FMCSA Publishes OOIDA ELD Exemption Request

Dear Member,

On January 2nd, FMCSA formally published OOIDA's ELD exemption request in the Federal Register. The request, originally submitted last November, would allow small trucking businesses that do not have a carrier safety rating of "unsatisfactory," and can document a proven history of safety performance with no attributable at-fault crashes to use paper logs rather than be forced to install ELDs. If granted, the exemption would permit small-business motor carriers to maintain their current practices that have resulted in a proven safety record. The exemption would provide owner-operators relief from burdensome device installation and maintenance costs as well as the unresolved enforcement, cybersecurity, and privacy concerns associated with the mandate.

The public comment period for OOIDA's request will be open until Thursday, February 1st. We encourage all OOIDA members to submit comments supporting the exemption. This is the time to let FMCSA know how the mandate is currently impacting you and why ELDs are not a one-size-fits-all solution. The Agency must take public feedback into account as they determine whether or not to grant the exemption. When submitting comments, you should provide specific details and reasoning about how the exemption would improve the safety and efficiency of your business. FMCSA has already granted exemptions and waivers for large carriers such as UPS, the ag industry, and rental truck fleets - they should also acknowledge small-business carriers who have shown they can drive safely without ELDs.

Click here to submit comments directly to docket # FMCSA-2017-0356.

Click here to read the formal exemption notice.

Thank You,

OOIDA Call To Action Team