Canadian HOS App Features and Requirements

Transport Canada requires electronic logging devices to be connected to an engine directly. This allows the ELD to record a driver’s hours-of-service (HOS) and records of duty status (RODS) information automatically. Since an ELD app itself cannot do that job, it isn’t Transport Canada compliant on its own, but only as part of a system. Furthermore, an elog system is compliant when it has been certified by one of the approved third-party certification bodies.

Even though HOS apps won’t fulfill the compliance requirements alone, they’re still an important part of elog mandate compliance as they allow the information gathered from the HOS hardware to be displayed on mobile devices for drivers, carriers and safety inspectors.

In short, drivers need an approved device to be compliant, and they need the hours of service ELD apps to be able to display the information gathered by the electronic logbook.

Flexible plans whether you have 1 or 500 vehicles

Canadian ELD Mandate 

The Canadian ELD Mandate will require certain commercial motor vehicle drivers to use an electronic logging device instead of a paper logs to record their hours of service. There are many reasons for and benefits of using an electronic logging device, but the main purpose of the Canadian ELD Mandate is to make the roads safer by reducing driver fatigue. It is also anticipated to save billions of dollars in expenses related to paperwork and other administrative duties.

truck on winter road in Canada

Any driver familiar with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA’s) ELD Mandate in the United States should have no problem understanding the Canadian ELD mandate, although there are several important differences. While the American ELD Mandate has been enforced since December of 2019, the Canadian Mandate won’t go be fully enforced until January 1, 2023. Here is the Canadian ELD Mandate timeline:

  • December 16, 2017 — Canadian government published its proposed Regulations Amending the Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service Regulations for Electronic Logging Devices and Other Amendments.
  • June 13, 2019 — Transport Canada releases a final rule announcing the requirement that certain commercial bus and truck drivers use ELDs, and outlining the requirements of the Canadian ELD mandate.
  • June 12, 2021 — The mandate came into effect and a one-year period of progressive enforcement began. 
  • March 7, 2022 — The CCMTA announced that progressive enforcement will be extended six months past the June 12, 2o22 deadline.
  • January 1, 2023 — The new full enforcement deadline by which affected carriers and drivers must use ELDs instead of paper logs in order to avoid penalties.

Unlike the U.S. legislation, the Canadian ELD Mandate will not have a grandfather clause. That means no extra time will be allowed for fleets already using unregistered electronic logs, since all it takes is a simple update in order to ensure their device is compliant. 

HOS247 app

What is an ELD?

An ELD is an electronic logging device. Transport Canada defines it as any certified device or technology that can automatically log driving times and records of duty status. E-logs can bring several benefits to the commercial driving sector, including:

  • Reducing driving fatigue and accidents through close monitoring of driving times.
  • Minimizing paperwork with automatic logging of hours.
  • Faster enforcement checks at roadside inspections using on-screen displays.
  • Remote access for compliance managers and dispatchers.
  • Automatic hours of service calculations and violation alerts.
  • Real-time fleet tracking.

Electronic logbooks are simply installed by plugging them into the diagnostic port, and they connect via Bluetooth to a display such as a smartphone or a tablet with a logbook app. Whenever the vehicle moves faster than 5 mph, the ELD status will switch to Driving and automatically capture driving times.

Who does the Canadian ELD Mandate apply to?

Carriers and drivers who operate solely within a specific province are not required to adhere to the rules of the Canadian ELD Mandate, as they’re bound by provincial regulations. Unless they meet certain exemptions, there are almost 158,000 federally regulated carriers who must familiarize themselves with the Canadian Mandate by the full enforcement deadline of June 12, 2022. Some provinces, like Ontario, will be adopting provincial rules in harmony with the federal ELD mandate, while others, like Quebec, have refused to do so.

