While groups like the ATA and OOIDA are slugging it out over the mandatory ELD fight, many drivers and small carriers are looking on nervously. But there’s another group that’s also on the sidelines that have been largely unheard during the process. This week, an article published on Fleetowner.com has given the ELD manufacturers a chance to speak out. Unsurprisingly, it seems as though they’re just trying to sell more ELDs.
Back in July, a report from the House Appropriations Committee proposed delaying the ELD compliance date to give fleets, ELD manufacturers, and regulators more time to get up to speed and make sure the rule is the right move. The next day Congressman Brian Babin proposed H.R. 3282, which would delay the ELD implementation date by two years.
Rep. Babin’s bill currently has 38 co-sponsors, and despite a failed challenge of the mandate in court, it looks like OOIDA and its allies may be making some headway. And their success may have the ELD makers a little nervous.
Now executives at some ELD companies seem to be using fear to push fleets into becoming compliant.
One ELD manufacturer points out that since Congress is on recess until September 5th, there will be little time to push a bill through before the December 18th compliance date. But bills have been pushed through in less time before, especially bills with so many cosponsors.
Another executive cautions that fleets should implement ELDs sooner rather than later since his company expects carriers to need four to six weeks to “undergo the ‘cultural change’ that comes with ELD.”
Still another company is trying the “supplies are limited!” sales pitch claiming that if a fleet waits too long, there may not be any ELDs left. And even if there are, claims another exec, fleets may be forced to work with “whoever has something available” if their first choice of ELD is out of stock.
One pitch rings true however.
“It is business as usual for us,” said an executive at Omnitracs. “We are proceeding as the Dec. 18 date will occur. Right now we don’t anticipate any change.”
Despite victories for anti-ELD advocates, it still looks likely that the mandate will go into effect on December 18th. And if it does, we’ll see if it wasn’t the ELD manufacturers who needed more time.
“Let’s rip the band aid off,” said one executive. “Get going and we’ll all work out the details.”
Source: fleetowner
C.J.Moore says
I’m 20 miles outside of town, Come get your milk, bread, toilet paper, and diapers, I’m on Electronic Break…!!!
Loyd the trucker says
Plan your time better as to deliveries/ P.U.s , that’s the standard rebuttal.
Bob Hope says
What company ships bread, milk, toilet paper and diapers on the same trailer? It would have to be a Reffer trailer… Just an odd load in my opinion.
Jeff Flora says
I hope congressman Babin’s bill along with OOIDA defeats the FMCSA and me along with thousands of other drivers actually get a break and driver as a whole get what they want for a change
ELD’S are not any safer the problem is ” to much traffic and not enough road”
Besides if a company wants you to get the load there they WILL CHANGE your hrs on the ELD’S anyhow I’ve had this happen to me numerous times and tried to report it and no one ever answers the phone with the FMCSA so I think it’s a cover up for the company it’s ok for them to falsify your logs but a driver will get a fine and put OOS for doing it that’s BS
I say NO TO ELD’S
roghroad62 says
take a picture of your eld..before and after
when you know you can’t make it. You can file a harassment claim
with the FMCSA due to the STAA (surface transportation assistance act), which was modified to protect drivers from this type of harassment. what with the coming of age of EOBR’s and ELD’s.
You can also file a complaint with OSHA within 30 days of said harassment. As usual, document the complaint… Pictures please!
If the company put’s you on DAC because of this, there is more ammo
for your Transportation lawyer. You might be able to retire from this
chicken____ game!
Bad Influence says
ELD’s do not make safe drivers. These things are suited for large carriers as it helps micro manage the hundreds if not thousands of drivers they have because their safety Dept’s can’t keep up with the volume of paper logs. As an independent with his own authority an ELD makes no sense because I can manipulate the the ELD as the administrator of the company. Then there’s the whole expense for the equipment and another monthly fee on top of all the other fees I have to pay just to remain compliant. 34 years of driving with 2 million+ safe driving miles and ELD’s are going to make me a safer driver, what a crock of you know what! 6 more years till I retire and I’m so looking forward to getting out of this rat race of over regulation.
Wayne Dearman says
Congrats on ur awesome high safe drivein miles,just turn ya head at eld just like I am,I’m acting like it dont exist yet lol
George Kalogeropoulos says
Good point!Too much regulation is killing business.America became great because of the can do spirit!Now, with all these rules and regulations, you re no longer motivated to excell as everyone is forced to be at the same level.
Oliver Von Bell says
It’s not about too much regulations. It’s regulating the wrong parts of the industry. Rather than put all responsibility in the drivers, they need to look at other things that affect Jon performance
Kelly says
Bad influence I understand and agree totally with your point on ELDs do.make safe drivers. I am also an O/O but leased to a carrier, that has the majority of company drivers. I’ve made very good money the past 8 years while using Peoplenet here. However, I’ve been offered another opportunity in a growing company that only has O/Os, with a considerable revenue increase.
I asked about their logs, and they’re transitioning to them using Rand McNally. I didn’t know they did this. I looked and they have a device that goes in your diagnostic port for $150. Now if you have an older mechanical truck that wouldn’t work. Then the the base cost per month is a $15 fee using a free app to your phone for logging. Now even if the cost was twice that at $30. The argument that it costs too much is not entirely true. There are lower cost alternatives, that are more than affordable.
I do not like the idea any more than most for the excuse they use. However, I do still enjoy trucking and make a very nice income that I save the majority for retiring someday being only 56. If it’s what I need to and already have been, then so be it. I could never get employment paying what I make with 6 weeks I take off per year. I only have high school education and 56, aint hsppening.
