ELD compliance due date

I hate to admit it, but I'm shopping around for one. Those who know me know I'm against it, however, better to stay ahead than try and play catch-up.

 

Wating to the last minute sounds good, until you find a shortage and can't find one.

 

I love my paper logs and get to stay that way. I have a 99 year trk

 

Yeah I'm not gonna do the digital thing. Adjusting with the times is all well and good, but in my experience the old ways are def the more profitable ways. They have changed so many things in this industry over the past 37 yrs. Every time there is a big change like this, it means less money for the trucking end and more money for someone else. I'm sure others on here have more knowledge then me when it comes to these ELDs, but I highly doubt they cost less then paper logs. I could be wrong.

 

They are not crazy expensive Qualcomm new ones are $700 and $30 a month for air time. They use the cell phone data now , not their old big satellite system. Other systems might be cheaper.

 

Just a guess, but I think the authorities are going to single out 1999 and earlier trucks for more scrutiny on HOS records, since they will have the time on their hands previously used checking everyone. Time will tell.

 

They are coming, I would not hold my breath waiting for a last minute change. There will not be a small fleet or owner operator exemption otherwise it would have already been in the regulation. This rule is already a year and a half old, the Dec. 18, 2017 date is only the mandatory compliance date.

I am about a week away from signing on as a distributor of a really sweet eld solution, actually we will have several options. My advice is not to wait until the last minute. It will take time to ship and install the devices so if a lot of folks wait until December there is a good chance some may not get a device before the 18th and then you will be forced off the road until you can get and install an eld.

We are already scheduled several months in advance with the vendor, the demand is projected to be so great that between all the manufacturers they are having a hard time producing the hardware. Keep this in mind, there may be 30 or more eld software vendors but only about half dozen hardware makers so the delay and bottleneck will be sourcing compliant hardware.

Lastly, don't buy the hype from OOIDA, yes the Supreme Court agreed to hear their appeal, but there is no guarantee of either a victory or a ruling prior to Dec. 18. Also, OOIDA has been speaking half truths and outright falsehoods as they usually do. The device parameters are perfectly clear, the manufacturers know what has to be done to be compliant, and as written there are four distinct options to allow law enforcement to view your logs so there is no need to postpone the eld deadline to allow law enforcement to acquire new technology. All hype and rhetoric.

 

I guess we'll see in December.

 

Who is exempt from the ELD rule?
"Drivers of vehicles manufactured before 2000"

 

Correcr, however that is a small segment of the industry as a whole and will get smaller each year as the ilder trucks become cost prohibitive to maintain. Include the shippers, brokers, and carriers that won't load older equipment and the eventual rollout nationally of stricter emission regulations and eventually those trucks will be gone.