What to consider when transitioning to ELDs

PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. – With the Canadian electronic logging device (ELD) mandate coming down the pike, Greg Munden of Munden Ventures said there are several reasons carriers need to get on board immediately with the new technology.

Munden said ELDs will become law in about 18-24 months, and carriers should get off paper logs right away, as it takes anywhere from six to 12 months to make the transition.

Munden said ELDs also make a fleet’s operations safer, as well as drivers’ lives easier.

“ELDs at least make sure drivers can’t unknowingly exceed the current hours-of-service regulations,” he said today during the Interior Safety Conference in Prince George, B.C.

Munden said fleet owners sleep better at night knowing drivers have a more failsafe way to stay within current hours-of-service regulations. The technology also helps carriers save time and money.

Some key features Munden said fleets should look for in an ELD are that it connects with the truck’s electronic control module (ECM), meets third party certification, provides pre- and post-trip inspections, and fills out all trip information without the driver having to be involved. The devices should also have fleet tracking capabilities and two-way communication, as well as exception reporting, which locates those vehicles that are out of compliance without having to go through every file.

With hundreds of ELDs currently available, Munden said once a mandate becomes law, he expects that number to drop to around 25 due to Canada’s expected third-party certification process.

When selecting an ELD provider, Munden suggests finding one that is large enough to survive third-party certification, provides complete hardware and software solutions, is cost effective, and for carriers to consider a group purchase program to be more cost effective.

When it comes to telematics, Munden said carriers should look for technology that breaks down fuel consumption, speed violations, driver scorecards, and can create geo-zones.

Greg Munden.

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A university graduate with a degree in English, I have worked in the media and trucking industries as a writer, editor, and now as western bureau chief of Today's Trucking and TruckNews.com. I have several years of management experience in journalism, as well as hospitality, but am first and foremost a writer, both professionally and in my personal life, having completed two fiction novels.
derek@newcom.ca
@DerekClouthier


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  • Me Munden needs to get out and really understand how Trucking works? ELD can still be falsified owners will still try to move around the Hrs of Service, there are ELD suppliers out there that have the ability to change the logs after the event? Business will always find ways to skirt around the rules in order to make many some clients accept the rules while others find it a pain and disregard them? Let’s get this straight ELD are just a better mouse trap to get caught not the be all answer for road safety that political types like to pretend they are? Maybe driver’s will get paid for what they do? That’s a big maybe in this business

  • It does not make sense that “carriers need to get on board immediately with the new technology” while in the same article is stated that “With hundreds of ELDs currently available, Munden said once a mandate becomes law, he expects that number to drop to around 25 due to Canada’s expected third-party certification process.”

    Many trucking companies cannot afford to invest in a system and discover that, a few months down the road, the system of their choice does not make it through the Third-Party Certification Process.

  • Freight demand is tanking in an ominous economic sign

    Quote:
    “Trucking.
    Truckers should have a better grasp of where economic activity stands than anyone else.

    On that basis, the latest Bank of America Merrill Lynch survey of U.S. trucking companies and their users should scare us all rigid. This is what is happening to demand for freight.

    To balance tanking demand, trucking companies unfortunately have what looks like excessive supply. So things look tough for the trucking industry.

    The S&P 500 Transportation index also turns out to be a good leading indicator for the stock market since the current president took office. Judging by recent trends, transport stocks, which are falling, have further to go – and this does not bode well for the market as a whole. ”

    https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2019-05-28/truckers-trade-war-winners-and-household-wealth-jw7b7nrj

    Told You ! (wink)

    And when truck drivers will start to cry and complain due to uncomfortable economic issues affecting them , it will be an opportune moment to start listening to the wise who can truly rectify the situation into a prosperous one for all truck drivers once and for all .

    Aren’t truck drivers fed up of being exploited ,vilified, underappreciated ,and pushed around yet ?

    Apparently it will take more pain . Economic pain cannot be denied nor tolerated .

    Truck drivers are a tough breed . Unfortunately they can endure the most undignified treatment . But the breaking point is undeniably approaching . Should be interesting to say the least , in my humble opinion .