The deadline for complying with the ELD mandate is December 17, 2017, according to the FMCSA website. You’ll need to have your vehicles compliant by that date.
Unfortunately, there’s a ton of misinformation floating around about the ELD mandate, both on the ‘net and in CB chatter. That bugs us. As a trucker, you have enough real-world stuff to worry about, and we don’t want you to fall prey to fear mongering and fiction. So, in this post, we are going to debunk some of the many myths surrounding the ELD mandate. Let’s get started.
ELD Myths and Truth
Myth: “The devices can monitor everything I do while I’m on the road.” This claim belongs in the same category as “Uncle Sam can see me through my computer” stories. Simply put, it’s not true. We can’t make it any plainer than that.
Myth: “The ELD mandate will bankrupt smaller companies.” Again, this is not true. In fact, it will actually save you and other independent operators time while boosting your revenue. Think of how time-consuming those old paper logbooks are. Why tie yourself down with obsolete methods when there’s a better way? With electronic log books, you’ll have more time to do the one thing that puts money in your pocket: drive a truck.
Myth: “The ELD devices can go nuts and destroy my truck’s wiring.” As with the prior claims, this one is just not true. There’s nothing in the devices that can shut down your truck or ruin your mileage.
Myth: The ELD mandate will make my job harder and more stressful. This is a common misconception among truck drivers who don’t have a clear understanding of the ELD standards. ELDs are designed to make tracking driving hours and maintaining compliance with Hours of Service (HOS) regulations easier and more convenient for drivers. By freeing up the time you would normally spend manually calculating your hours in a paper logbook, an ELD can actually make your job easier and help you make more money.
Myth: ELDs automatically report HOS violations to law enforcement. An ELD is an electronic substitute for a paper logbook. The purpose of the ELD mandate is not to report HOS violations to law enforcement and nothing will be automatically transmitted to law enforcement unless there is some extenuating circumstance, such as a traffic violation, a roadside inspection, or an FMCSA compliance audit.
Myth: ELDs require truck driver interaction on the road. Some critics of the ELD mandate claim that electronic logging devices require interaction from truck drivers while the truck is in motion, which poses a safety hazard. That is simply not the case. Drivers aren’t required to log into ELDs and once the truck is on the road, the device automatically updates the driver’s status, without any interaction required. ELDs do, however, feature audible alerts that notify drivers when they are running low on hours so they have time to find a safe place to park before reaching their HOS limits.
What have you heard about the ELD? Let us know so we can help you find out the truth about ELD.
So, don’t spend time worrying about the ELD mandate. Focus instead on all the advantages you’ll enjoy by using our TruckingOffice software. Take it for a free 30-day test drive starting today.
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