FMCSA investigation due to ELD violations? What to expect?

I’m not on elogs, but I’ve heard from some individuals I know, that there are ways to manipulate that system to get you by, like to get home or whatever.

 

Good luck.

 

Are they doing an in house audit or just e-mailing the data files? I wouldn't worry about the fines, i would worry that you go over 10% log violations. That gets you a conditional rating and fines.

 

It is called DOT Safety Audit.

When a carrier gets too many HOS violations discovered on their DOT Inspections, at some point it raises a flag and they send a FMCSA person to your business. Nowadays, they may do it remotely - online rather than sending an inspector knocking on the door.

It could be very rough or slap on the wrist, depending on the circumstances. For example, If there was an accident, while HOS violations of were in high numbers in the same period, or it is some sort of recidivism - you were already slapped on the wrist, they can panelize you severely, including shutting you down.

 

Log out and then don't claim it

 

Or just disconnect it if u are an OO then u should have PC

 

How did they find out about those little sins of yours? Did you get inspected at a weight station and they saw it in your logs? ELD providers are not suppose to report your logs to FMCSA with alleged violations on their own accord. Or So I hope, and that's what I was told by the one I use (Keep Truckin).

 

This goes to the heart of the reason why the FMCSA have wanted ELD's all along. The standards they laid out in the regulations spells it out. They wanted all ELD's, and even paper logs(scanned into a computer) to be in the same format so they could get the computer files(HOS files), put them through a program(algorithms) to not only look for outright violations, but things like little or no on duty time, excessive personal conveyance use etc.
All from Washington, via email, no personal visit needed. With this capability, now just becoming a practical reality, they can check the vast majority of logs(files) from all carriers large and small. That is why the inspectors out in the field do little real examination of the ELD records, just whether you have one and are using it. They are letting the computers at FMCSA figure out the rest.
I would be curious how they got your files, unless within the contract you have with your ELD provider you automatically give permission to release that information to the authorities. In the fine print.

 

If your routinely operating in violation of the hours of service then yes. You should be worried. It ain’t the good old days of loose leaf logs anymore.