Staying Compliant with Changing Trucking Regulations. What is the difference between ELD, EOBR and AOBRD?

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2 Staying Compliant with Changing Trucking Regulations Congress is expected to pass legislation in early 2015 that will impact trucking companies all over North America. Under new Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations, fleet owners and operators across the US and Canada will have until 2017 to track Hours of Service (HOS) electronically with Electronic Logging Devices (ELD s). The FMCSA s Electronic Logging Device Mandate is expected to be put into law in early 2015, affecting thousands of fleets across North America. Common FAQ s about ELD s At the same time, regulations and acronyms are always changing, while technology continues to advance rapidly. As a result, it s often difficult for trucking firms to figure out how to stay compliant and manage costs when choosing an ELD to log HOS. To help clear things up, below are some common FAQ s about ELD s we receive from first-time customers. If there is something you would like to know more about, send a question our way at sales@fleetlynx.net. What is the difference between ELD, EOBR and AOBRD? The terms AOBRD, EOBR and ELD are often used interchangeably in our industry. However, it s important to understand each term in order to choose the right solution for your needs. EOBR vs. ELD Until recent changes in regulations, Electronic On-Board Recorder (EOBR) has been the common industry term for electronic driver logs (Elogs) used to track Hours of Service (HOS). The upcoming Federal Motor Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) legislation has created a new name for these devices Electronic Logging Devices (ELD s). AOBRD An AOBRD (Automatic On-Board Recording Device) is what current laws call an electric, electronic, electromechanical, or mechanical device capable of recording a driver's duty status information automatically. Simply put, new FMCSA laws due to be passed into legislation in 2015 will replace AOBRD with ELD. At the end of the day, it s not the name of the Electronic Logging Device that matters it s whether or not the device is in compliance with new FMCSA regulations starting in

3 Who Will Need to Comply with the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Mandate? The FMCSA estimates the new ELD mandate, expected to be passed into law in early 2015, will affect approximately 3.1M trucks and 3.4M drivers. However, not all truck drivers will need to comply with the new law. Under the new regulations, all commercial motor vehicle drivers who are currently required to keep paper HOS in eight or more days out of every 30 days must use an ELD. Drivers who are exempt from recording HOS, typically short-haul drivers operating within a 100-mile radius or non-cdl (commercial driver license) drivers operating within a 150-mile radius, are not required to have an ELD. What is an ELD? A black box makes everything possible Typically an ELD is a black box hardware module that connects to the vehicle engine. The black box logs vehicle trips, and driver Hours of Service (HOS). The black box also has GPS capabilities, and by connecting to cellular networks, can send dispatchers a constant flow of data. While a connection to a cellular network is not mandatory for ELD s to collect data, a key benefit of ELD s is that data, including location, performance, fuel consumption, and even who is driving your truck can be accessed from a web portal in real-time if needed. This helps dispatchers and fleet managers make operations more efficient and save money. Our mobile app allows drivers to log Hours of Service electronically A driver interface is a critical component of the ELD. Typically, this interface is either a mobile smartphone app drivers can use to enter their HOS and view data collected by the engine s black box, or a dedicated dash-mounted screen in the truck which displays the information and allows for driver interaction. In the context of the new FMCSA regulations in 2015, the key feature of the web app is that it automates what has traditionally been time-consuming, paper-based tasks for drivers including: Logging Hours of Service document inspections Electronically performing and submitting pre-and post-trip inspections Some ELD s provide additional benefits for drivers and fleet managers, including: Tracking expenses and fuel purchases 2

