With the ELD mandate on the books for several months now, and phase two of the compliance plan in progress, we thought we’d clear up some of the confusion and myths surrounding the use of ELDs:
Myth #1: Crashes Aren’t Prevented
Research and statistics over the past few decades cannot be denied even in the face of ELD critics. Data shows that crash rates, injuries and fatalities are down with the use of ELDs. Keeping fatigued drivers with too many service hours off the road is helping to reduce preventable accidents. Other bad driving habits can be displayed on the ELD reports, then be addressed and improved. ELDs are a win-win.
Myth #2: Engines Get Disabled
A majority of ELD products do not debilitate engines and the ELD mandate does not require it to have that capability. The main purpose of an ELD is to monitor activity and data like driving habits, location, hours, mileage, gas, idle time and other details.
Myth #3: ELDs are Expensive
When ELDs were first introduced decades ago, yes the cost was relatively high. As technology has progressed and the use become more common, especially after the recent mandate, ELDs are more affordable than ever. Costs can depend on the ELD features and the number of vehicles on the service plan.
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), companies can save hundreds of dollars per year over the old logbook method. Time and efficiency is also improved with ELDs, so there are benefits beyond just the bottom-line.
Myth #4: Driving is More Difficult
A legitimate fear of ELD use is that it would be distracting or dangerous to operate while driving. But in actuality, login is required prior to beginning a commute and requires no fussing until after the driver is stopped at a destination and able to engage safely with the device.
Myth #5: Government Gets Notified of All Violations
ELDs log HOS (Hours of Service) violations, but they are designed to give plenty of warning beforehand. That said, even though the FMCSA mandates ELDs, the devices and data are still the property of the company who owns them and reporting is not automatically sent to the government. Should a roadside inspection occur, the ELD quickly displays the log data in real time minus all the manual paperwork.
Stay tuned for the next post where we bust even more ELD myths.
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