The ELD (Electronic Logging Device) rule was congressionally mandated as a part of the MAP-21 bill in 2012. The goal of this bill was to establish a safer work environment for drivers. It also makes it easier and faster to accurately track, manage, and share RODS (Records of Driving Status).

An ELD (Electronic Logging Device) is a device that is used to keep track of a driver’s Hours of Service (HOS). As of December 2017, all CDL drivers who keep Records of Duty Status (RODS) are required to use an ELD instead of using paper logs.
Here are the requirements for an ELD:

1. Communicate with the truck’s engine and record any movement
2. Provide the ability for drivers to log their status (On-Duty, Off-Duty, On-Duty Not Driving)
3. Display Records of Duty Status (RODS)

Only ELDs registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) are approved for use. A device that is not approved will put you at risk for violations and penalties.

All carriers and drivers who are required to keep a Record of Duty Status (RODS) under Hours of Service (HOS) regulations must follow the ELD rule.

Call us at (757) 941-7806 to get started.

An AOBRD presents data in a way that is not compliant with existing regulations. ELDs that are compliant must have the ability to transfer data immediately to authorized officials via a wireless service, email, USB connection, or Bluetooth.

Most importantly, ELDs will make your fleet compliant to applicable regulations. With an ELD, tracking of HOS will be accurate without mistakes that might normally exist with paper logs. Violations and penalties will be avoided because of this technology.

Yes. Portable ELD products such as Trucker Path ELD Pro, use a smartphone as the interface that connects with the hardware. Drivers must make sure that the device is secure when the truck is being driven.

No. Only information related to HOS regulations must be logged.

The location of a connected vehicle is accurate within an approximate one-mile radius while in the On-Duty driving status. Location tracking is accurate within a ten-mile radius when Off-Duty.

Compliant ELD devices should monitor data associated with the vehicle’s engine operation which includes knowing if the engine is on or off, if the vehicle is in motion, how many miles have been driven, and the amount of hours the engine has been running.

No. Only ELDs are allowed to monitor and record information coming from the engine.

This information is used to cross reference with data on the odometer.

This feature is allowed and available with a Trucker Path subscription. It will notify drivers when they are about to reach established limits. This is not a requirement for an ELD device, but can provide useful data.

FMCSA only allows ELDs that have been registered and certified in order to provide additional assurance to motor carriers. The ELD offered by Trucker Path is fully compliant with all FMCSA regulations.

To work correctly, you must have both the smartphone app and the ELD device that links to your truck. Call us at (757) 941-7806 to get help on setting up your ELD.

You can visit the following link to find out more information regarding the ELD rule: https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/hours-service/elds/eld-fact-sheet-english-version

Yes. Passenger buses are also included in the ELD mandate.

Below are a few of the exceptions to the ELD rule:

1. Drivers who do not keep RODS
2. Drivers who keep RODS for less than 8 days out of every 30
3. Drivers of vehicles manufactured before the year 2000
4. Drivers transporting an empty vehicle for sale, lease, or repair. This is where the vehicle driven is the commodity or the vehicle being transported is a motorhome or a recreation vehicle trailer.

There is an exemption for drivers who use RODS less than 8 days in any 30-day period.

The Electronic Logging Devices rule became law on February 16, 2016. The compliance date for the ELDs was December 18, 2017. For vehicles that have already been equipped with AORBDs, the old units must have been either replaced or upgraded to meet the ELD requirements by December 16, 2019.