B.C. wants feedback on ELDs, speed limiters, trip inspections
VICTORIA, B.C. – British Columbia wants commercial vehicle drivers, owners and owner-operators to weigh in on electronic logging devices (ELDs), trip inspections, and speed limiters within provincial borders.
Federally regulated commercial vehicles that cross provincial borders will need to be equipped with ELDs as of June 12, 2021. But the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is looking at whether to require the devices in equipment that travels only within the province.
The ministry is also considering whether to adopt National Safety Code (NSC) Standard 13 for trip inspections.
“Many B.C. drivers and carriers are already required to complete trip inspection reports and use pre-printed or electronic reports that mirror the requirements of NSC Standard 13,” the province says in its call for comments. “The adoption of NSC Standard 13 would harmonize B.C. with the rest of Canada and provide clarity for commercial vehicle operators in the province.”
Regulators are also looking for thoughts around mandating speed limits for commercial vehicles already subject to hours of service rules.
Ontario and Quebec have since 2009 required speed limiters to be set at 105 km/h on commercial vehicles with gross vehicle weights above 11,794 kg. A 2008 Transport Canada report said speed limiters could help B.C. improve safety by 16%, and lower annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 10,000 tonnes.
“Recent analysis by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has shown the effect on travel times by a lowered travel speed on highways posted over 110 km/h is likely to be minimal, between one to 13 minutes per corridor,” the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure adds.
Background information can be reviewed here before offering comments in a related questionnaire.
The survey is open from April 15 to May 31 at https://feedback.engage.gov.bc.ca/821877
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If eld does is eliminate the lying and cheating by the driver. But another thing It also pressures driver to go fast when he knows that as much as hrs he needs to go home, and exact same hrs left for the day, he don’t have extra time.
Other thing government need to fix minimum $ rate for per mile because when we will get good $ for per mile and will make good money on less miles than no one try to rush. Now when rates are bad than dispatch try to force driver for more trips.
Have drove trucks with and without speed limiters. Found I generally drive slower without the limiter. With the limiter you generally drive with the petal to the floor. Also one takes more chances passing slower vehicles in bad spots just to get past. Without the limiter you tend to be more cautious about the speed you are travelling
Prior to mandated ELD’s in the US, two large trucking companies installed them in their fleets. The net result for both companies was a higher accident ratio with ELD’s than without. The rational being, drivers did not take any breaks during their day, consequently not the same level of attentiveness.
Drivers are caught between a rock and a hard spot, compelled to a production level, while another level of bureaucracy limits hours of service. This valuable time slot can be eroded by over zealous DOT officer justifying their positions by yet another inspection. We are turning into a totalitarian state.
You can not legislate safety, only educate. ELD’s have no consideration for the circadian rhythm, mental and physical state of the individual driver. Only the individual knows when he needs a break. Mandating hours of operation defies nature which can result in the opposite affect of the intended regulation.
Speed limiters will cause traffic lineups in bc because nobody will be able to pass slower traffic
ELDs will basically put independent owner operators out of business, which I’m sure the bigger fleet companies know and welcome. Small operators can’t afford the added overhead costs to run these systems.
Speed limiting trucks to below posted limits causes congestion and can lead to dangerous passing and other hazards on 2 lane highways ( which we still use extensively) and even on freeways due to extended passing times.
The fuel savings and safety are far more achievable with better driver training and hiring standards.
Tom Ostero s comment could not have been worded better
So if I have one truck that might get 200hours a year why would I need speed limiters and ELD’s. More costs that the small companies don’t need. It’s hard enough to make it as it is.
I do not feel we need speed limiters in the North. We do not feel there is a problem. If we do it should be on all vehicles on the road to stop the suicidal passing that goes on all day by pickups where the real problem lies.
ELD also puts truck drivers out of work that cannot grasp the computer or modern telephone technology.
i agree with TOM OSTERO
I do not want speed limiters. I live in the north where overtakeing slow vehicles is a real challenge and this will just add to the frustration out there and I believe to increase our already high accidents ratio. In my opinion it is unnecessary at best and and very dangerous at worst
I agree with Tom Ostero’s comment.
I also support Merlin Gerber’s comment roads in the north have their own special challenges with very few passing lanes and congested morning traffic with some industries by the hour and some tonne/mile
It’s tragic that authorities can’t bother to consult the voice of experienced over the road truckers instead of the more visible and vocal, but inexperienced fleet owners and so-called industry experts and representatives, when it comes to making decisions affecting a once professional career, now reeling under the endorsement of these same regulatory advocates in promoting programs that put people behind the wheel of commercial vehicles, who have neither the skills or aptitude to fill such roles adequately .
What an eld does is eliminate the lying and cheating by the driver. It also eliminates the pressure put on the dispatcher that then the driver decides to run illegal. I’ve been on elog since it was implemented running canada/canada/-USA. Dispatch tried a forced dispatch on me when I couldn’t legally do it. One phone call from me to safety mgr fixed it.