It’s April, which means that if you’re not one of those who are exempt from the ELD mandate, you’re now in danger of having your CSA score impacted, being fined, and being placed out-of-service if you’re not in compliance.
Up until April 1st, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) treated the ELD mandate to be in a ‘soft enforcement phase.’ Now however, the ‘hard enforcement’ has begun.
According to a poll conducted by CarrierLists, as of April 1st, 97% of drivers surveyed report that they are in compliance with the ELD rule. But even those who have ELDs installed need to be sure that they’re operating properly. Drivers are in danger of being cited even if they were unaware that their system wasn’t properly logging their hours – a problem which some drivers were having during the soft enforcement phase.
If case you ARE placed out of service, you can find out what happens next, including how long you’ll have to remain out of service.
Many drivers may be exempt from the ELD rule – at least for now. Current exemptions include if you’re operating a grandfathered AOBRD, subject to the livestock hauler delay, or using certain temporarily non-compliant ELD systems. Check out some of the other exemptions that may apply on the FMCSA website as well as additional waivers here.
Source: truckinginfo, truckinginfo, fleetowner, fleetowner, overdrive, FMCSA, FMCSA
Shogun says
A hint of the new steering wheel holders: if you don’t have Elogs just point to one of your three GPS units on the windshield and hope they believe you.
Robert says
Bad attitude super trucker. What makes you so special, you think hear jamming an 18 speed makes you a truck driver. Sorry to tell you this but once you are on the highway in top gear you are a steering wheel holder. I don’t have 3 GPS. I actually have 2. But I also was taught by a very experienced driver to plan the trip the way most new generation drivers don’t. That is getting the planned route from the company and then opening the atlas. I also memorize the entire route I’m taking. I don’t need a voice in a box to get me there. I use mine just for a little help, a guide. GPS is the number 1 reason drivers top the truck and trailer.
Michael says
The biggest problem with GPS use is far too many drivers use Google, which isn’t for trucks (although far more accurate). If one doesn’t have or can’t afford a good truck GPS, a proper truckers atlas is the way to go. Or…God forbid to the current crop…call the destination for proper directions.
Along the way, use a little common sense. Read the signs!!
RenoBlues says
I love my maps! Seems like I remember things better off a map than a GPS. Maybe it’s just me, and I’ll admit I use a GPS at times, but I feel more comfortable with a good map.
zee says
it’s because you are actively using your brain to learn,
where as the GPS makes you decide to rely on the computer telling you
what to do…
better for you to learn and make an intelligent decision.
it’s called pre-planning your route.
Stan says
Ang 8 out of 10 can give you the right direction
Don Green says
Oooh another big planner…sweeet..how do you plan on running your pl lan after being held at the shipper for 5 hours?
Shane Wilson says
You’ve allowed a certain amount of time to allow for traffic and waiting at the shipper/reciever, loading or unloading is never done in a set time nor is traffic predictable. Once you’ve done this for a while you’ll understand how to plan a trip.
Shogun says
I make more stops by Tuesday than you make in a week, super trucker. And I am not a steering wheel holder when I am performing maintenance, unloading, etc. I get that you might have ZERO skills besides listening to a GPS and pushing the D button, but some of us are competent and capable drivers.
Robert Allard says
I did used the paper map in 1990 very demanding and time consuming and unsafe while driving in city and holding that map onto your steering while you are looking for street, trafic , address, and finally your paper map.
Keep doing it and good for you if it work.
I gave up the paper map long time ago.
Big jack says
U know how I would do that was plan my trip by map before I start take my small info pad write down my directs by rd or intersect up to my location that would save me from holding a large map 🗺
John G ROBERTS says
What makes the difference holding a map in ur hand or your phone playing on line or sending a text…. just saying
zee says
looking down or away from the road
makes the difference…which can kill someone
Ad says
This article is about ELD, not maps and GPS.
Buckskin says
Kind of makes you wonder. !!
ROACH says
I think the whole trucking industry should drop the ” logs’ and just pay company drivers by the hour.. There is so much drivers do, and never get paid for while working for a company.
mike C. says
I have been driving for 45 years and one day my sister gave me a GPS because she had no need for it . Well to make a long story short I tossed that piece of junk out the window because it didn’t know what to when I put in an address that we were going to and it couldn’t get us there . I will always relie on my paper maps .
