Required by law in many countries, including the United States and Canada, electronic logging devices (ELDs) are used to track the working hours of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. Ever since ELDs became regulated, companies have been able to automatically track employee hours of service (HOS) and record of duty status (RODS) for safety and compliance. Thanks to this information, it’s easier to know that drivers are taking the proper amount of rest time in between shifts since fatigued driving directly increases the chances of an accident.
To support our many partners who are required to use ELDs, Navixy has integrated solutions from WirelessLinks and Gorilla Safety—both leading providers of these devices. One of our product specialists will be happy to tell you more.
What are ELDs, and why are they important?
Similar to a tachograph, ELDs monitor a vehicle’s engine and record details like the speed, distance traveled, and idle time. However, ELDs are far more advanced.
ELDs include a central display for the user, record information such as GPS location and driver logon, and even offer vehicle diagnostics. Most importantly, employees can easily and more accurately report whether they’re on duty, off duty, driving, or driving but off duty. This is essential for preventing drivers from logging miles “off the book” and risking a fatigue-related incident.
Due to the frequent inaccuracies and organizational difficulties of maintaining paper files for employee working hours, many countries have laws concerning ELDs. In the US, FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) stipulates that commercial vehicles must be equipped with these devices in order to create a safer working environment and to better track driver working and non-working hours; Canada has similar laws. In Mexico, drivers that travel into the US and Canada are expected to comply with ELD regulations when in these countries.
Modern ELDs not only allow companies to more accurately track both work and break hours, but they also eliminate the need to keep cumbersome physical books. Businesses can lose valuable time searching through records and face fines for failing to provide documentation of HOS or RODS. ELDs solve this concern by making everything available electronically. Moreover, by automating the process, it’s far less likely that crucial records will become lost or damaged. This can eliminate significant stress when trying to prove the whereabouts of employees at a later time.
ELDs report the VIN, date, time, GPS location, and other key data points. They also collect information from the driver, such as their authorized ID and instances of personal use, depending on the device, providing fleets with an abundance of information. By taking advantage of this data, organizations can expect to gain in several ways. See the list below for additional collected data points.
- Date
- Time
- GPS location
- Miles/kilometers
- Vehicle diagnostics
- Engine hours
- Engine on/off
- Driver logon/off
- User authentication
- VIN
Benefits of ELDs
Eliminating hours of paperwork and streaming record-keeping are just the beginning of the advantages of ELDs. The time that used to be spent on manual logging can instead be devoted to more crucial, business-focused operations for improved fleet efficiency, safety, and more.
First and foremost, driver safety improves when fleets implement ELDs. Managers have the ability to enforce both working and break hours, ensuring that their employees are getting sufficient rest in between shifts. As discussed in a previous blog post, the consequences of fatigued driving are quite severe, so it goes without saying that ELDs make fleets less prone to accidents. Moreover, additional device functions and data can be leveraged to address unsafe driving habits and provide training opportunities.
Maintaining trucks, vans, and other company vehicles doesn’t take as much guesswork because many ELDs include diagnostic tools and warnings for oil changes, tire rotations, and other key forms of auto service. In turn, this can lead to improved fuel efficiency for the entire fleet. In fact, fuel usage may also be reduced by aspects like ELD route planning and engine idle warning.
ELDs have the added benefit of updating fleets that might lack modern tech. These devices will only continue to be adopted by countries as required equipment, so more and more organizations will be introduced to the greater world of vehicle telematics. Even basic functionalities like GPS tracking and route planning can assist with generating higher profits and long-term growth. And if fleets wish to implement additional tech, they can integrate ELDs with video streaming for real-time monitoring and recorded events.
Advanced ELD solutions with Navixy
At Navixy, we’re committed to partnering with industry leaders, which is why WirelessLinks and Gorilla Safety were logical choices. Now, it’s possible to use these advanced ELD solutions with our mobile resource management platform to reap the benefits of this technology. Fortunately, these extensions are conveniently available in the Marketplace.
Kuktrack, a GPS tracking provider in Mexico, uses WirelessLinks with Bluelink to meet FMCSA certification requirements. Since many of their partners deliver goods in the US and Canada, they’re required to adhere to the law in these countries. Recently, we spoke with their CEO, Antonio Martorell, about how implementing our ELD solution has benefited them and some of the challenges the company has faced.
After initial resistance from drivers, ELDs have gradually become more accepted in Mexico. According to Antonio, one of the primary changes has been improved driver safety. Instead of staying behind the wheel and risking an accident due to fatigue, drivers now get proper rest thanks to sign-in requirements and better HOS oversight. Furthermore, vehicles are better maintained, since warnings like check engine lights must be looked into within a certain period of time. Plus, pre- and post-trip vehicle inspections are also logged.
Navixy was able to integrate WirelessLinks for Kuktrack quickly and efficiently, responding to their support needs and other requests throughout the process. Don’t hesitate to contact us if you’re interested in learning more about our fleet management solutions.
Though ELDs are required by law, they still offer a wide range of benefits to fleets and other mobile organizations. Our support team can answer your questions about Navixy, WirelessLinks, and our other capabilities at [email protected].
