ELD Systems — How to Choose the Best Elog System in Canada

The Canadian ELD mandate final compliance phase is now almost in effect, but many trucking companies are stuck with outdated legacy providers and still have yet to make a move on the right compliance partner. They may not know whether it is more beneficial to switch to a modern ELD system for trucks, what that means for operations, or how they can improve their company. The right electronic log system can boost your bottom line, so let’s take a closer look at just how your company can benefit from this service! 

Transport Canada published the ELD mandate in June 2019 with a 2 years compliance period that starts June 2021. With a little time left before the compliance date, carrier companies are now in a rush to get certified ELD devices to stay compliant. However, the ELD mandate in Canada has caused some confusion among fleet companies and drivers. Fleets are still in dark about the reasons behind enforcing the ELD mandate and to who it applies to. 

Overview of Canadian ELD mandate

The ELD mandate issued by Transport Canada to take effect on June 13, 2021, has stated that all commercial vehicles must switch to electronic logbooks to record HOS, RODS, and DVIRs. No more paperwork will be accepted after the compliance date of June 12, 2021. Drivers or carriers submitting HOS or DVIRs in paperwork after June 12, 2021, will be penalized under Transport policies by the government. 

Canadian ELD mandate has been enforced to enhance road safety and create a conducive working environment for drivers. The rule will also increase the productivity of the fleets and reduce the management cost. 

Transport Canada has also stated that all ELDs are to be certified by a third-party agency only. The manufacturers are not able to self-certify the electronic logbooks. This has reduced the options of ELD providers for carriers operating in Canada under the federal government.

Flexible plans whether you have 1 or 500 vehicles

What is an ELD system?

An ELD (electronic logging device) is a type of certified type of technology that can be hooked up to a vehicle and automatically log driver habits and vehicle diagnostics. Examples include the amount of time a driver spends driving, their record of duty status and more. However, some ELDs offer more features than others. 

Data collected by an ELD can be accessed either on-site by officers or remotely by carriers and dispatchers. The data collected from an ELD not only collects hours of service information that can keep drivers safe on the road, but also data that can improve the operations of a carrier and save them money in the long-term.

HOS 247 ELD System

Why Switch to a Better ELD System? 

If you have already been using an ELD system, you might find that it is not really making your life any easier. In theory, these devices are designed to help you and your business to thrive while making the roads safe simultaneously. It might be time to upgrade your current electronic logging device and software to a better system like what HOS247 has to offer if you notice any of these things with your current provider.

Lack of Customer Service

How long does it take you to get in touch with a customer service representative? Some trucking companies find themselves spending hours on the line trying to reach someone. When they do finally get through to a real person, that person may not even be able to assist them with their problem. A lack of customer service should be a major red flag that you need to upgrade to a better solution.

HOS247 offers some of the best customer service in the industry. When you sign up for our system, we automatically assign you to a dedicated account manager. You know exactly who is going to help you correct your issues each time you call in. Our responsive customer service team is also multilingual so we can assist you in English, Spanish, Russian, and Polish.

Complicated Tasks

The entire premise of the best elog systems for truckers is to simplify life for your drivers and back office staff. You should be able to access your data and manage all of your documents with just a few convenient clicks of the mouse. If you start to hear back office staff grumbling about how difficult it is to run reports, locate drivers, and more, then it might be time to switch to a different solution.

The same goes for drivers. They are the ones on the front lines who have to use these solutions throughout the day. If they find that the system is too cumbersome for them to navigate easily, then you will want to switch to something different and more user-friendly.

Hidden Fees

Is your monthly bill higher than what you were initially quoted? Some ELD systems for trucks do not have the most transparent pricing. You might be facing additional fees for activation, installation, training, and other key aspects of implementation. These expensive fees can certainly add up and eat away at your business’s bottom line. When you find that the pricing you have been offered is not as transparent as promised, make sure you investigate a new solution.

