The Canadian ELD mandate has been talked about at length among truckers and carriers for a couple of years now. According to this legislation, commercial vehicle owners and drivers operating in Canada must switch to a certified electronic logbook before January 1, 2023. The right choice of electronic logbook will keep you compliant, and can also help improve efficiency and increase profitability.
HOS247 is an industry leader providing electronic logbooks in Canada. HOS247 elogs have been designed with all the advanced features to stay compliant with the mandate issued by Transport Canada. The logbook comes with data edit, on-road driver support, GPS tracking, compliance monitoring, and vehicle diagnostics streamlining options. Moreover, HOS247 offers flexible options to suit both carrier companies and individual owners. We offer a 14-day trial period without submitting any financial details and with a hassle-free return policy if the client is dissatisfied with its performance.
Before going into more detail on the benefits of HOS247 logbooks, let’s take a look at the key facts of the Canadian ELD mandate.
Canadian ELD Mandate Overview
The ELD mandate was issued by Transport Canada on June 2019 through the Canada Gazette. The mandate came into effect June 12, 2021, but will be progressively enforced to raise awareness. This was originally expected to last for a year, but an additional six month extension was announced on March 7, 2022. By January 1, 2023, the mandate will be fully enforced and penalties will be applied to noncompliant drivers and carriers.
According to the ELD mandate, every commercial vehicle owner or driver must switch to a registered electronic logbook as no paper logs will be accepted after the full compliance date. The electronic logging device will automatically record data from the driver’s HOS to keep RODS and store it in a report format that can be immediately accessed by the carrier company or the Transport Canada officers. The report prepared by the device will be a combination of information from the driver’s inputs and the data collected from the vehicle’s engine ECM.
Transport Canada has enforced the ELD mandate to prevent logbook errors, driver harassment, and tampering of data. The registered e-logbook can also alert the driver and the carrier company in case of speeding and illegal cornering. This means it will also improve road safety by minimizing accidents as drivers’ behavior can be monitored with the device.
Compliance Timeline for the ELD Mandate in Canada
The first announcement on the ELD mandate was made on December 16, 2017 by the Government of Canada through the Canada Gazette. The announcement was a proposal on the amendment of the commercial vehicle driver’s HOS regulations.
The next announcement was made by Transport Canada on June 13, 2019. It was regarding the issuing of the mandate on the use of registered electronic logging devices by commercial vehicle drivers and owners. In this announcement published on Gazette II, Transport Canada also declared the compliance deadline of two years from the date of the issue. Thus, the mandate came into effect on June 12, 2021, but there will be no penalties for noncompliance until January 1, 2023. From that day onwards, the ELD mandate will be fully enforced by Transport Canada and any carrier or driver submitting paper logs or using unregistered ELDs will be penalized.
Definition of Electronic Logging Device
An ELD is a Transport Canada certified logging device that helps record driver’s RODS to create DVIRs automatically. The device synchronizes with the engine ECM soon after installation to collect the necessary data, such as mileage, speed, diagnostics, etc. These data will be available in the form of a report and can be accessed by drivers, carrier companies, and Transport Canada officers.
Here are some of the key functions of an electronic logbook:
- Managing logs. The e-log device will allow the driver to input logging information anytime during duty hours. The information will also be available to the driver to edit and annotate in the cases allowed by Transport regulations.
- Create and edit DVIRs. The driver can edit or create the vehicle inspection report using the electronic logging device. The process is simple. The device will record all the essential data from the vehicle engine’s ECM and the driver can use it to prepare the report or edit it accordingly.
- On-road driver support. Drivers will require on-road support during dispatch issues, vehicle breakdown, or transport compliance problems. In such cases, drivers or fleet managers can immediately reach the driver while on-road to offer necessary guidance to resolve the issue.
- Compliance reporting and monitoring. As the electronic logging device allows to edit and manage driver logs and compliance reports, the chances of data tampering or input error is much less. This helps avoid audit risks and expensive violation fees by Transport Canada.
- IFTA mileage calculations. A registered ELD can automatically calculate IFTA state mileage by tracking the performance of the engine ECM. This IFTA mileage data can be processed in the form of a report that is compliant with Transport Canada rules. This further prevents audit issues due to human error.
- Track vehicle diagnostics. The ELD can monitor vehicle diagnostics and alert the fleet manager and the driver if any fault in the engine or vehicle is detected. There are separate fault detection codes that the device uses to notify the driver as well as the company. This saves a lot of time and human effort to detect maintenance issues early and reduce sudden breakdowns.
- Real-time GPS options. The GPS tracks the vehicle during duty and off-duty hours. This feature enhances vehicle security by reducing idling time, illegal use of the vehicle for personal use, and other unnecessary uses of the vehicle. The GPS tracker alerts the carrier company if the vehicle is driving in unregistered areas by using geofencing.
Who Must Comply with the Canadian ELD Mandate
Transport Canada has enforced the ELD mandate on all commercial vehicles including trucks and buses. This comes to around 157,500 commercial vehicle drivers operating in Canada. However, the rule strictly applies to those commercial vehicle owners or drivers who are operating under the federal transport body.
In Canada, commercial vehicles that operate within provincial areas are controlled by the provincial transport jurisdiction. Provincial commercial vehicles can continue to follow transport rules as issued by the provincial transport jurisdiction, so they are not required to comply with the federal Canadian ELD mandate. However, some provinces—like Ontario—may decide to include the mandatory use of elogs.
