Smartphone, tablet logging apps no longer require printing or manual signatures

Puts the exciement back in driving.

 

I don't have access to the truck at the end of my shift.
Inside office doing paperwork.

 

I've been through 3 DOT inspections this year. Not once did they ask me to print off my logs, just had me email it to them.

 

And what happens if you can't email because you got no service?

 

You can select inspection mode on it and hand them the phone or tablet.

 

Yes I am on ELD and yes I have electronic signature.

 

Best to just have a printer. Cuz there's 49 states and some DO want prints

 

It is department policy in some states that they do not allow the officers to handle electronic devices. That's exactly how it is in the state I work for. This was enacted to reduce liability. These devices are fairly expensive and if they break while in the possession of the officer, they could be liable. Added to this, many of these devices contain tons of personal data these days. Do you really want me to take your device and keep it and roam around in it during an inspection? Officers would have a difficult time even navigating through a phone or tablet when each of them is set up differently.

I'm seeing the almost universal belief that it is "up to the officer." What drivers fail to understand is that much of the time, such as this one, it is up to policy that has been set by staff who are far up the chain higher than just the road officer you're talking to.

One could make all kinds of arguments why the officer should just look at your phone / tablet and accept it. In the end, we are required to follow whatever policy our department has set out for us to follow.

 

I can't imagine looking at a device that needs a password every time the screen goes dark.