Rand McNally unveils ‘plug and play’ e-log device
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – No matter what your opinion of the US ELD mandate, all carriers and owner/operators running stateside will have one thing in common come December 2017 when the mandate goes into effect: They will all have to be in compliance.
Between now and then carriers and owner/operators will have to figure out what’s the best way to achieve compliance. Rand McNally believes it has a simple, low-cost solution to doing so and unveiled it at the Mid-America Trucking Show.
The company’s ELD 50 device, when paired with a driver’s existing Android phone or tablet, creates a secure compliance solution that meets US federal requirements – and, says Rand McNally, meet drivers’ budgets.
The ELD 50 E-Log device: 1) installs in seconds under the dash, 2) allows drivers to use Android devices to view logs, and 3) provides access to Hours of Service and Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) logs via the Rand McNally DriverConnect web portal.
“There are thousands of owner/operators and small fleets who will now be required to implement electronic logs and face the prospect of investing in a completely new logging system. Just as we did with our truck-specific GPS devices, our goal was to provide drivers with a cost-efficient, easy-to-use option for complying with the law,” said Stephen Fletcher, CEO of Rand McNally.
The ELD 50 is a 3 ¼-inch long device that plugs into a truck’s diagnostic port, right below the dash. Through a Bluetooth connection, the device sends Hours of Service data to the complimentary Rand McNally DriverConnect app, where drivers may view current HOS logs as well as DVIR documents.
As a bonus, the app also provides access to 10 helpful engine-driven gauges, powered by information collected by the ELD 50. The gauges include: average fuel economy, coolant temperature, and boost pressure.
“We wanted to provide a nice extra for drivers – just as we provide extra tools on our GPS devices,” Fletcher explained.
Since the Android app is free, drivers can get a feel for the product by downloading the application and inputting their status manually. Those reports can be turned into PDFs and exported.
For a monthly subscription fee of $14.99, drivers may access the Rand McNally DriverConnect web portal, where up to six months of HoS logs and DVIRs are stored. Using the web portal, drivers and fleet managers also may view vehicle locations on a map and administer functions such as adding drivers to a device.
The app automatically syncs with the web portal via Wi-Fi or cellular transmission, providing the most up-to-date reports.
The ELD 50, priced at $149.99, will be available at travel centers and online at the end of April.
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It is all good so if to use smart phone from Canada to the USA who will supply the smart phone and who would pay the monthly fee along with all other expenses good idea it is to get on board with the electronic log .
It was long overdue now the face of the industry will change as for the pay would have to be higher for drivers on a long haul service.
And what about the produce long haul drivers how will this elog affect them ??? It will be a hard one to figure out.