The federal mandate for electronic logging devices for trucks will soon be in full force. This new requirement came into effect on June 12, 2021. A one-year progressive enforcement period began on that date and was extended for six more months, so no penalties will be applied to trucking operations without electronic logbooks until January 1, 2023. Every commercial vehicle driver not considered under an exemption category must keep RODS through an ELD from that date on.
Industry Leader in Electronic Logbooks for Trucks
HOS247 is an industry leader in providing ELD solutions. We provide effective solutions to trucking businesses ranging from large carriers to owner-operators. Our top-rated ELD solution provides you with a user-friendly app and reliable hardware to prevent HOS violations and boost productivity.
Do you have any questions? Talk to ELD Advisor: 650-405-3372 or Request Callback
ELD Mandate Background
Drivers who go beyond the limits and drive too many hours are a hazard to themselves and other motorists. Recent studies indicate that driving tired can cause the same level of impairment as driving under the influence.
To prevent accidents, commercial drivers have been required to log their hours of service for some decades now. Paper log books were the standard in the trucking industry for many years.
The problem is that paper log books are not always accurate because it’s easy for drivers to make an honest mistake or for carriers to modify the paper log book.
To eliminate human error and reduce opportunities for tampering, a new federal law was passed requiring everyone from large carriers to owner-operators to use electronic logs. This law came into effect on June 12, 2021 and will be fully enforced beginning January 1, 2023.
Electronic logging devices for trucks record operational data for both the vehicle and driver. This ensures commercial truck drivers stay within the hours of duty allowed to drive between rest periods. The device records driving hours, on-duty time (working but not driving), and rest time throughout a trip.
Who Must Comply with the ELD Mandate?
All truck drivers that are required to keep RODS (record of duty status) are also subject to the federal ELD law. Violations will result in fines and may significantly delay a driver’s run.
An estimated 157,500 commercial drivers in Canada will be expected to comply with this new law. Truckers exempt from this requirement include:
- Carriers with a statutory exemption.
- Holders of a special permit issued by the authorities.
- Drivers of vehicles rented for 30 days or less.
- Vehicles assembled before the year 2000.
In addition to these exemptions, drivers who operate short hauls are not required to keep RODS or use ELDs if:
- The vehicle is driven within a radius of 160 km of the home terminal.
- The driver returns to the home terminal every day and spends at least 8 consecutive hours off duty.
- The carrier maintains proper daily records of the cycle followed by the driver and on-duty times, plus keeps records of the corresponding supporting documents for at least 6 months after each record.
- The vehicle is not under a permit or drives under an exemption.
Hours of Service Rules in Canada
HOS rules are in place to prevent driver fatigue and prevent accidents on the road. In Canada, different rules apply to drivers whether they are north or south of the 60º parallel north.
North of 60:
- A maximum of 15 hours of driving is allowed per day or work shift, after which the driver must be off duty for at least 8 consecutive hours before driving again.
- After 18 hours on duty, driving is not allowed.
- After 20 hours have passed since the last 8-hour off-duty period, driving is not allowed.
- Drivers must choose between two cycles: Cycle 1 (80 hours in 7 days) or Cycle 2 (120 hours in 14 days).
- Yard move and adverse driving are supported.
- Personal conveyance has a 75 km/day limit.
South of 60:
- A maximum of 13 hours of driving is allowed per day, after which the driver must be off duty for at least 8 consecutive hours before driving again.
- After 14 hours on duty, driving is not allowed, but drivers can perform non-driving tasks. Driving is not allowed again until the driver takes at least 8 consecutive hours off duty.
- After 16 hours have passed since the last 8-hour off-duty period, driving is not allowed.
- Drivers must take at least 10 hours of off-duty time in a day.
- Off-duty time, apart from the 8 consecutive hours, can spread in 30 minute blocks throughout the day.
- Drivers must choose between two cycles: Cycle 1 (70 hours in 7 days) or Cycle 2 (120 hours in 14 days).
- Drivers must be off duty for at least 24 consecutive hours every 14-day cycle.
- Hours of service can be reset to zero or switched by taking 36 consecutive off-duty hours for Cycle 1 or 72 for Cycle 2.
- Yard move, adverse driving, and deferral of daily off-duty time are supported.
- Personal conveyance has a 75 km/day limit.
In some special cases, these rules do not apply, including:
- Emergencies. In an emergency, driving is allowed past the time limit until the driver (and passengers, if any) reach a safe destination.
- Adverse driving conditions. When drivers face adverse driving conditions, they may extend their driving time by no more than two hours, which are reduced from the required off-duty time. This only applies if the trip could have been completed without the reduction in normal conditions. The driver must still take the 8 consecutive off-duty hours.
Do you have any questions? Talk to ELD Advisor: 650-405-3372 or Request Callback
How to Choose the Right ELD Solution?
There are hundreds of Electronic Logging Devices for trucks out there. Whether it’s a big carrier or small owner-operator there are a few important factors to consider when deciding on the right ELD solution.
Here are the most critical factors to consider:
- Certification. The first step in narrowing down the potential ELD providers is checking the list of certified devices.
- Customer support. No matter how good an ELD solution is, drivers will need technical assistance at some point. Call the customer support line. If you can’t reach a human or get clear answers to your questions, you might want to consider a different ELD provider. HOS247 offers top-rated customer support.
- User friendliness. Drivers aren’t computer programmers nor do they want to be. If at all possible, test the device you are considering. Is the hardware easy to install and the software easy to manage? Every minute your driver spends troubleshooting a poorly designed logbook is wasted time and money.
- Clear pricing. A respectable provider should have a clear pricing program so you know upfront exactly what’s involved and how much you’re going to pay for the service.
- No-long term contracts. Some elog manufacturers lock carriers into long-term contacts. At HOS247 we have a no contract policy so carriers have the flexibility they need.
Why HOS247?
HOS247 is an industry leader providing ELD devices for trucks and buses. Our top-rated solution provides customers with reliable hardware that prevents HOS violations.
The easy-to-use elog app allows carriers to manage HOS logs to ensure compliance. It also creates DVIR (Driver Vehicle Inspection Reports). The HOS247 app and platform are optimized to help carriers avoid costly violations and pass inspections.
We also offer fast and reliable on-road driver support to resolve potential compliance issues quickly. Our well-trained technical support team is on call Monday through Friday and speaks English, Spanish, Polish, and Russian. Additionally, all carriers can enjoy our 2 week hassle-free return policy.
HOS247 is the top rated ELD solution for carrier companies of all sizes, from large to small trucking companies and owner-operations.
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.
As the ELD mandate is progressively enforced in Canada, motor carriers must look for suitable electronic logbook options. Initially, the idea of an electronic logbook with no monthly fee might sound like an attractive way to comply with federal regulations
If you want to streamline your fleet management processes, it’s crucial to ask yourself: What is fleet tracking and how can it make a difference for my business? GPS fleet tracking is a digital solution that empowers truckers to monitor
Running a business is challenging, no matter the size. Just like giant companies with hundreds of vehicles in operation, owners of small fleets face similar problems related to inefficient dispatch, lack of visibility, extra fuel expenses, and time-consuming paperwork. Small