On June 29, 2013, Congress passed the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21 st Century (MAP-21) bill, which requires all truck drivers to use electronic logging devices (ELDs) to track hours of service. The new mandate applies to all carriers required to file a Record of Duty Status (RODS).
The decision comes on the heels of a sweeping controversy on the topic. The American Transit Association (ATA) has expressed support for the bill, citing a belief that the devices will help drivers follow federally mandated Hours of Service (HOS) Requirements. On the other hand, the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) has made clear its opposition to the bill, expressing doubt that the devices will indeed increase driver safety.
As of February 2013, 35 percent of trucking fleets—and 43 percent of large carriers—were using ELDs, a statistic that had risen 10 percent from May 2012. Obviously the number of ELD converts was growing even before the Congressional mandate was put into place—and these pioneers were onto something. Although the decision to pass the bill a controversial one, the fact of the matter is that it’s passed and now must be followed. In light of that, here are some reasons ELDs are beneficial to truck drivers out on the road.
Benefits for fleet managers and owners
ELDs offer fleet managers an easy way to keep track of where their drivers—and the cargo they carry—are at all times. With just a few clicks, they can see where trucks are on their routes, as well as gather information like how many stops have been made and how frequently those stops occur. This makes fleet management a far easier task and eliminates any guesswork regarding individual drivers’ productivity on the road.
Benefits for drivers
ELDs can offer information to which drivers might not have immediate access otherwise. This includes GPS data and details on more direct, less congested routes that will lead truckers to their destinations more quickly. Having access to such information results in better overall efficiency, as well as reduced fuel consumption.
Additionally, ELDs make tracking hours of service and maintaining driver logs far more manageable than the old-fashioned, manual versions. Drivers aren’t required to remember each hour of their days and how many miles they covered; the ELD records this data for them. This in turn means fewer hours spent completing paperwork—which, of course, means more time can be spent focusing on the safe transportation of goods.
The passing of the MAP-21 bill is truly a positive development for drivers and fleet management teams. ELDs carry numerous benefits for all parties involved, and these advantages will continue to reveal themselves as time goes on and every trucker implements the use of on-board electronic logging devices.
Originally posted on July 30, 2013 @ 2:58 pm