If you are a commercial vehicle driver or a fleet manager operating in Canada, you need to comply with Transport Canada ELD and HOS rules. Many Canadian carriers also drive into the United States, where rules are enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)to improve safety and compliance for commercial drivers and motor carriers.
In this article, we will explain the ELD and HOS rules in Canada and the United States and how they differ. We will also provide some tips on how to choose the best electronic logs for your business.
The ELD Mandate
The federal ELD mandate requires most commercial drivers who are subject to the hours of service regulations to use an electronic logging device to record their record of duty status (RODS). The mandate also sets out technical specifications for ELDs, as well as requirements for data transfer, supporting documents, driver harassment, and device malfunctions.
Canada adopted the federal ELD mandate for commercial drivers in June 2021, with a progressive enforcement period starting on the same date. The official effective date was set to January 1, 2023. This means that if you operate within the country’s borders, you must comply with Canada log book rules, unless you qualify for an exemption. However, you can still follow the Canada HOS rules, which are slightly different from the US rules—more on this in the last section of this article. Exemptions include:
- Drivers who hold a specific permit or have a statutory exemption.
- Drivers of vehicles manufactured before model year 2000.
- Drivers who rent a vehicle for 30 days or less.
Log Book Violation Fines In Canada
If you fail to comply with Transport Canada log book requirements, you may face fines and penalties from the appropriate provincial or territorial enforcement authorities. Some of the fines for not being ELD compliant can include:
- $25,000 for knowingly falsifying electronic log records ($2,500 per day).
- Reporting and recording fines range from $2,090 to $15,864.
- Commercial regulation violations, including ELD non-compliance, can result in a per person fine of $21,090.
You may also be placed out of service until you correct the violation. This could affect your safety rating and your business reputation. To avoid these fines and penalties, you should use a reliable and user-friendly elog that helps you manage your compliance with Canadian HOS rules. You can also benefit from other features that an electronic logbook can offer, such as GPS tracking, fuel efficiency monitoring, driver coaching, and more.
How To Choose A Compliant And Efficient ELD
Choosing the right ELD solution for your business is not only important for compliance, but also for improving your efficiency and profitability. A reliable electronic logbook can offer you more than just hours of service tracking. It can also provide you with valuable insights into fleet performance, driver behavior, fuel consumption, vehicle health, and more. When choosing an elog system, you should consider the following factors:
- Ease of use. The device should be easy to install, operate, and maintain. It should come with a user-friendly interface that allows drivers to easily log in, change duty status, manage and certify logs, and transfer data. It should also have a reliable customer support team that can help you with any issues or questions.
- Compatibility. The system should be compatible with your vehicles, devices, and software. It should work with different makes and models of vehicles, as well as different types of mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, etc.).
- Functionality. The ELD should offer more than just basic hours of service tracking. It should also provide you with advanced features that can help you optimize your fleet operation, such as GPS tracking, driver coaching, vehicle diagnostics, etc.
- Cost. The solution should fit your budget and offer you a good return on investment. You should compare the upfront and ongoing costs of different ELDs, such as hardware purchase or lease, software subscription or license, installation fees, maintenance fees, etc. You should also consider the potential savings and benefits that an electronic logging system can bring to your business, such as reduced violations and fines, improved safety and compliance scores, lower fuel costs, increased productivity and efficiency, etc.
HOS247 is a top-rated electronic logbook that offers all of these features and more. HOS247 is a flexible and reliable ELD solution that is designed to meet the needs of fleets of any size.
HOS247: A Top-Rated ELD Solution
If you are looking for a commercial driver log book in Canada, HOS247 offers a dependable solution that is top-rated by truckers and supports US and Canadian rules. Some of the benefits HOS247 offers to carriers include:
- Multilingual support. Feel at ease with our multilingual customer support team fluent in English, Spanish, Polish, and Russian, offering assistance in your preferred language every day of the week.
- Easy setup. Enjoy hassle-free implementation with our plug-and-play device, ensuring effortless installation for immediate use.
- Intuitive mobile app. Access your data anytime, anywhere, with our user-friendly app compatible with both Android and iOS devices, offering convenience at your fingertips.
- Real-time fleet management. Empower your team with our web-based portal, providing live monitoring and management capabilities, enabling you to make informed decisions on the go.
- Two-week trial. Test our solution with confidence using our 14-day trial period, ensuring it aligns perfectly with your needs before making any commitments.
- No-contract policy. Enjoy the freedom to choose with our no-contract policy, allowing you to adapt your subscription as your business evolves, without being bound by long-term commitments.
US and Canada HOS Rules
The hours of service rules are federal regulations that limit the driving time and on-duty time of commercial drivers, and require them to take minimum rest periods. The hours of service rules are intended to prevent driver fatigue, which is a major cause of crashes and injuries.
The hours of service rules vary depending on whether the driver is carrying property or passengers, and on the jurisdiction where they operate. The following table summarizes the main differences between US and Canadian hours of service rules for property-carrying drivers:
US HOS rules |
Canada HOS rules |
|
Drive time |
11 hours within a 14-hour window, after 10 consecutive hours off duty |
13 hours within a 14-hour window after 8 consecutive hours off duty |
Break |
30 minutes after 8 hours of driving |
No break required, but off-duty time other than the mandatory 8 hours must be taken in blocks of at least 30 minutes each |
Workweek |
60/70 hours in 7/8 days, reset by 34 consecutive hours off duty |
70/120 hours on duty in 7/14 consecutive days, reset by 36/72 consecutive hours off duty |
Short-haul exception |
Drivers who operate within a 150 air mile radius of their normal work reporting location, and return to that location within 14 hours, do not need to use an ELD or keep RODS. They also do not need to take a 30-minute break, but they must keep a time record. |
Drivers who operate within a 160 km radius of their home terminal and return to that terminal and are released from work within 15 hours are exempt from the ELD mandate and the daily log requirement |
Adverse driving conditions |
Drivers may extend their driving time by up to 2 hours and their on-duty time by up to 2 hours if they encounter adverse driving conditions that were not known before starting the trip or immediately before beginning driving after a rest break or sleeper berth period |
Drivers may extend their driving time by up to 2 hours and their on-duty time by up to 4 hours if they encounter adverse driving conditions that were not foreseeable before starting the trip or immediately before beginning driving after an off-duty period |
It is important for commercial vehicle drivers to know Canada commercial driver log book and HOS rules. By understanding and complying with these rules and choosing a reliable logbook, you can improve your safety and compliance record, avoid penalties and fines, and enhance your business’s performance.
As an expert in B2B and B2C sales, I’ve dedicated myself to perfecting sales processes and client retention strategies in the logistics and trucking industry. I have significantly contributed to the expansion of the ELD service, catering to retail and wholesale clients in need of HOS247 ELD solutions. My unwavering commitment to implementing state-of-the-art sales techniques and technologies ensures the continuous growth and success of businesses I work with.



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