New Company

Keep your company in compliance with all of the necessary documentation. A lot of companies began to pop up after the ELD mandate was issued in order to make a quick buck. They do not have the experience in dealing with Hours of Service (HOS) rules that are necessary to keep your drivers safe and keep your company from paying hefty fines. 

Another downside to opting for a relatively new company is their inexperience. They don’t know what truckers want or need from one of these softwares. This makes the program less intuitive and more cumbersome to use. In turn, this can complicate things for back office staff and drivers alike, leading to frustration. 

Who is affected by the Canadian ELD Mandate?

The ELD Mandate will impact all federally regulated carriers in Canada. At present, there are about 157,000 commercial vehicles that will need to comply with the standards. The terms of the mandate will not apply to provincially regulated carriers. Those companies that operate within a Canadian province fall into provincial jurisdiction, while any providing extra-provincial transportation, including local activities, falls under federal jurisdiction.

HOS 247 GPS tracker

Canadian ELD mandate trucking exemption

The good news is not all commercial vehicles operating in extra-provincial areas will be affected by the Canadian ELD mandate. There are some exemptions for the new e-log rules published by Transport Canada. Following are the exemptions to the Canadian E-log mandate. 

  • Vehicles operating within a radius of 160 km from their respective home terminals are not required to comply with the ELD mandate. This is because short-haul vehicles are not required to maintain their records on logbooks. 
  • If the vehicle is operating under a rental agreement that is less than 30 days then it is exempted from the Canadian e-log mandate. 
  • If the vehicle is operating under a special permit issued by the provincial government then it is not mandatory to follow the ELD rules enforced by Transport Canada.
  • The commercial vehicles that were built before the year 2000 or vehicles with engines made before the year 2000 are exempted from the Canadian ELD mandate. This is because vehicles or vehicle engines that were built before the year 2000 are not compatible with the ELD solution software. 
Add options as you grow when you need them

What Other Features Do You Need? 

In addition to electronic log systems that handle the exceptions listed above, you will also want a few additional features. Here are some of the features that your trucking operations will need in addition to the basic ELD system.

GPS Tracking

Get better control over your fleet in real time with GPS tracking. This allows back office staff to better analyze routes, estimate arrival times, and reduce the number of phone calls necessary each day. It also allows you to pinpoint areas where time and resources are wasted. Drivers are less likely to run personal errands or make pit-stops when being monitored through the GPS system.

As an added bonus, you gain peace of mind knowing that if your vehicles were ever stolen that you would be able to locate them quickly. 

HOS 247 ELD App

State Mileage Reporting

Your back-office staff likely spends hours each month managing your state mileage for IFTA tax reporting purposes. Now, these can all be automated with the implementation of the right electronic log systems. With just a few clicks, you can automate everything and reduce the overall risk of human error.

Dispatch

How much time does your company waste on phone calls just to orchestrate a simple pickup? Your clients can have answers much faster with automated dispatch through your ELD system. Utilize your GPS tracking to see where your fleet is in real-time and then assign the new task to the driver who is closest. Jobs can be assigned in seconds and progress can be monitored throughout the day. In the end, you are able to provide better customer service with less hassle for your staff.

Choosing HOS247

HOS247 is an industry leader providing reliable electronic driver log systems. With our company, you are always a valued client. We automatically assign you to an individual and dedicated account representative who can assist with any concerns or troubles you may have. Our multilingual customer service team is ready and waiting to help you. 

We offer flexible options that are intuitive for both drivers and back-office staff. Our all-in-one platform is perfect for trucking companies of all sizes. We guarantee that you will love our program in the first two weeks or we offer a hassle-free return process!

5/5
"Awesome. Easy to install and use. Top notch customer service! I recommend it to everyone.”

Abigail Freemantle
Schrader Co
5/5
“Great company to deal with. The support team is very responsive and competent. They provided a great deal of education for our company.”
Evgueni Stoupine
GMS Global Group
5/5
“Customer service is great. They helped me to set up everything and showed how to edit my logs. Thank you.”

Ilya Kulagin
Manuel Jenez
Owner-Operator
Free hardware options, no monthly fee options
Fleet of trucks
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