Commercial vehicles that operate in extra-provincial areas in Canada, like those transporting goods or passengers from one province to another, are controlled by the federal government. These federally controlled vehicles are required to follow the ELD mandate rules issued by Transport Canada. This means all the vehicles operating under the federal transport jurisdiction must switch to a certified electronic logbook before the full compliance date.
Exemptions from the Canadian ELD Mandate
The ELD mandate issued by Transport Canada does not apply to all federally controlled commercial vehicle owners and drivers. There are certain exemptions for this rule as stated by Transport Canada, including:
- Special permits. Any vehicle operating under a special permit from a provincial or a territorial director does not come under the radar of the Canadian ELD mandate.
- Statutory exemptions. Some commercial vehicles may operate under a statutory exemption from the provincial or territorial government. These vehicles are not required to comply with the Transport Canada ELD rules.
- Brief rental agreements. Commercial vehicles operating under a short-term rental agreement of below 30 days are exempt from following the Transport Canada mandate.
- Older models. Vehicles models that were manufactured before the year 2000 are considered an exception to the ELD rules, since they will not be compatible with electronic logbook technology.
- Vehicles driven within a 160-km radius. Transport Canada has also relaxed the ELD rules for vehicles operating within a radius of 160 km from their home terminal.
Similarities and Differences between the ELD Mandate in Canada and in the United States
The Canadian ELD mandate has been modeled on the U.S ELD mandate that has been issued by FMCSA. This will help carriers operating in both countries to stay compliant using a single ELD system that has been approved by both governments. However, there are certain differences in the Canadian ELD mandate that truckers must also know.
Similarities between the Canadian and U.S. ELD Mandates
The similar factors between the ELD mandates of these countries are:
- Automatic detection of driving status. As soon as the vehicle reaches the speed of 8km/hr, the logbook activates the driving status automatically.
- Automatic return to duty status. After a break that extends to 5 minutes, a message appears on the app asking the driver to change the status to “on duty”.
- Yard mode feature. While diving in a yard, a vehicle may move slower than 8 km/hr. The driver must activate the “yard mode” to prevent the status from changing to off duty.
- Diagnostics notifications. The electronic logbook must automatically track the engine ECM and other vehicle diagnostics and alert the driver in case a fault is detected.
- Record unassigned driving time. When a device is registered to a vehicle and not a single driver, it shows some unassigned driving time that drivers can accept or reject.
- Driver approval for data change. For any change or modification of data, the logbook needs approval from the driver.
- No modification to driving status. While some information recorded by the e-log can be modified by the driver, the driving status remains constant and cannot be changed.
Differences between Canadian and U.S. ELD Mandates
Here are some major differences between Canadian and American elog regulations.
- Certification method. Electronic logging devices in the U.S.A can be self-registered by the manufacturers or providers. However, in Canada, only a third-party agency can certify an ELD.
- Personal conveyance. Drivers are allowed personal conveyance–to travel to a garage or restaurant, for instance. This conveyance has no limitation in the U.S., while in Canada, the distance is limited to 75 km or 50 miles approximately.
- Data transfer process. In Canada, the recorded logs can be transferred directly to the Transport Canada officer via print-out, on-screen display, e-mail, USB, or Bluetooth. In the U.S., the logging data is sent to the e-RODs software using USB, Bluetooth, web service, or email.
- HOS rules. In the U.S., a driver must take a 30-minute break after driving continuously for 8 hours whereas, in Canada, the driver has the freedom to work for a 16- hour window. In these 16 hours, the driver is allowed a break of 2 hours, which can be taken in parts or at a stretch.
- Omission of grandfather clause. For vehicles using ERDs, the U.S. mandate allowed a transition phase of 2 years to switch to ELDs. In Canada, no such grandfather clause is applicable for ERD using vehicles.
Benefits of Choosing HOS247
HOS247 is known in the trucking industry for being a top-rated ELD provider. Our modern logbooks operate on a 4G network to ensure efficient and fluid management of operations. This logbook has been tested thoroughly to make sure the standards for performance and mandate compliance are met. HOS247 has the following advantages:
- Top-rated technical support. Customer support is available in four different languages (English, Russian, Spanish, and Polish) and every day of the week to have you covered. A familiar voice will be at the other end of the line ready to address any ELD related issue. Our customer care policies ensures you will get called back if communication breaks down, we do not leave our clients hanging.
- Real-time GPS tracker. Additional GPS tracking software is available to optimize operations and delivery times.
- Automated reports. IFTA mileage calculations as well as vehicle diagnostics reports are done automatically.
- User-friendly design. The HOS247 ELD is known for its straightforward and intuitive design. It can also run on the drivers’ Android or iOS device of choice with equal performance.
- Flexible plans. We offer flexible monthly plans that can be scaled up or down or cancelled at any time to fit carriers’ needs.
- Trial period. We trust our product. HOS247 offers customers a two-week free trial period to try out the logbook app. Full refund policy, no hassle, no questions asked.
The compliance deadline of the ELD mandate in Canada is fast approaching. With the mandatory third-party certification, ELD options for commercial carriers and drivers in Canada are more scarce than in the U.S. Carriers should choose a dependable supplier like HOS247 to avoid compliance issues and fines.
I’ve co-founded, built and managed several transportation-related businesses. Now, I’m a founder and CEO of HOS247 – an AI Transportation Platform for trucking companies, freight brokers and other logistics operations. We are transitioning old-style operations to technology-advanced logistics entities and help them to grow their businesses. ELDs (electronic logging devices), fleet tracking and management 2.0 combined with AI-powered dispatch tools.
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