Since the mandate for electronic logging devices (ELDs) became fully effective for most U.S. truck drivers in late 2019, log falsification has emerged as a prevalent issue. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that nearly 5% of all driver-related roadside inspections from 2019 to 2023 involved some form of log falsification, making it the fourth most common driver-related violation. Even more concerning, during Department of Transportation (DOT) audits, log falsification ranks as the second most common violation discovered.
The Impact of Log Falsifications
Log falsifications not only damage a fleet’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) score, particularly in the hours of service BASIC, but they also significantly influence a motor carrier’s safety rating. A pattern of noncompliance indicated by a 10% or higher violation rate can lead to a Conditional or even Unsatisfactory Safety Fitness Determination. Beyond regulatory repercussions, such violations pose severe risks in litigation following accidents, especially if driver fatigue is implicated.
Root Causes and Misunderstandings
A primary factor behind log falsification is the misuse of “personal conveyance” status, a condition meant for limited off-duty driving situations which is often exploited to conceal hours of service violations. Misunderstandings about personal conveyance, alongside other inadvertent falsifications like mislogging fueling time or not properly assigning unassigned driving time, contribute to the problem.
Strategies for Prevention
To prevent log falsification violations, motor carriers must adopt proactive measures:
- Monitor Key Metrics: Regularly review the carrier’s hours-of-service CSA score and closely monitor ELD reports for personal conveyance and unassigned driving time.
- Conduct Regular Audits: Fleet managers should audit driver logs to identify common issues, such as incorrectly logged fueling time, and address them promptly.
- Educate and Hold Drivers Accountable: Engage in discussions with drivers incurring falsification violations to understand their reasons. Implement a progressive discipline program for deliberate falsifications and provide additional training and education for those who misunderstand the rules.
- Use Technology Effectively: Ensure that ELD systems are used correctly and that drivers understand how to log their hours properly, particularly regarding personal conveyance and unassigned driving time.
- Promote a Culture of Compliance: Encourage an organizational culture that prioritizes compliance and safety above all. This includes making drivers aware of the consequences of log falsifications, not only for themselves but also for the company.
By implementing these strategies, fleets can significantly reduce the occurrence of log falsification violations, thereby improving their safety ratings and mitigating the risks of costly penalties and litigation. Ensuring drivers are well-educated on the rules and regulations, alongside monitoring and addressing violations promptly, is key to maintaining compliance and promoting a safer driving environment.
Any time the government gets involved everything gets screwed up.trucked for 45 years and never had any problems until the government got involved,Trucking isn’t the business of the government their job is to protect our country and our borders.