Background

According to the Federal Highway Administration, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act — also known as MAP-21 — was signed on July 6th, 2012. This mandated that ELDs must be in all commercial motor vehicles involved with interstate commerce. It passed officially in December of 2017.

ELD devices essentially record the driver’s Record of Duty Status (or RODs). The US Department of Transportation states the following. “Every motor carrier must require every driver to record his/her duty status for each 24-hour period using specific methods outlined by regulation. Logs/Records of Duty Status (RODs) must be current by showing each change in duty status.”

The use of ELDs to record driver records can replace conventional forms of logging on paper. These are called Hours of Service (HOS). Some drivers may still choose to record their duties this way.

Why Look Right Now?

The US Department of Transportation also states that vehicles that had automatic recording devices (AOBRD) installed and in-use before December 18th, 2017 are allowed to continue using that device until December 16th, 2019.

Different ELDs have different ELD standards. With 2019 just around the corner, this is a great time to decide. Which ELD is for your business?

TruckingOffice ELD System

Device Overview

All the driver has to do for the TruckingOffice ELD System is simply to plug it into the electronic control module (ECM) port, which is often found underneath the dashboard. Plug it into the J1939 plug specifically, and everything is set.

The vehicle interface device (VID) talks to the computer in your truck, which will then send the logging information to the TruckingOffice ELD app on your phone or tablet.

Features

Instead of using paper, the TruckingOffice ELD System allows you to find and send all of your records in one place: an app on your device! The app connects to the VID in the truck, which makes it easy to navigate and share your driving information.

You’ll need to set up a company interface, which is the place where you store all of your Department of Transportation (DOT) records. No matter how many trucks you have, everything will be collectively organized into this space.

Add multiple driver logs, file roadside inspection reports, view existing logs, and more with the TruckingOffice app.

Why Are TruckingOffice ELDs Helpful?

While the mandate of ELDs may have caused a bit of a hassle for businesses switching over to them in the beginning, over time, they do save trucking companies an abundance of time and energy.

• Less paperwork. ELDs are helping businesses to become more efficient by reducing the amount of paperwork they must complete.
• Up-to-date. Dispatchers can always be current with the truck driver’s status, which can help in better planning for future trips. No need to wait for the papers to come in at the end of the day.
• No hassle. Keeping a paper log of their Records of Duty Status can become a hassle for drivers. Instead, ELDs take that task off of their hands.

Choose TruckingOffice for your company’s ELD needs. Keep everything in one place for easy access and efficient communication across all members of your organization. Start your 30-day free trial by calling (800) 253-9647 right now.