Understanding the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Mandate in Canada
Apr 21, 2022 | 42Gears Team
Does your business involve providing transportation, logistics, shipping services, or management of commercial drivers? If yes, you must prepare for the changes that the Canadian Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate brings. Just like the U.S. ELD mandate, the Canadian ELD mandate will also require commercial drivers to install compliant ELDs in their vehicles.
The mandate will come into force on June 12, 2022. Thereafter, it will become mandatory for commercial motor vehicle drivers who operate within Ontario to use an ELD to record their hours of service (HoS).
What is an ELD(Electronic Logging Device)?
It is a hardware device connected to a vehicle’s engine electronic control module, which automatically tracks a driver’s driving time and maintains the record of duty status (RODS).
It monitors the driver’s driving time and Hours of Service (HOS) compliance. It is designed to simplify record-keeping and fleet management through continuous monitoring and by providing real-time data on drivers’ working hours, locations, and tour details.
What information does an ELD record?
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), an ELD lists down the following information:
- Date and time
- Location details
- Vehicle motion status
- Duty status
- Engine power on/off status
- Miles driven
- Driver identification information
- Engine hours
To whom is the ELD mandate applicable?
The ELD mandate applies to most motor carriers and drivers who are currently required to maintain Records of Duty Status (RODS) based on Part 395, 49 CFR 395.8(a). This mandate will help businesses improve their operational efficiencies and driver safety.
However, there are a few exemptions as well.
Who is exempted from the ELD mandate in Canada?
- Commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) rented for 30 days or less
- Drivers operating vehicles that are older than the model year 2000
- CMVs weighing less than 4500 kgs (gross weight)
- Buses operating with a seating capacity of less than 10
- Drivers with a permit or statutory exemption
What are the major benefits of the ELD mandate?
- Enhanced driver safety through the automation of driver management
- Reduced errors and log tampering through automated HOS recording
- Easy conversion of smartphones, tablets, and rugged devices into ELDs by using appropriate solutions
- Increased uptime and profitability by quickly completing roadside inspections and Driver Vehicle Inspection Forms (DVIRs)
- Reduced paperwork
- Easy tracking of shipments by everyone including managers and dispatchers
- Easy understanding of the driver’s behavior and vehicle usage
SureMDM: A reliable ELD management solution for your business
SureMDM is a comprehensive endpoint management solution that allows businesses to secure, monitor, and manage their device fleets. It comes equipped with a complete set of features including device lockdown, location tracking, driver safety mode, remote screen control for troubleshooting, and remote app installation and upgrades. Such features help manage devices running electronic logbook applications.
Now let’s see what makes SureMDM a great ELD solution for your business:
1. Over-the-air deployment (OTA)
Commercial vehicles need to go on-field or to remote sites. In that case, admins need to deploy jobs, install/uninstall apps, or troubleshoot devices remotely or over the air (OTA). SureMDM helps businesses to manage or troubleshoot such devices remotely from a central console. Moreover, legal documents such as driving licenses, registration certificates, insurance documents, etc. can be shared over the air with drivers’ devices. This helps businesses to save time and cost.
2. Constant monitoring of drivers’ locations
With SureMDM, businesses can get a real-time overview of drivers’ locations, shipments, details of routes, and time spent on every delivery using GPS or location tracking based on IP address. Constant monitoring helps businesses ensure compliance with the ELD mandate.
3. Easy conversion of any device into an ELD
Using SureMDM’s Kiosk mode feature, businesses can easily convert off-the-shelf devices into ELD devices. Moreover, these ELDs can be locked down to single-app mode or multi-app mode to prevent distractions including the use of games and entertainment apps. This helps improve drivers’ productivity and ensures that only authorized apps are being accessed by drivers.
4. Detailed reports
While deploying ELD solutions in vehicles, businesses expect insights into drivers’ performance and device usage. With SureMDM, detailed reports (based on various parameters) can be obtained, such as location reports, device usage, data usage, battery status, Wi-Fi status, geofence logs, and more. These critical reports help businesses analyze the performance of the drivers and device usage.
5. Locking down devices based on speed
SureMDM helps businesses avoid accidents due to high vehicle speed. It has a speed-based locking system. The moment a driver crosses the preset driving speed limit, it will automatically lock the device on account of non-compliance.
Final word
As Canada's ELD mandate comes into effect in 2022, all fleet management companies operating in Canada need to ensure compliance. The mandate aims to provide insights on multiple crucial factors including vehicle usage, driver behavior, fuel usage, and driver safety. As such, the ELD mandate offers multiple benefits to businesses and drivers, provided it’s implemented with the right ELD management solution.
42Gears’s SureMDM allows all supply chain businesses to secure, monitor, and manage mobile devices. It offers a complete set of features that includes location tracking, device lockdown, driver safety mode, remote troubleshooting, and remote app installation and upgrade.
Are you looking for the right
ELD management solution?
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