Anyone Experienced ELD HOS Fines?

Not sure but I had always just taken 30 off duty and it has sufficed for us but yesterday on the new eld it had a special button for "break".
I used it at lunch.
Ours has like red flags per se, that if something isn't right it highlights it so we can fix it.
I'd also heard the break for our operation anyways, is going away as any on duty activity other than driving will work to satisfy the 30 min break rule. Not sure when though.

 

You are correct. There is no federal requirement to show what you do, just where and when you have a duty status change.

 

All that's legally required is nearest city, which as part of the ELD law the ELD is required to provide. All the driver needs to do is press the off-duty button and all is legal.
Now that said, with California requiring specific breaks, in Cali it may be different.

 

It seems like a lot of drivers feel like they can "cheat the system." I had a few older drivers in the small fleet in which I used to drive, and they would usually unplug the ELD or try to change a ton of driving time to personal conveyance. It was moronic, and they got put out of service more than a few times because of it. I don't think they realize that ELDs are legally designed to sense any kind of unplugging or covert operation a driver tries to commit. I think the only way you can get them to realize they need to use these things is to tell them that they will A) get put out of service and/or heavily fined, which will B) lead you to firing them. I think that's the only way you can get through to them.

 

Let's be honest, we typically know what the rules say but everything seems to be open to the interpretation of the DOT officer you get. I spoke with one officer on the phone when my driver was in New Mexico. She swore up and down that we needed an ELD even though we were exempt because the unit was the commodity being delivered. I have a small book of the different random exemptions and whatnot directly from the FMCSA website in case they run into more situations like this because they have.

All of the drivers I work with are seasoned. They have all struggled with the ELD and I have spent extra time with them because of it. Since we communicate so openly, when I notice the stubbornness it is typically because they truly do not understand. I made a step by step book for them. Yeah, some of them just don't want to deal with it but sometimes they don't want to deal with it because it is frustrating. I'm not one to jump on punishment or firing because a lot of times it is just someone needing extra help.

 

I'm an old hand that remembers when 2 logs were the norm.
I have been using a obc for the last 11 years and the changeover to eld is nothing insurmountable, but the company's that are invested in the technology have to keep their end of the bargain.
Today everyone couldn't reach the host from the truck tablets.
Boss says he ain't got time to deal w it, use paper.
We said find time to call or we will not leave the yard.
A driver finally got ahold of some suit who told us a server was down.
Wait time was between 1 and 2 hours.
For us not a big deal as we are being paid since we go on duty on the driver's room computer.
What burns me is that the drivers will be held responsible and fined for malfunctioning equipment.

 

When the drivers run into issues like that, I make sure to send them a text stating that the issues are with the ELD and to run on paperlogs. That way they have proof to DOT that someone from base has given them instructions and advised of the issues.

I'm only 36 and I will walk away from my TV if it isn't just doing what I want it to so I can't imagine trying to constantly work with and ELD on the road when your career depends on it. That's why I take the extra time with the drivers.

 

See stuff like this isn't a problem with ELD's though. It's a problem with the crappy ELD your company uses. There is nothing in the ELD law that requires a server or internet connection. A good ELD, like what we use, will try to hit the server so all the logs are up to date, but if it can't it simply saves everything until it can. Might need paper copies for the last 7 days if you are switching trucks, that's all.

 

I'll be sure to let Trimble know that our 3000 tablet/ELD units are crap.
We were not asked nor are we paying.
That is precisely why they pay a service $1300 per unit and a monthly fee.

Not only do you need to have your last weeks logs available if asked you are also required to have 7 blank logs w you.
And I have a different unit each day as do all the drivers nationwide.
If you are asked by a leo to provide your logs to a web address or email for inspection you'd better be able to provide them whether electronically or via paper.
My point is the government wants to account for every revolution of the tire and I have no problem w that but if your eld goes down reroute and you are inspected whose fault/fine is it?
Now you want me to run an eld and keep paper?