Regardless of whether they are required to or not, all drivers would benefit from the use of ELDs, especially considering other provinces may soon adopt guidelines similar to those laid out in the federal mandate.

truck on road

Canada ELD Mandate Exemptions 

While the Canadian ELD Mandate will apply to federally regulated commercial motor vehicle drivers and bus drivers, not all of them will have to comply. Even if they would otherwise follow federal regulations, commercial motor vehicle drivers will not have to follow the rules of the Canadian ELD Mandate if they meet one of the following four exemptions:

  • Drivers who operate a commercial motor vehicle that was built before the year 2000.
  • Carriers with a statutory exemption.
  • Drivers who operate under a territorial or provincial HOS permit.
  • Vehicles under a short-term rental agreement of fewer than 30 days. (This is different from the U.S. ELD Mandate, which only allows a maximum of eight days for a short-term rental.)

HOS247 Leads the Industry in Providing Apps for HOS Logging

HOS247 is a trusted electronic logbook provider that offers fleets and owner-operators  reliable e-logs to comply with the ELD regulations set by Transport Canada. With our HOS software, drivers can focus on their job knowing we take care of HOS compliance. The benefits offered by HOS247 include:

  • No requirement to commit to any contracts.
  • Driver-friendly apps that are easy to use.
  • Hassle-free returns with our two-week trial.
  • Helps a business run more smoothly with innovative tools.
  • Reliable and helpful support reps who speak English, Polish, Spanish, and Russian.
  • Plans that can be customized to suit fleets of any size, no matter how big or small.
  • Flexibility to change plans in order to meet an organization’s changing needs over time .
Add options as you grow when you need them

What other features does HOS247 offer to improve your operations in addition to the electronic HOS app?

HOS247 knows what drivers and fleets need in order to be compliant, and to do their jobs safely and efficiently. Those features include:

  • GPS tracking in real time — plan your drivers’ routes more efficiently, accurately track your assets, and monitor driver performance. The HOS247 app can also help fleet managers stay on top of the maintenance of their vehicles.
  • IFTA mileage reporting — the app’s automated reporting of mileage driven in each state eliminates the need to manually track state miles. This, in turn, eliminates the risk of human error.  
  • Dispatch — accurate and accesible HOS records along with GPS tracking help ensure that loads are assigned to the best-suited drivers.

How to Install the HOS247 ELD

Downloading and installing the HOS247 ELD is practically effortless. Before you install the ELD or set up the app:

  1. Visit https://portal.hos247.com, and log in with the credentials provided.
  2. Click “Manage,” where you can add or update your fleet’s information, as well as add vehicles, drivers and other portal users. Note that the FMCSA requires portal users and drivers to have different login credentials, even if the portal user and driver is the same person. They need to be assigned and use two different email addresses, if that is the case.

HOS247 ELD hardware

Instructions for Installing the ELD Hardware

  1. Before running the truck driver hours of service app and before turning on the vehicle, plug the ELD into the vehicle port with a 9-pin cable. If needed, use an adapter. You can also mount it on the dash with the dual fastener provided.
  2. You should now see a flashing green LED light that indicates that the ELD is connected to power. A flashing red light, means that the GPS is in acquisition mode. A solid red light means the GPS is locked, but you can still proceed to the next steps.
  3. Start the engine.
  4. The LED should start to flash green more quickly now. This means that vehicle bus activity has been detected.
  5. The green LED should eventually become solid, which means the device is successfully registered. It should now have all of the information that it needs in order to communicate with the app, and you can now run the application. Note that the LED light may not always stay on in an effort to preserve power.

HOS247 ELD connection scheme

Instructions for Setting Up the App

Setting up the ELD HOS app is the last step and can be done simply by following these steps:

  1. Download the HOS247 app from Google Play or Apple Store. You’ll need an Android/iOS device.
  2. Turn on your phone or tablet’s Bluetooth if it isn’t on already. But do not pair Bluetooth to the ELD, as this will be done automatically by the HOS app.
  3. Log in to your account with the credentials created in the web portal.
  4. Select a vehicle from the list of vehicles that were also added in the web portal.
  5. Enter the MAC address listed on your ELD device.
  6. The Bluetooth indicator in the upper-right corner of the app should now indicate that you can start using the ELD.
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
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