FMCSA Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Requirements

FMCSA Goes on Tour

The Eagles, a popular band for several decades, broke up back in the 1980s. A famous quote from one of the band’s members is that they would play as a band again “when Hell freezes over.” Interestingly enough in 1994 the band got back together and went on tour. Of course, the name of the tour was “Hell Freezes Over”. I mention this because the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is also about to go on tour.

The tour known as the “ELD Implementation National Tour” is a way for FMCSA staff members and experts to present, discuss, and help with the new Electronic Logging Devices or ELDs. An ELD is a device designed to sync with an engine to record driving times. This recording will make for easier and better tracking of a driver’s hours of service (HOS). These ELDs will replace the paper logbooks that certain drivers are required to maintain. To access the Federal Register for the full Final Rule, click here.

The ELD Final Rule was published in December of 2016 and has a 3-phase implementation. Each phase has its own time frame, objective(s), and device requirements.

ELD Rule implementation phases:

• Phase 1: Awareness and Transition
  • Dates: February 16, 2016 to December 18, 2017
  • Objective: Learning the requirements of the new rule and planning for compliance
  • Devices allowed: paper logs, logging software, “Automatic On Board Recording Devices (AOBRDS)”, or certified and registered ELDs
• Phase 2: Phase-In Compliance
  • Dates: December 18, 2017 to December 16, 2019
  • Objective: Carriers and Drivers begin to comply with the new rule.
  • Devices allowed: AOBRDS installed before December 18, 2017 and ELDs that are certified and registered.
• Phase 3: Full Compliance
  • Dates: After December 16, 2019
  • Objective: All drivers and carriers must comply with the new ELD rule.
  • Devices: only ELDs that are certified and registered.

The FMCSA’s website has great resources regarding this new rule. Click here to access the site. The website has specific information on the rule, how to access it, and a link specifically set aside for Drivers and Carriers. The website even has a link for how to register an ELD with the FMCSA.

If you aren’t sure if you are required to have an ELD or have general questions about it, check out one of the tour sites and talk to FMCSA directly. The dates and locations are as follows:

FMCSA Tour Dates

• Aug. 24-26: Great American Trucking Show, Dallas
• Sept. 25-27: North American Commercial Vehicle Show, Atlanta
• Oct. 14-15: California Trucking Show, Ontario, CA
• Oct. 21-24: American Trucking Association’s Management Conference & Exhibition, Orlando, FL
• Nov. 6-8: Women in Trucking Accelerate! Conference & Expo, Kansas City, MO

The best way to comply is knowing and planning in advance. Don’t get stuck on the wrong side of the law or Hell when it freezes over because the Eagles proved that it can. As always for all your transportation needs – training, hazmat packaging, labels, etc. contact ICC Compliance Center.