Are exempt trucks getting ELDs?

I was told by a DOT inspector during an inspection that they know some companies are lieing about having a pre 99 engine in later model trucks but showing paperwork that it has a 99 or older engine to get around having an ELD,and it's something they are going to crack down on.He also said that multiple companies are working on GPS style ELD systems that track older pre 99 engine trucks that will have a seal ,sealing it to the truck since it doesnt connect to a ecm data port and the driver will log in and out just like a regular ELD . He was kind of an arrogant little troll . So I don't know if he was just rattling off ,or there's any truth to it.

 

He was being a moron at the least.
The current ELD laws as put forth by MAP-21 specifically state the ELD hes to use the ECM for drive information. It would take a new law by congress to change that, and the 5 year lead time that takes.

By then what everyone is worried about happening, namely older trucks requiring ELD's, will be moot. A good portion of the few trucks on the road will have had something to kill the engine. Either the engine finally gave up, wreck, etc.

See, the feds don't care about the few older trucks out there, because just like the trucks with ABS and other date based regs they know the "loophole" will go away naturally.

 

Quoting for emphasis, but you're right.

Not debating the whole exemption topic here, so bear with me. I have Eroad ELD's in my not exempt trucks, since it was one of the more economical models with a hard wired ECM connection not bluetooth. The installation manual has a set of instructions for use in a truck with no ECM. Curious, I asked them about that.

Turns out the company is originally a New Zealand outfit, where apparently there is no exemption. The hardware was designed to meet the NZ requirements, and adapted to suit the US requirements.

I'm sure there's more out there with similar specs, and the companies probably lobbying hard against exemptions so they can sell more units. As they did with the original mandate.

I don't really care why anyone deliberately goes exempt, although there's not a lot of mystery there. My personal opinion is it could go either way. It's possible exemptions could become permanent forever, but my guess is not entirely. On the other hand, the ELD market is so flooded with non-working crap that I can't wait to see what happens during the summer blitz. Which they've announced will be focused on HOS enforcement. There ain't enough cops and ticket books to cover the crap out there that just doesn't work right, along with the clueless users stuck with it. Between the cops that don't want to work, and shippers getting tired of inflated rates hollering at their Congressmen, it could go the other way just as well.

 

Since 06.

 

Because I have enough wasted time and money in my day without wasting more time and money on crap like this. When I've never had an at fault, chargeable accident nor even a HOS violation in my life tell me why the small carrier like me needs to waste time and money on an ELD. Wake up and see the truth man

 

Because it's the law?

 

Wrong answer

 

A law that provides exemptions. Are we to believe, as some here suggest, that taking advantage of these exemptions is somehow a moral wrong?

 

That seems to be the general consensus among the indoctrinated. They want to believe every truck that is exempt is cheating based off the illusionary "related" moral issue you bring up. As if it's there's actually a factual connection passed what they've been told to believe. Funny thing is, I see countless threads here about guys on ELDS cheating. I can't help but to laugh!

Indeed. Here's a great example of what I see from the megas (including US Xpress) all too often. No speed limiter nor ELD is going to fix this. The megas created this problem and it's their problem to fix. Instead they try to pass the blame onto indy OOs and use "safety" as an excuse to pay Congress to pass laws to stifle the us and the free market along with it all while putting the general public at risk. Our insurance premiums skyrocket which is another way they're trying to squeeze us out all while they self insure and put anyone behind the wheel. It's a joke!

 

Everything will comply. The bio harness will be mandatory soon, recording every breath, sneeze, and eye movement.