4 Managing and completing loads Data about each driver and vehicle can then be immediately viewed by fleet managers, operations staff and dispatchers in real-time from the web. Why is the industry switching to e-logs and ELD s? New FMCSA regulations are expected to come into effect in early April 2015 mandating full ELD adoption by Because of these new regulations, by 2017 ELDs will totally replace the paper logs drivers have traditionally been required to use to document their Hours of Service (HOS). The North American trucking industry must comply with these new regulations. FleetLynx makes it easy to comply with the mandated industry-wide shift to ELDs, while additionally helping reducing fuel consumption and streamline the costs of your operation. How will these ELD s impact my company? By adopting an ELD, your fleet will comply with upcoming cross-north America legislation. On top of that, your company has the opportunity to dramatically reduce the overhead required to manage paper driver logs for Hours of Service. Doing away with the need to store paper logs New laws mandating ELD s will do away with paper logs altogether. Under current regulations, fleets must store paper logs for a few months. Because of new FMCSA regulations coming into effect in 2015, none of this paperwork will be needed, freeing up valuable space and valuable staff time. As well, your drivers will no longer need to find a way to send their logs back to head office via fax or mail. ELD s will save you a lot of overhead, allowing your organization to be more productive. Eliminating the fudge-it factor when reporting Hours of Service (HOS) Since ELD s automatically track driver Hours of Service, there is no longer any risk of a driver or anyone else trying to fudge paper driver logs in order to comply with Hours of Service regulations. All driver logs will now be reported electronically. In fact, ELD s allow dispatchers to receive real-time alerts if drivers are approaching the limit of their Hours of Service. So, by allowing real-time monitoring, ELD s provide fleet operators with a powerful tool for staying compliant while reducing the risk of being fined by auditors. What happens if the ELD breaks? While ELD hardware is designed to be robust, a common question fleet managers have prior to purchasing is what happens if an ELD breaks. 3

5 If your ELD breaks, first of all be sure your driver remains compliant until the unit is replaced by keeping a paper record of Hours of Service. Next, most ELD providers should have a toll-free number you can call at any time to discuss troubleshooting. If the ELD hardware itself needs to be replaced, your ELD provider should offer to send you a new one immediately. Some customers may have some on spare. Installing or replacing your ELD is intended to be simple and straightforward. If you have any installation problems, your ELD provider should be happy to help with advice and troubleshooting over the telephone, toll-free. How are driver logs shown to inspectors? While on the road, driver logs are intended to be shown to inspectors with the smartphone and tablet mobile app. If needed, driver logs can be electronically signed and ed. At the end of the day, ELD s save time In 2015, the new FMCSA regulations will mandate that fleet operators across North America record Hours of Service with ELD s. While understanding and complying with new regulations can be confusing at times, the move to ELD s provides many benefits and opportunities for long-haul trucking companies. ELD s help drivers quickly and accurately view information they need to help your fleet comply with regulations, including: View completed, signed Driver Logs right from your device or Print logs and inspection reports from your device Immediate reporting of inspection failures (with pictures) The increased efficiency from implementing FleetLynx Driver Services saves hours every week spent on required paperwork, allowing drivers to focus on driving. ELD s save fleet managers time by providing them with a single spot for all driver logs rather than waiting for driver logs to be submitted by drivers at different times. 4

6 FleetLynx Simplifies Fleet Management and Reduces Costs In addition to being fully ELD-compliant with upcoming changes to FMCSA rules, FleetLynx simplifies fleet management with an integrated hardware and web-based software solution that allows you to: Keep your assets safe by tracking location in real-time using GPS technology Quickly comply with FMCSA rules and HoS reporting Save costs by capturing detailed engine diagnostics and scheduling preventative maintenance Reduce fuel costs and improve fleet reputation by tracking driver behavior Reduce paperwork by automating IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) reporting FleetLynx brings all of this data together with a powerful online portal that can be configured to your reporting and management requirements Whether you need to get ready for upcoming electronic logging regulations, want to monitor vehicle usage & driving behaviours, or want to track the health of your vehicles, FleetLynx is your solution. Low per month pricing Free hardware available with contract. Supports all major manufacturers. Designed and supported in North America. Free consultation on implementation and cost-saving strategies. Free 30 Day evaluation. Please visit us at FleetLynx.net, us at sales@fleetlynx.net or call us at for more information. 5