electronic logging devices

Is your Truck Putting You to Sleep?

A ground-breaking bit of research from Australia has shown that low-frequency vibrations can make drivers drowsy. If this is true and the research is proven conclusive, it will call into question just about all we assume about truck crashes where the driver apparently fell asleep at the wheel. Those drivers may in fact have been very drowsy but may not have been "fatigued" in an hours-of-service (HOS) context, the way that term is typically applied to "tired drivers."

Ontario investments should focus on green tech, safety and parking: OTA

TORONTO, ON – The Ontario Trucking Association (OTA) is calling on the government to offer more support for green-trucking technology and alternative fuels, increase truck parking, and promote driver safety oversight programs. The group met with the provincial government today as part of pre-budget consultations. The Ontario budget is expected to be released this Spring ahead of a June 7 election. The OTA says it commended the government for reinvesting carbon fees paid by the trucking industry back into the sector in the form of rebates for fuel-saving devices and natural gas and electric-powered vehicles, but stressed that low carbon programs should reflect the realities of the modern supply chain.

U.S. Requiring Electronic Logging Devices in Two Years

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) on Thursday announced the adoption new regulations that will require the use of electronic logging devices (ELD) for truckers to keep track of their hours of service. The rules, which are set to be published on Dec. 16, will take effect two years afterwards and require Canadian and Mexican domiciled drivers to use the devices when operating on U.S. roadways. The regulations have a few exemptions that were not in the 2014 proposal, including excepting drivers who keep records of duty status in eight or fewer days out of every 30 working days; drivers in drive-away and tow-away operations and truckers operating vehicles older than model year 2000.