The ELD mandate will be fully enforced beginning January 1, 2023, and commercial motor vehicle drivers will be required to use electronic logs for their trucking operations. This legislation will affect around 157,500 commercial bus and truck drivers who keep RODS. The selection of an elog product should be a researched decision in order to achieve compliance with the mandate, and it is also an opportunity to improve operations and increase profitability. This article reviews what to look for in a trucker daily log and how HOS247 can help you stay productive.
Who Can Use a Paper Trucker Daily Log and Who Needs an ELD
Both property and passenger carrier vehicles traveling between provinces are subject to the mandate requiring electronic logbooks. Yet, drivers can claim an exemption from this law and are allowed to use paper logs to keep their HOS records if any of the following conditions apply:
- Short-haul exemption. Drivers remaining within a 160-km radius from their working location during working hours and who return to their starting point on a daily basis.
- Permit. Carriers that operate under a specific permit issued by the authorities.
- Statutory exemption. CMVs under a statutory exemption.
- Rentals. Vehicles rented for up to 30 days.
- Manufacturing date. Vehicles manufactured before the year 2000.
The Motor Vehicle Transport Act requires drivers to notify carriers in case of malfunction. If this happens, paper logs may be used temporarily to keep RODS until the electronic log is either fixed or replaced. Even though most drivers will regularly use electronic logs, they should know how to fill out a truck drivers daily log on paper in case of technical issues.
HOS247 Offers a Dependable Service
HOS247 is a top-rated provider in the industry. Our trucker daily log is designed to make compliance easier than ever. Here are some of the advantages of choosing HOS247 as your provider:
- Top-rated customer support. If there is a technical problem during an operation, it pays to have top quality assistance available Monday through Sunday. Our multilingual team of English, Spanish, Polish, and Russian speakers is dedicated to helping out drivers with app and hardware issues.
- Reliable hardware. Our devices are high quality so they don’t break mid drive. This also provides a stable Bluetooth connection, so data is accurately collected and updated on a regular basis.
- Compatibility. Both iOS and Android smartphones and tablets support the system’s software, working easily on the driver’s device of choice.
- Flexible options. HOS247 logbook plans can be scaled up or down to suit specific needs thanks to our no-contract policy.
- Trial period. Customers may try out HOS247 for a period of two weeks free of contracts or hidden costs. If you are not happy with the product, you may return it and obtain a refund, no questions asked.
At HOS247 we are committed to making trucking operations easy and efficient for our customers.
How to Choose a Trucker Daily Log that Is Right for You
The process of selection for a truck driver daily log can be overwhelming. Whether you are an owner-operator or a fleet manager choosing an elog for a fleet, you can make the process simpler by following these steps:
- Check for user reviews. Comments and reviews from users give insight into the real-life experience with the ELD system. These are available at the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
- Look for user-friendly apps. This is one of the most important features of any ELD solution. Difficult or complicated systems make operations less efficient and are often frustrating for drivers. It is best to have an app that can be learned and used in a straightforward manner to avoid losing time and effort on training.
- Make sure you can reach customer service. When something goes wrong out on the road, technical assistance is crucial to get things up and running again. It only takes a minute to call and check a provider’s customer service line, and it can give you a pretty good idea of how it will perform in real-life situations.
- Consider compatibility. When choosing an electronic log, it is best to choose a BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) logging app that can be downloaded to the device of choice, saving on dedicated tablets sold by the provider.
- Avoid long contracts. It is common to see providers requiring three to five-year contracts. It is somewhat risky to commit for such a long time. You might want to stay away from vendors that ask you to sign deals for more than one year.
- Consider the vendor’s experience. Many providers offer ELDs but not all are specialized in electronic log solutions, which are quite complex. If you are looking for compliant and reliable devices, it is best to choose a provider that focuses on trucker daily log systems.
Differences Between the Canadian and U.S. ELD Mandates
The Canadian legislation of electronic logging devices is largely based on its American counterpart. This helps carriers operating across the border achieve compliance, given that their chosen elog system is approved in both countries. However, some differences must be taken into consideration, including:
- Canadian electronic logging systems must be certified by a third-party accreditation body approved by Transport Canada, while U.S. vendors can self-register their devices with the FMCSA.
- Personal conveyance has a limit of 75 km in Canada, while the U.S. has no limitations on distance or time.
- Canadian legislation allows drivers to defer unused off-duty time to the following day, while U.S. legislation requires them to take a 30-minute break after eight hours of driving.
- In case of roadside inspections, Canadian drivers will transfer their RODs directly to the officer, while American drivers send them to ERODS, a data repository that DOT officers can access to download the information.
- In case of a malfunction, Canada requires drivers to use paper logs for 14 days or until they return to their home terminal after completing that trip. In the U.S., the time paper logs can be used due to an ELD malfunction is 8 days.
- Canadian elogs are required to notify the driver 30 minutes prior to an HOS violation, which is not a requirement for American devices.
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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