Preparing for ELD Enforcement

The ELD Mandate’s “soft enforcement” period is soon coming to an end. On April 1, 2018, just two weeks from now, roadside inspectors will begin issuing Compliance, Safety, and Accountability (CSA) points and out of service orders for non-compliance. These citations and penalties can be seriously damaging to any fleet, so it’s important to use these next weeks to fully prepare.

Despite the attention surrounding the ELD Mandate, there has been a lot of confusion about the knowledge and requirements needed to avoid penalties. As the soft enforcement period ends, here are the most important requirements to note.

AOBRDs

Under the ELD Mandate, Automated On-Board Recording Devices (AOBRDs) are permitted for use, with certain restrictions, until December 16, 2019. If your AOBRDs were installed in your vehicles before the December 18, 2017 deadline, you can continue using these devices until the 2019 deadline. The software requirements for AOBRDs are different than those for ELDs, as you can see in the chart below, so do your research before April 1 to ensure you are compliant and safe from penalties.

Courtesy of Automotive Fleet

Documentation

To fully comply with the ELD Mandate, specific documentation is required for every vehicle. This supporting documentation includes:

• Your ELD’s user manual, which should describe how to use the device
• An instruction sheet for reporting and recording malfunctions
• An instruction sheet for transferring and producing ELD and HoS data
• Enough blank driver’s logs, also known as records of duty status, to record hours of service for at least eight days

During inspections, your drivers must be able to identify the device they’re using and then produce and transfer data from their device to the inspector. If any of these requirements aren’t met, you could face penalties and citations.

Out-of-Service Orders

These penalties are the most important element of the April 1 deadline. As you confirm and complete your fleet’s ELD Mandate compliance, it’s important to be aware of the mistakes that can cost your ability to operate. These violations include:

• Operating vehicles without ELDs or grandfathered AOBRDs
• Using unauthorized and/or unregistered ELDs
• Indicating false special driving categories and falsifying driver logs
• Being unable to produce, display, transfer, or print driver log data for inspectors

Fleets have had ample time to comply with the ELD Mandate rules and requirements, so most law enforcement officers and inspectors will not offer much leeway for violations. Do your best for your company, fleet, and drivers by preparing for the upcoming deadline and ensuring your compliance.