Allen, Executive Vice President Sales
10/30/2017