ELDs are important to trucking companies because they help drivers stick to the Hours of Service rules. They also save time by eliminating the need to keep track of paper logs.
Increased Safety
Using ELDs allows fleet managers to monitor driver activity and compliance, which helps keep safety a top priority. This reduces risk and saves money for the trucking company.
Truck drivers who use ELDs do not have to spend time filling out paper logs, which allows them more time to drive safely. ELDs can also record fuel usage and maintenance work, helping fleets manage efficiency. Many construction contractors use fleets of vehicles for hauling equipment, transporting supplies, and other essential tasks. For this reason, it’s important to understand what an ELD for trucking is, how it works, and who’s required to use it. Companies can gain cost savings beyond compliance by implementing an ELD solution with advanced features, like telematics.
Increased Productivity
With ELDs, fleet managers can gain valuable insights into drivers’ driving behaviors to boost efficiency and productivity. By monitoring driving behavior and hours of service compliance, fleets can make better route planning decisions to save on fuel costs and avoid fines or accidents.
ELDs automatically track HOS compliance, removing the need to maintain paper logbooks and making it easier for drivers and dispatchers. Additionally, modern ELDs feature accelerometers and gyroscopes that detect driving behaviors such as sudden acceleration, hard braking, and severe turns, giving fleet managers the data they need to train their drivers in safe driving habits and improve driver safety.
Reduced Liability
ELDs eliminate the need to maintain paper logbooks and ensure compliance with FMCSA’s Hours of Service (HOS) mandate. They also track driving behaviors like hard braking and severe turns so fleet managers can identify high-risk drivers and train them on safer driving techniques. With a tamper-proof record of driver hours, ELDs reduce liability risk for trucking companies. They also make it easier for drivers and dispatchers to comply with regulations and simplify inspections.
Integrated with GPS fleet tracking software, ELDs boost productivity and improve route optimization, fuel savings, and vehicle maintenance. The result is reduced risk of accidents and hefty fines and increased profitability. With the right ELD system, less-than-truckload (LTL) carriers can use real-time data to share truck locations with broker apps, increasing their earnings per load, and passenger transit fleets can deliver live ETAs to passengers, improving customer satisfaction.
Increased Efficiency
ELDs provide a reliable way for drivers to log service hours and keep records. This eliminates the need for drivers to keep a paper logbook and ensures compliance with FMCSA rules. It also helps fleet managers save time and money by eliminating manual processes and providing up-to-the-minute reporting. Advanced telematics ELD solutions also enable fleets to identify bad driving behaviors like excess acceleration and hard braking, which can help reduce crashes and traffic fines. Most trucking companies and owner-operators must install an ELD solution due to the FMCSA’s ELD mandate, but these devices can also improve fleet performance and productivity.