Mike says
The government shut down backpage boooooooo.
Perry Keener says
Been trucking 28 years.
Never had nor needed a gps.
Always got it there.
A lot of you Jokers these days couldn’t find your way out of the toilet with or without a gps.
Happy Trails.
Perry Keener says
There’s nothing wrong with my comment.
You’re either for the truck driver or against us. Up to you.
Perry Keener says
Here’s your ELD, and your fines, and your being placed out of service, and horrible CSA scores as a result.
Who did this to the trucking community? YOU DID, THAT’S WHO.
They are going to ruin your careers now with this ELD.
You are going to pay fine after fine and be placed out of service repeatedly, and your awful CSA score is going to make you unhireable.
Do you know who the BOSS is in the trucking industry?
THE TRUCK DRIVER IS THE BOSS, SO START ACTING LIKE THE BOSS.
IT’S TIME TO FIGHT BACK FOLKS.
STAND UP AND BE SOMEBODY.
They are going to take the food out of your families mouth with this ELD and ruin you at the same time if you don’t do something about it.
You can’t reason with them, all they understand is force.
You need to park those trucks for two weeks in protest of this ELD.
Once you have thier attention, tell them the trucks will start rolling again when the ELD is terminated.
Government Tierney has become the norm and it’s time to put a stop it.
Stop letting them run over you.
UNITED WE STAND,
DIVIDED WE’RE CONQUERED.
PARK THOSE TRUCKS.
Mr. Rick (Richard Surckla, M.Ed) Jack of All Trades & Master of One says
I am a retired school teacher and just entering the Trucking Business. I am an empty nester. I have zero bills and zero chains to hold me back. My driver record is 100% clean with an exception of one or two speeding tickets over 20 years ago. Zero criminal background and fingerprinted with FBI and BCI II expanded background check for working as a teacher K-12. I just recently applied for hazmat and TWIC cards and received affirmation. I wonder if I am getting in this business at the wrong time with these ELD gizmo’s. It would seem to me that all cell phones and all newer vehicles have GPS chips in them and that a simple application or a dongle for a smartphone would easily indicate where, when, and how quickly a vehicle is moving. The same technology would be capable of locating a CMV within 10 meters of pin-point accuracy at any given point in question. I agree with the comment about the tyrannical ways of government authorities and they should be placed in check. My guess is that the manufacturers/shippers want to keep Truck Driving salary under control. I have yet to start driving professionally. I am of the mindset that I will be interviewing potential employers and I will negotiate a fair rate of pay which should be based on the revenue the Truck generates. I do not yet know enough about how the rates are established for freight and cargo. Any links or or names you might toss out there would be appreciated. I was really hoping that I could enjoy my remaining productive years behind a steering wheel and staying fit and healthy without too much government intrusion into my life. This business seems like it can go either way right now at this stage. Before I spend any more time or money I will have to look into this LED business. I was thinking of buying a used Tractor for 30-50k. I have plenty of mechanical experience and abilities but I don’t want to be bogged down by paperwork and regulations that will consume 10-20% of my time. Again I am just asking…this is my first post to this page. Mr. Keener your post grabbed my attention and I like the tone of your message. I hope more Truckers will read this and realize that they literally ‘hold the keys’ in this scenario. You are spot on with letting the Trucks sit for a few days. I know that when I look in my household I can honestly say that there is not one single item that was not on a Tractor-Trailer combination at one point in time. This country stops when the trucks stop rolling. Period, end of story, and the sooner the rest of America figures this out out the better for the Trucking Industry. I have heard people say that Trump is not a friend to the trucking business ?? I cannot believe that. Trump wants to reduce or eliminate all of this bureaucratic red tape. If he isn’t on our side then we are doomed. Just my humble opinion. What are your thoughts ??
C Smith says
Why isn’t Trump deregulating our industry? Easy. There all his buddies , can’t take money out of your friends pocket. Keep thinking he’s for the little guy. He’s for big business and that’s it. Are dems the anser? No, we need common sense law’s and regs, none of the politicians on either side are on our side in this industry.