How to make the most out of your ELD devices?

ELDs automatically record your drivers' Hours of Service (HOS), store reports, and driver certifications, allowing fleets to stay compliant while saving time on paperwork.

What Are ELD Systems?

Commercial motor vehicle drivers use electronic logging devices (ELDs) as a hardware to continuously record data about the driver and the vehicle. The majority of ELDs attach to the truck's onboard diagnostics (OBD) port to record crucial data about the engine, speed, number of driving hours, location, mileage, and other factors.

What Information Does an ELD Device Record?

ELDs are electronic logging devices. This means they can record and transmit data over long distances much more efficiently and accurately than paper logs. All types of "records of duty status" (RODS) can be recorded in the log by electronic logging devices. The examples below are just a few and are not all-inclusive:

• House of Service (HOS): The primary goal of the ELD mandate is to track the driving hours of commercial motor vehicle operators. The federal government's HOS regulations apply to the majority of CMV operators.

• GPS tracking in real time

• Travel distance, fuel efficiency, and engine speed

• Engine diagnostics and hours of operation

• Dangerous driving behavior, such as accidents and hard braking

Why Are ELD Devices Used by Commercial Truck Drivers?

Depending on the type of electronic logging device, they can improve fleet safety and sustainability, as well as make the fleet more efficient. In addition to complying with the ELD mandate, owner-operators use ELD devices in the following ways:

• Truck servicing

• Driver vehicle inspection reports must be completed (DVIRs)

• The gyroscope and accelerometer are used to monitor the safety of a CMV driver.

• Geofencing technology can be used to monitor, prevent, and report security issues, as well as improve loss prevention efforts.

• Reduce fuel consumption, train drivers to be more efficient (for example, spend less time idling), and enable coaching based on real-time data reports.

What Kind of Data Is Recorded and Transmitted by an Electronic Logging Device?

The majority of electronic logging devices send data directly from the engine to the truck's onboard diagnostic (OBD) port. This includes the amount of fuel used, the distance the car travels, etc. The majority of ELD solutions come with a GPS tracker that shows fleet managers the truck's location in real time. They can send data to the Department of Transportation (DOT) during roadside inspections in addition to sending it to fleet managers.

How is data from an ELD device transferred?

ELD data can be transferred via Bluetooth or cellular data plans to the operator's Android or iOS mobile app, allowing them to efficiently log hours of service. Depending on the ELD provider, it may also include a built-in WiFi hotspot to assist drivers in obtaining necessary information, such as:

• Work orders are issued electronically.

• Emails from the workplace

• Other productivity apps and resources

Who Needs an ELD Device?

The federal ELD mandate requires most trucking companies and owner-operators to install an ELD solution. In rare cases, a trucker or trucking company may be exempt from installing an electronic logging device.