HOS Compliance Made Easy: The Role of ELDs in Modern Trucking
What is an ELD?
An ELD, or an electronic logging device, is a piece of hardware attached to a commercial motor vehicle’s engine designed to record driving hours. Since driving hours for truckers and other commercial drivers are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), use of an ELD makes keeping track of hours a piece of cake.
They can come in the form of a small electronic device designated for the purpose of logging hours, but certified smartphones and other devices can also count if approved by the FMCSA. In addition to hours driven, most ELDs also monitor vehicle location and movement, miles driven, and engine hours. When paired with a trucking management software (TMS), carriers and fleet managers are able to see this data in real-time.
Hours of Service Regulations
Hours of Service (HOS) regulations are issued and enforced by the FMCSA and are put in place to regulate the working and driving hours of anyone operating a commercial motor vehicle in the United States. Truck drivers need to be aware of the HOS in order to ensure that they stay safe on the road and compliant with the required hours of rest in between driving shifts.
The first HOS regulations were enacted in 1938 and have undergone significant changes since then, but their purpose and main idea remain the same. By limiting drivers to a maximum amount of time on the road per day and week, issues with driver fatigue and careless accidents aren’t as common.
The following table contains the most up-to-date HOS regulations as per the FMCSA website:
| Hours-of-Service Regulations | |
| Property-Carrying Drivers | Passenger-Carrying Drivers |
| 11-Hour Driving LimitMay drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty. | 10-Hour Driving LimitMay drive a maximum of 10 hours after 8 consecutive hours off duty. |
| 14-Hour LimitMay not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 consecutive hours off duty. Off-duty time does not extend the 14-hour period. | 15-Hour LimitMay not drive after having been on duty for 15 hours, following 8 consecutive hours off duty. Off-duty time is not included in the 15-hour period. |
| 30-Minute Driving BreakDrivers must take a 30-minute break when they have driven for a period of 8 cumulative hours without at least a 30-minute interruption. The break may be satisfied by any non-driving period of 30 consecutive minutes (i.e., on-duty not driving, off-duty, sleeper berth, or any combination of these taken consecutively). | |
| 60/70-Hour LimitMay not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. A driver may restart a 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty. | 60/70-Hour LimitMay not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. |
| Sleeper Berth ProvisionDrivers may split their required 10-hour off-duty period, as long as one off-duty period (whether in or out of the sleeper berth) is at least 2 hours long and the other involves at least 7 consecutive hours spent in the sleeper berth. All sleeper berth pairings MUST add up to at least 10 hours. When used together, neither time period counts against the maximum 14- hour driving window. | Sleeper Berth ProvisionDrivers using a sleeper berth must take at least 8 hours in the sleeper berth, and may split the sleeper berth time into two periods provided neither is less than 2 hours. All sleeper berth pairings MUST add up to at least 8 hours. |
| Adverse Driving ConditionsDrivers are allowed to extend the 11-hour maximum driving limit and 14-hour driving window by up to 2 hours when adverse driving conditions are encountered. | Adverse Driving ConditionsDrivers are allowed to extend the 10-hour maximum driving time and 15-hour on-duty limit by up to 2 hours when adverse driving conditions are encountered. |
| Short-Haul ExceptionA driver is exempt from the requirements of §395.8 and §395.11 if: the driver operates within a 150 air-mile radius of the normal work reporting location, and the driver does not exceed a maximum duty period of 14 hours. Drivers using the short-haul exception in §395.1(e)(1) must report and return to the normal work reporting location within 14 consecutive hours, and stay within a 150 air-mile radius of the work reporting location. | Short-Haul ExceptionA driver is exempt from the requirements of §395.8 and §395.11 if: the driver operates within a 150 air-mile radius of the normal work reporting location, and the driver does not exceed a maximum duty period of 14 hours. Drivers using the short-haul exception in §395.1(e)(1) must report and return to the normal work reporting location within 14 consecutive hours, and stay within a 150 air-mile radius of the work reporting location. |
The ELD Mandate
The ELD Mandate requires that all commercial vehicles be outfitted with an ELD starting for most trucking companies and organizations on December 18th, 2017. ELDs have been around since the mid-1980s, but the equipment back then wasn’t as reliable as it is today. The lack of wireless technology available at the time made installation and operation difficult, and the public was not impressed with the functionality of the equipment. As technology improved and ELDs became increasingly reliable and easier to use, the mandate was made law and required ELDs to be used in all commercial motor vehicles.
Benefits of an ELD
Using an ELD has provided countless benefits for everyone involved – drivers, managers, carriers, and even the FMCSA. To name a few:
- Streamlined Record Keeping
- ELDs automatically log hours spent driving, meaning that no manual logging is necessary and drivers are free to concentrate on the road.
- Effortless Compliance
- ELDs add up time on the road, meaning that they’ll let drivers know when it’s time to take a break and when they can resume driving. This takes the math and guesswork out of navigating HOS regulations.
- Driver Protection
- Built-in safeguards make it difficult for drivers and managers to edit or alter data collected by an ELD after the fact, protecting everyone involved.
- Efficient Data Management and Transfer
- ELDs are designed to easily transfer information, whether that’s sending hours to safety officials during roadside inspections or importing fuel and mileage information to a TMS for easy tax reporting.
Choosing the Right ELD
Different trucks and drivers may benefit from different ELD setups, and there are a variety of options available. Some companies offer designated logging devices that can be purchased and installed, while others offer software that is downloaded to an existing device like a smartphone or tablet.
One important thing to consider is the relationship between your ELD and your trucking or fleet management software. If you already use a TMS, make sure to find an ELD that works with your existing software. For example, current users of TruckLogics would likely want to consider opting for one of the ELDs that integrate with the all-in-one management software in order to make the most out of the system, like Motive or Samsara. These integrations simplify the process of generating IFTA reports by allowing you to import mileage and fuel information directly from the ELD to the TMS, eliminating any possibility of errors through manual data entry.
The Future of ELDs
In an ever-evolving industry like the trucking industry, technological advances are bound to continue to shape the landscape of transportation and how drivers and managers operate. As ELDs become smarter and more user-friendly, keeping track of hours and remaining compliant will only get easier. Here are a few ways that technological trends may influence ELD processes in the near future:
- Smart Truck Integration
- While completely autonomous vehicles and self-driving trucks may still be a few years out, smart trucks are becoming increasingly common and more accessible. These trucks make it possible for ELD software to come factory-installed, eliminating the need for after-market purchases and installations.
- Advanced Safety Features
- As our electronic devices and software become more integrated, it’s only a matter of time before ELDs offer advanced functionalities like fatigue detection and collision avoidance warnings incorporated into the devices we’re already using to keep truckers and other drivers safe.
- Environmental Sustainability Practices
- Eco-friendly features are becoming more commonplace in newer vehicles, and ELDs that record fuel usage will be able to track efficiency and recommend practices to optimize fuel consumption.
While ELD selection is a big part of optimizing your business and maintaining compliance on the road, it’s just one piece of the puzzle. If you’re looking for a better way to manage the rest of your business, from your dispatches to your income and expenses, that’s where TruckLogics comes in. The best way to streamline your operations and keep your ducks in a row is by using a trucking management system, and a software product like TruckLogics can keep track of the countless things you’re worrying about on a daily basis so that you can keep your eyes on the road and focus on what’s important.
With features that help you schedule and record your vehicle maintenance, find new loads, generate your IFTA reports, and much more all in one convenient package, it’s easier than ever to help your business reach its full potential.
Check out TruckLogics.Com to learn more about how you can optimize your company!
