PMTC continues push for ELD enforcement deferral
As of last week, no electronic logging devices (ELDs) had been submitted for third-party certification, a process that’s required before fleets can be assured their device will comply with the Canadian regulation set to take effect June 12.
That was the message Mike Millian, president of the Private Motor Truck Council of Canada (PMTC), delivered to members during a webinar Jan. 19, and is why his organization is asking Transport Canada to defer enforcement of the rules for six to 12 months.
The Canadian ELD mandate was published in Canada Gazette 2 in June 2019, providing a two-year runway to get organized. However, 19 months later, there are still no certified devices to choose from and Millian said it will take four to six weeks for each device to be evaluated once submitted to FPInnovations for certification.
FPInnovations is the only certifying body named so far, and was only granted authority in October 2020. This means fleets are going into the mandate blind, not knowing whether their current device will be compliant and without sufficient time to switch vendors if necessary.
“To meet the June 12 deadline, you’re going to have to have installed an ELD that’s certified by a third party and posted on a Transport Canada list as being a certified device,” Millian explained. “If it’s not listed, you’re not legal, which is where we come to the crux of the problem.”
Millian said the PMTC was assured a list of certified devices would be available within a year of the Canada Gazette 2 posting in June 2019.
“It’s not the industry’s fault we are where we are, it’s Transport Canada’s fault.”
Mike Millian, PMTC
“We have five months left to comply, it’s been 19 months since the Canada Gazette 2 posting came out and as of now you have to pick from a list that has zero devices,” Millian said. “There are no devices you can pick from right now that are certified and we have five months [to comply].”
The PMTC supports the ELD mandate and third-party certification, he added, but not the short timeline fleets will have for implementing a compliant device. Millian said it takes about a year to install the hardware across a fleet and train drivers how to use it.
Carriers that already have an electronic logging system in place should check with their vendor to see if it will be submitted for approval, Millian suggested.
So far, Transport Canada has resisted any calls to push back the implementation deadline of June 12. But Millian lays the blame for the current situation squarely at the government agency’s feet.
“It’s not the industry’s fault we are where we are, it’s Transport Canada’s fault,” he said. “The PMTC has a great relationship with Transport Canada, but this is a regulation that has a timeline right now that just isn’t realistic and is putting a burden on the industry through no fault of its own. It has taken us 19 months to get to this point and we still have zero certified devices and that’s not the industry’s fault.”
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This is typical of our Federal Government to put the cart before the horse.
There is no way that this can come into effect in June of this year. The time line will net be feasible.
Expect massively increased regulations under the incoming Socialist regime. Fact.
I dont see anything in this to protect drivers like me. I was totally computer illiterate when they came in the states. 29 years otr with a near perfect record.1 year 10 months I had so many points I was told I was no longer safe to be on the highway. . I can no longer work in the industry, no one will touch me ,my csa score is so high over these electric things. I was told to read the book that came with it it was like a foreign language at the time. . Reminds me of when the club was implemented, so many of the 9old drivers i knew retired early ,most at that time couldn’t read or write. Safety is in operating the truck. I never listened to music radio anything while the equipment was moving ,i wanted to hear my equipment ,know every sound and if it was correct. I 5th and last generation driverdriver.
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Very well said. But the truck drivers need better protection. You are the type of truck drivers the large companies are replacing .
A parting gift from Marc Garneau. Another “woke” hire by Justin Trudeau who is still riding on his spaceman image coattails. Put him in the Senate with all the other marginally relevant show ponies. Of course there is not enough time to properly bring in the mandate. When will the light come on in Ottawa? Oh, and by the way, Pyatt, the socialist regime is already here if that’s what you are referring to.
These clowns at the PMTC are just attempting stall tactics. Frig it’s not like they have one seen it coming fer how many years now?
The U.S. has had mandatory elogs for3 years now. I guess the PMTC has been asleep at the wheel thinking it won’t happen that quick in Canada, well guess what its happening.
Wake the frig up people!!!!
It’s not up to the PMTC or any other individual other than the regulators to get some entity out there to comply with this third party certification process.
They’re the ones who implemented and began these regulations towards elogs!!!!
Get the lead out you morons!!!!
Canada should stop following the USA they have the setup for ELD’S WITH LOTS OF PLACES TO STOP CANADA IS A THIRD WORLD COUNTRY NO WHERE TO STOP GOAT TRAILS FOR HIGHWAYS. NO ELD READY
Dear James Menzie,
We at Hutch Systems Inc has submitted our ELD for certification as Jan 19, 2020. We are hoping to get it certified within Feb 2021. We have been developing it for a long time and are fully supportive of third party certification to weed out the non-compliant ELD entering the Canadian market. If you need more information reach out me directly.
E LD will not work hauling livestock Canada and United States as the rules are so different in there guide lines. I have some 45 years experience in trucking and
find that the C F I A / USDA have more control in trucking livestock. ELD will only
complicate transporting of livestock .Ex driver runs out of hours 2;00 o,clock in the
day and it’s 90 degrees 2 hours away from the plant. We are having trouble getting
qualified drivers as farm boys are harder to find as farms selling out.
This group has its own reason including. Knowing that E -logs will mean higher freight rates and many long time truck drivers leaving the industry unless driver pay is hourly at close to twice min wage. The Ontario gov and the O T A and the receivers need to work together to solve issues of long time waiting to be unloaded. Also fines or late fees should not be imposed when truck break down. . Also when poor. weather or traffic. or a sick driver delays the delivery late fees should be illegal. Only when the parking shortage is solved at skippers and receivers should E -logs be required along with overtime pay after 10 hours per day for all truck drivers while on Canadain soil except indian reserves and military ( shopping). To many truck drivers end up. getting sick or injured