Congratulations on the 2 million, I’m at 1.1 million with no DOT reportables and only 2 speeding tickets. Be safe.
Paul says
If they mandate elds then what’s next shutting down trucks no they won’t do that you know they are all about money take a look at it each week a weigh station pinches $100 a day that’s $500 each week then the way to CSA scores clear up and do it all over does anybody see this I see it
Charles Burton says
Elds should be put on hold. Because small fleet owner s and owner operators will suffer the most. The owner operators will be put of business, they can’t compete with the big companies.
Otto J. Ammer, Jr. says
I hope you do sell out. I’m planning on sitting down until at least after the first of the year and enjoy the turmoil from the comfort of my recliner…
Derek says
Pushing for ELD at the same time Walmart starts charging for being early. Sound like it’s time to leave the otr life.
Russell Alick says
Hard to fight against ELDs now, but hopefully it is possible. That BS will never make the industry safer but just a money maker for major corps and politicians. The Walmart subj is easy to fix: just put no Walmart picks/deliveries while posting your truck. That’s what I did. They will learn the lesson.
Henry Reimer says
I am on electronic logging. Although the system is not responsible for the HOS rules, I t makes me run tired and fast! ! A change to allow split sleeper and more flexible working Window would prevent driving when fatigued. The system works best for short schedule runs where completing paper is a burden for some. I do not support the ELD mandate.
Henry Reimer says
I am on electronic logging. Although the system is not responsible for the HOS rules, I t makes me run tired and fast. The system works best for short schedule runs where completing paper is a burden for some. I do not support the ELD mandate.
Troy Thomas says
How are they going to manage the current multi stop lpads we do tp mostly grocers and food service companies who’s receiving hours vary round the clock. Not going to work. You’ll see 3 plt truckloads gping out tjat were previously part of a consolidated ltl load. Imagine the costs. Or 8 stops or more are on the truck 7 days or more, means more freight charges. Ridiculous! Another one sixe fits all in a complicated industry by our ignorant government.
ROBERT TOUHEY says
Yes
PORTER V GALANTE says
should have been we may not be able to sell out.. eld mandate in limbo. please buy so we don’t get stuck with this snit….
.
GC says
While we’re at it. Force cities to force all deliveries in some Depot outside the city. Sick of wasting hours in traffic and getting up at 3 in the morning. When it should be 1hour drive in to deliver.
Biggest culprit is LA of course, but places like Seattle who refuse to make truck stop in city so we can stage better should make their business provide depots/warehouse
Anthony Peetz says
Just a glance at the culprits of the vast majority of accidents and wrecks should speak volumes about ELDs. Rarely do you see a nice high dollar owner operator rig all crashed up and in the ditch. Who speeds through construction zones, hmmm, I know Maverick does, reported two drivers last week. Speed limited/ELD equipped trucks are the most dangerous.
Bob Knutson says
This is clearly a force move for ELD manufacturers to profit from this should not be allowed
somebody got paid off
Charles Hargrave says
Think about it,one driver has an accident and they see that he was fatigued.So then what happens?Laws are passed to make us all drive fatigued?Go figure.
Charles Hargrave says
Only people profiting from Elds is the people selling them and the people digging graves.
Charles Hargrave says
Get rid of the 14 hr rule and outlaw speed limiters and we will be heading in the right direction to making roads safer.
Charles Hargrave says
If we have to rest 10 hrs every day we do not need a 34 hr rest rule.You have us sitting more than driving.
Angel Hernandez says
This is the true problem !!!! Wish they would recognize
David Glass says
Elds have caused me to make more money and get more rest, let me explain I get paid $80 to stay out overnite and get paid $21hr and 1hr for detention so they cause me to get more overnites and more detention time
Rick Long says
Let’s look at Walmart distribution centers let’s look at Kroger distribution centers sitting for 6 hours armoire to get unloaded…. What about the time getting loaded that might take several hours at your food distribution centers you cannot park on their lot you cannot park on the road right away so tell me how to plan a trip… You might need an hour to get to loaded or unloading so your clock is Running… Then you have a 9 hour trip the only ones that this will help is your large companies so they can do realize small companies do not have enough of trucks to relay
Glenda says
Iv done the e l d .and it also put me on driving when i was parked. Lost 20 mins cant get that back .so the system isnt always right.
Casey says
I’m tired of everyone whining about electronic logs. Everyone says they don’t want them because they will put more stress on drivers and make us late. Stop whining. The only reason anyone wouldn’t want e logs is because you want to be lazy, over sleep, sit at a truck stop running your mouth instead of managing your time. I ran e logs for over 5 years. I never delivered late, never was stressed out with them. The fact is, truck drivers are more dangerous than ever. I see them speeding, tailgating, swerving in and out of traffic like cars do. Not once or twice a day, all day. E logs don’t make them drive like that, they choose to drive like that. The only difference between paper logs and e logs is if you get stuck in traffic and run out of time, you can lie on paper logs. I ran over my time once in 5 years by 2 minutes. It happens. Not a big deal. Stop driving like idiots, run legal and maybe fmcsa will ease up a little. But I have been driving 18 years, and it gets worse every year. So, enjoy E logs and all the other regulations that they put out there. There’s a reason there is such a big push for autonomous trucks. All the good truck drivers got out. These companies are scraping the bottom of the barrel. The only choice left is self driving vehicles.
Leonard Larson says
The big carriers need ELD because their drivers can’t fill out a log book and they are getting nailed with fines at DOT inspections.