When you think of trucking, you naturally think of driving.  Trucking is a great job that can be relaxing if you like to drive and also pays fairly well.  You may not think you have to do much besides drive, but any truck driver will tell you that the position actually involves a lot more.  Like any business, trucking involves a lot of paperwork. There are dispatch records, mileage reports, invoices, and many more documents that need to be maintained, organized, and checked frequently.  Thankfully, there’s an easier way to do it now than by hand – trucking management software (TMS).

What is TMS?

TMS is a system that helps trucking companies keep track of all their data.  It also helps with accuracy by doing the math for you. TMS includes software for:

• Interstate Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) reporting
• Dispatch trucking
• Invoice trucking
• Driver trucking
• Expense trucking
• Maintenance trucking
• Truck tracking
• Premium routing
• Team driver trucking

The main purpose of TMS is to make truckers’ lives easier.  For example, the system automatically calculates IFTA payments.  This can be a tricky thing to figure out, but with TMS, you will never overpay or send an underpayment again. 

TMS is super helpful for business owners and managers.  It has features like dispatch recording. With this detailed record, it is clear who drove what to where and when it happened.

What Is an ELD?

An electronic logging device (ELD) is an essential tool in every commercial truck driver’s equipment. Essentially, the device is connected to your truck’s TMS system and collects relevant data which is stored and accessed via your Vehicle Interface Device (VID).

The data that is collected includes:

• The number of miles driven
• Payment per mile 
• Hours of Service (HOS)
• Engine performance while driving

In addition to tracking driving information that would have otherwise had to be documented by hand, ELDs also ensure that your truck will continue to comply with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) rules on road safety. 

An ELD for trucking promotes road safety and reduces driver fatigue by signaling once the driver has reached their maximum HOS, at which point they must find a rest stop and take a 30-minute break as required by the FMCSA’s ELD mandate. 

To ensure that you are installing the highest quality ELD  for your truck while also adhering to FMCSA’s requirements, TruckingOffice offers an ELD that beats all competitors.

TruckingOffice’s ELD includes:

• Anytime subscription cancelation
• Free VID with an annual package 
• Free mobile application for supporting devices

Trucking safety is important to all drivers on the road, so please do not hesitate to install the tools that will not only make your job easier but safer as well.

TMS and ELD

In order to collect data, TMS works together with an electronic logging device or ELD.  An ELD is better than physical paperwork because it can be paired with the trucking management system.  This means that the needed information is gathered and calculations are made automatically.

A vehicle interface device (VID) that plugs into the truck collects the data.  This device goes into the electronic control module port that is usually located under the dashboard.  It then communicates with the ELD through Bluetooth. The best part of TruckingOffice’s ELD system is that it works on devices most people already own.  Simply download their app to get started.

The app is easy to use.  It is based on the design of the paperwork that truckers already fill out.  While the forms can be filled out in the same way as the paper versions, many don’t have to be.  The ELD works together with the TMS and VID to calculate things like mileage reports. 

Miles are automatically tracked.  Truckers no longer have to worry about recording what mileage their truck was at at the beginning of their trip.  Forgot to started recording your miles until halfway through your journey? No worries! If you have ELD and TMS, all of that is done for you.  This also keeps any payments done per mile accurate and fair.

TruckingOffice TMS and ELD – easy to learn, easy to use

The team at TruckingOffice has worked on developing an ELD and TMS that is simple to understand for any trucker.  Their systems make work easier for anyone who has to log miles, calculate IFTA payments, or report repairs, whether that be drivers or management. TruckingOffice is so sure any trucking business will love its management software that they are offering a free 30 day trial to new buyers.  No credit card information or any other payment method required. The trial is totally free, with no chance of accidentally buying TMS once it is up without choosing to buy.  Check out TruckingOffice’s website to start your trial today.