Your ELD Mandate Guide

In December 2015, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration published the ELD mandate, which requires fleet drivers to use an electronic logging device to record their compliance with Hours of Service requirements. ELDs will replace paper logbooks, reducing paperwork while providing data about the vehicle and its driver. While a fleet fuel card provides real-time data, tracking, and automated reports, you’ll likely still need to add a system that meets ELD requirements. The ins and outs of the ELD mandate can be confusing, but with the December 2017 deadline quickly approaching, now is the time to make sure your fleet is compliant.

What Does an ELD Monitor?

In their most basic form, ELDs document the Record of Duty Status, replacing the need for drivers to manually record their Hours of Service. They also record vehicle movements by synchronizing with the engine, automatically recording driving activities and times. The wealth of data ELDs provide doesn’t stop there. When you attach the ELD to your commercial truck, it records location, total number of miles driven, engine hours, and ignition and power status, all vital data points that weren’t previously available.

ELDs Will Save Drivers Time and Money

Fleet managers may worry that the ELD mandate will impact productivity or push drivers to look for new jobs, but you’ll find that after making the transition, ELDs also benefit the drivers. These devices save time that would’ve been spent manually logging hours, reduce lost driving time, and can improve communication between drivers and dispatch.

You Have Options When It Comes to ELDs

To offset the upfront cost burden of the ELD mandate, the FMCSA has given fleets a variety of options when it comes to ELD technology. As long as the device or system as a whole meets the mandate’s technical specifications, your fleet can use smartphones, tablets, rugged handhelds, or other portable devices. In order to be compliant, the system just needs to include a hardwired connection to the vehicle’s engine.

ELDs Increase On-the-Road Safety

Adopting an ELD solution increases Hours of Service compliance, keeping fatigued drivers off the road and reducing the risk of accidents and injuries. Because the ELD operates by connecting directly to the vehicle’s engine, it can even detect and report maintenance issues, faults, and vehicle malfunctions.

Manage Expenses and Increase Efficiency

ELDs are one component of your fleet management system. In addition to logging drivers’ time on the road and vehicle activity, adding a Fuelz fleet card will save your company money on fuel expenses. In addition to fuel rebates and discounts, our fuel management system provides comprehensive fuel reporting and real-time expense tracking. A fleet fuel card also reduces the time drivers spend on paperwork and expense reports, increasing efficiency while reducing the risk of error. Contact us at 855-GO-FUELZ and start saving time and money today.