FMCSA ELD MANDATE UPDATE – February 26, 2018
The FMCSA ELD Mandate has been one of the most talked about new trucking regulations from 2017. Last year, the final rule compliance date was delayed until December 2017, with hard implementation beginning in April 2018.
Below is a review of new changes and requirements to the FMCSA electronic log rules.
New Rules Proposed for "Personal Conveyance"
Changes are being proposed to the personal conveyance guidance. Personal conveyance takes effect when drivers use their commercial motor vehicle (CMV) for personal needs, such as going to a restaurant or driving home.
Under previous proposals, the ELD mandate permitted certain activities when using a CMV as "off-duty time." Drivers, for example, were only allowed to travel a "short distance" when traveling home, to lodging, or restaurants, as long as they were not "laden with freight."
Now, the federal register is proposing that the "short distance" and "laden freight" requirements be removed. The FMCSA wants to focus on the purpose of the vehicle movement. If it's solely for the driver’s benefit and not for the transportation of goods, then it would be considered "personal conveyance."
New "Form and Manner" Details
Drivers and motor carriers now must pay closer attention to the finer details when logging on and off-duty status with ELD devices. For example, the shipment ID number and trailer number may need to be manually entered into the system, while other information such as date; time; location information; engine hours; vehicle miles; and identification information for the driver, authenticated user, vehicle, and motor carrier will be automatically recorded at certain intervals.
In addition to the automatic ELD tracking, supporting documents and instructional materials are also important. While the regulation requiring instruction cards and a blank set of logbooks be kept in the truck at all times has been in effect since 1988, the ELDs now use a different set of instruction cards. If owners fail to change them out, they can be found in violation and cited.
Consequences of Violations
At this time, failure to comply with any portion of the ELD mandate could result in citations and fines. However, starting April 1st 2018, “soft enforcement” ends and inspectors could place drivers and vehicles out-of-service.
FMCSA ELD MANDATE UPDATE – July 20, 2017
Texas Republican Representative Brian Babin filed the ELD Extension Act of 2017 on July 18, 2017. If passed, the bill would delay the FMCSA ELD mandate compliance deadline two years.
The Basics
If you’re looking for news about the FMCSA ELD mandate, we have the up to date information. On this page, we’ll cover the basics, answer some of the most common questions, and provide updates on the latest news surrounding the legislation.
What is an ELD?
An ELD, or electronic logging device, is a tool used to record a driver’s hours of service, drive time, location, engine hours, movement, and miles. It is an alternative to a paper log book.
What are the key requirements of the FMCSA ELD Mandate?
The FMCSA ELD Mandate, published in December 2015, requires that commercial drivers use ELDs to complete Records of Duty Status (RODS). The rule requires that ELDs be DOT-certified and registered with FMCSA.
The FMCSA electronic log rules also outline what documentation drivers must submit to carriers. All carriers are required to keep eight documents for each 24-hour period a driver is on duty. These can include bills of lading, dispatch records, expense receipts, fleet management system communications, and payroll records.
When will electronic logs be mandatory?
Compliance of all non-exempt drivers is mandatory by December 18, 2017. Drivers currently using AOBRD to record data will have until December 2019 to make the switch to ELDs.
Who is exempt?
Some of the more common exemptions are:
Commercial drivers currently using paper RODS no more than 8 days per 30-day period.
Commercial drivers of trucks manufactured before model year 2000.
Commercial drivers who conduct drive-away-tow-away operations.
Note: Drivers who qualify for these electronic logs mandate exemptions are still required to keep paper logs.
For a complete list of all exemptions, visit the FMCSA FAQ page.
