The ELD Mandate Can Benefit Your Business

That was very well said, Ron Spring. I'm 66. I'm mature. I'm not a cowboy. Speed is not my goal; it's safety. As you said, I avoid traffic by driving those areas at night. I avoid storms even if I go out of route. Because I have paper logs, I can pull up to a fuel island, fuel and then move my truck to a parking spot instead of sitting at the fuel island for a half hour or more. I HATE ELD's!!!

July 24, 2016 19:22:04 PM

I have operated on both ELD's and paper logging devices. For an accountant to create this article is a myopic view of the topic.
I agree with James Guillame on most what he says. To have a real Professional driver, one should be able to manage your own risk and determine how the task needs to be done. In order to do this,the driver needs to be educated, mentored and coached into the proper way of "Thinking" or the right philosophy of life behind the wheel. Driver training 'mills' and company trained monkeys holding the wheel, do not qualify.
Point 1 - 11% less accidents - that would have to be over a length of time and be consistent to be an accurate measure.
- 53% less HOS violations - from what I see very few companies actually spend time training their operators about anything let alone doing the logbook.

Point 2 - Driving alerts - can be downloaded from the ECM or GPS unit - no real feat here.

Point 3 - Reduce speeding - as James alluded to, the ELD takes control away from the driver - they may not be 'speeding' above the limit, but are they driving too fast for conditions?? Many multiple times we see big fleet 65mph. governed units in the bush, off the roads and upside down - WHY? Driving too fast for conditions!! the psychology is in the drivers head " I HAVE to make my 70 miles today even if it kills me or someone else."
On paper logs we can travel through a major traffic centre at night and avoid the congestion in morning traffic. We can stay ahead of a storm until we get to safe area to park - BUT not on an ELD we can't.
And most of all, this time of year, while the accountants and management are going camping, we can regulate our travel to work around the tourist hordes - but not with an ELD.
Point 4 - reduced idling is just more control. Teach you drivers how to think and they will act in a more prudent manner - or get them the proper auxiliary equipment so they can rest better while OOS, due to the ELD layover

Point 5 - optimize routes - A good driver will have a plan to be efficient. Not necessarily will the quickest and smoothest route have the cheapest fuel. Too many times we hear of route planners making a driver travel extra miles -because fuel is cheaper. There is no regard in these big planner fleets for extreme weather, traffic or even overhead clearances - drivers like to get all the miles per day they can - not be travelling down a goat trail to save a mile.

In my line of work, we are not sure where this will go. we load and unload our own freight, deal with multiple customers and manage our workload. many is the day where we will see 5 or 6 hours work time, where we are actually working. there is no real provision for the flatbedders, pedallers, and odd size load carrier. the pin to pin box haulers seem to be the focus of all this utopia.
Last week, if I were to run ELD legal, because of all my picks and drops, I would still be 3 days away from home.
After 40 years of plying my trade, managing my life, doing my job - my employer trusts me to accomplish my tasks and the customers all go away happy. That is 40 years, no lost time accidents, 2 speeding tickets in a commercial unit and a few 'paper' violations.
Yes it can be done - but the industry needs to be recognized as a trade and get the participants educated instead of just "fogging up the mirror" and "holding the wheel"

July 24, 2016 19:11:59 PM

I have been using ELDs for 13 years and find your comments interesting. You do not address the impact ELDs have on those who actually use them, the drivers.
I do save a good deal of time daily by not filling out a paper log. DOT inspections are generally a non-issue concerning logs. That's the positive points.
The negatives: I will push harder than I sometimes should if tired or in bad weather because I cannot fudge my status at all, but still need to accomplish x amount per day. With paper logs, I would much more readily slow down then drive as required to make up the lost time, within reason.
If I do get sleepy during my driving time, I do not stop to take a nap due to the 14 hr rule. On paper I would make adjustments as required.
My company is very hands off with us drivers on a day to day basis. The idea of having another layer monitoring is pretty offensive. I've over 2 million safe miles and don't want a babysitter.
Has anyone considered the attitude of shippers/ receivers when ELDs are law? Appointment policy will necessarily have to change as will parking on site after driver runs out of hrs while at the dock. Traffic patterns may change since drivers will not have the choice to go through cities at off peak hours as they now may.
ELDs are not all bad, but there are definitely some major changes coming to some very basic operations in trucking when they become law.

March 22, 2016 16:56:36 PM

I agree it will level the playing field. It definitely helps with more rest.

February 26, 2016 5:37:35 AM

I don't agree. I'm against ELD's and hope Ooida prevails in court against their mandated use.

February 21, 2016 10:09:56 AM

Great article. ELD's will put every driver and company on the same level. keeping everyone legal.

February 18, 2016 20:37:37 PM

I am in favor of ELDs, but in truth engine reports can give you much of this info.

February 16, 2016 20:23:46 PM