Eld on older trucks

Hello All,

I am with Continental Automotive, makers of the VDO RoadLog ELD system. I am not here to promote our system, only to answer any questions you may have about our system, and particularly to advise this group about this topic, as we have a lot of history with truck electronics. (VDO invented the speedometer back in 1902...)

At the moment, the only device on the market that will work as an ELD on the trucks without an ECM is the VDO RoadLog system. We asked FMCSA for approval with our method of connecting to the vehicles without ECM"s, which is basically a means of getting pulses from either an electronic speedo assembly or via a pulse sensor in either the transmission or driveline. This is combined with an internal GPS in the RoadLog device, so you basically cannot cheat the system. There is an additional calibration step required vs connecting to an ECM, but it is pretty trivial. We have a lot of owner operators with really old trucks using our system.

To answer your question about electronic vs cable years, there are no set answers. In general, most cable speedos went out of OEM fitment by the late 70's, although some trucks still had them up until around 1990 as a special order. Virtually all trucks built in the 80's had electronic pulse speedos.

FYI, Continental makes virtually all the instrument clusters in heavy trucks made today, and makes a lot of electronic content on heavy trucks. We have been making electronic logging devices far longer than anyone else, and 9 out of 10 trucks in Europe today have a VDO branded electronic log system.

 

Thank you Jeff! I would expect nothing less than a quality, thought out product from VDO. I am curious as to what the Roadlog system might cost (before installation of course)?
Has the FMCSA approved this system yet for pre-ECM vehicles?

 

Yes, FMCSA has approved our method for pre-ECM mechanical diesel engines. We also have approval for a method for data collection for a number of pre-2004 vehicles that do have ECM. (most of our competitors are not even aware they are not technically compliant on these vehicles....)

We have two versions of RoadLog, one that is sold with no monthly fees, one-time purchase, and one that has monthly fees. The version with no monthly fees is intended for owner operators and very small fleets, and it moves the data manually between truck and back office. The one with monthly fees automatically transfers the data over the air, which is why it has a monthly fee. Both systems retail for around $800 for everything you need. Both are super-easy install, pretty much plug and play, so virtually all of our customers simply install it themselves.

 

I'm exempt again. My 93 KW had one sensor at the output shaft. I put a 2006 transmission in. It required two sensors with a short adapter harness to get back to my original one sensor harness. I found a factory made adapter harness. Eaton/Dana/Spicer or whoever they are now confirmed that what I had done was the proper procedure for my situation. I don't have a sensor hole left for an adaptive elog system to work. Hooray for me.

 

No ELD

 

More then likely they will do like California and force drivers to have to have an emmisions compliant engine or they cant tag them by default those all require elogs.

The mega carriers of the "truckers alliance" are already pushing for the 65mph rule and if that happens trucking will be dead.

All this is is a few mega carriers trying to push independent owner operators out of business nothing more.

 

This thread is almost 2 years old, ALL of the prognostications were DEAD WRONG.
There is no truth to the speculation that ELD'S will be required on trucks with engines manufactured before EPA model year 2000, which is the current law.
Gliders are now effectively dead, and the number of trucks on the road exempt from ELD'S is miniscule.

 

Well, this didn't age well, shows RoadLog is no longer approved. ELD - ELD List (dot.gov)