For over a decade this group representing 4,500 trucking companies says it has been lobbying the Canadian governments to introduce regulations that would force all trucks where the driver is now required to produce a paper log book in order to monitor compliance with the hours of service (HOS) regulations to be equipped with an ELD instead.
The FMCSA said the use of electronic logging devices would improve safety by better compliance with hours of service requirements.
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The rule is scheduled for official publication Friday, Dec. 11. “This automated technology not only brings logging records into the modern age, it also allows roadside safety inspectors to unmask violations of federal law that put lives as risk”. It will also increase the efficiency of roadside law enforcement personnel in reviewing driver records. Although many fleets already are using some version of electronic logbooks, the agency estimates making them mandatory will save 26 lives and prevent 562 injuries each year.
Strictly prohibiting commercial driver harassment. “Employing technology to ensure that commercial drivers comply with federal Hours of Service rules will prevent crashes and save lives”.
An ELD automatically records driving time.
The agency anticipates that approximately three million commercial vehicle drivers will be impacted by the ELD mandate. It monitors engine hours, vehicle movement, miles driven, and location information.
Details of the USA rules, including technical performance and design requirements for ELD’s, grandfathering provisions for existing hours of service recording devices, smart phone/tablet applications, driver anti-harassment provisions, and supporting documents paperwork reductions can be found here. A separate FMCSA rulemaking is created to further safeguards commercial drivers from being coerced to violate federal safety regulations and provides the agency with the authority to take enforcement actions not only against motor carriers, but also against shippers, receivers and transportation intermediaries.
In developing the ELD Final Rule, FMCSA relied on input from its Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee, feedback from two public listening sessions, comments filed during an extended comment period following the 2011 proposed rule, and comments to the 2014 supplementary proposed rule.
Smartphones and other wireless devices will be permitted as ELDs as long as they meet certain technical specifications, FMCSA said. The final rule also incorporates mandates included in the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act and other statutes. It also will not apply to drivers in tow operations.