What is an ELD and what does it stand for?
An electronic logging device (ELD) is a device that syncs with a vehicles engine to electronically log important data such as the date, time, location information, engine house, vehicle distance, driver information and more.
Common Abbreviations
- ELD – Electronic Logging Device
- HOS – Hours of Service
- CMV – Commercial Motor Vehicle
- eRODs - Electronic Record of Duty Status is a software application designed to read data files provided by an ELD and present the Hours of Service data to enforcement users. in Canada, enforcement officers will not have a system like the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) eRODS.
Is the ELD Mandate new to Canada?
No, but there have been recent changes. On June 12, 2019, Transport Canada published amendments to the Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service (HOS) regulations. ELDs will have to be tested and certified by an accredited certification body.
What is the ELD Mandate? And why are the regulations in Canada changing?
The Canadian ELD Mandate requires all commercial motor vehicles (CMV) to have a certified electronic logging device (ELD) that meets regulations. ELDs will replace existing paper logs used to record Hours of Service (HOS).
According to Transport Canada, ELDs make it easier and faster to track, manage, share and improve the accuracy of a driver's hours of service record. This helps drivers stay within legally allowed driving hours and reduce fatigue.
When does the new ELD law come into effect in Canada? Will there be a grace period?
On May 5, 2021, the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) released an update regarding the Canadian Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Mandate coming into effect on June 12, 2021. The CCMTA developed an approach for jurisdictions to take into consideration when adopting an enforcement strategy for the ELD mandate. Jurisdictions plan to support the mandate through a period of progressive enforcement without penalties including elevated education and awareness until June 12, 2022.
It is important to note that each province and territory will create their own strategy for when they plan to move from education and awareness to possible warnings with consequences. Full details can be found here.
Is ELD mandatory?
The new rules apply to all federally regulated carriers. Commercial motor vehicles may be exempt from the ELD mandate if they:
- Operate under a specific permit issued
- Have a statutory exemption
- Are subject to a rental agreement with terms under 30 days
- Operate a vehicle that was manufactured before 2000
How will police officers verify ELD information?
Canadian drivers will not transfer logs electronically to a federal system like they do in U.S. with eRODS. Instead, drivers will be asked to email a specifically formatted transfer file to officers and officers may have a software that converts the file into a readable format. Full details this have not been released yet.
Canadian ELDs must also meet the Technical Standard for Electronic Logging Devices published by The Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) which outlines the minimum requirements.
Do U.S. trucks going into Canada need ELDs? And how does the Canadian ELD mandate differ from USA?
Yes, U.S. trucks going to Canada will need a certified ELD. One key difference is that Canadian ELDs must be certified by a third-party. In the U.S., ELD devices are self-certified by the manufacturer and are then self-registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The Canadian Trucking Alliance has strongly supported this measure in order to strengthen overall compliance and discourage device tampering.
Canadian drivers will not transfer logs electronically to a federal system like they do in U.S. with eRODS. Instead, drivers will be asked to email a specifically formatted transfer file to officers and officers may have a software that converts the file into a readable format. Full details this have not been released yet.
Canadian ELDs must also meet the Technical Standard for Electronic Logging Devices published by The Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) which outlines the minimum requirements.
Similarities and differences between the U.S. and Canadian ELD mandates:
Similarities:
- Log edits and workflow
- Sync with the engine
- Unassigned driving
- Special driving status like yard moves and personal use
- Applies to model year 2000 and later vehicles
Differences:
- Rental trucks used for 30 days or less are exempt
- Drivers who "pick up" incorrect unassigned driving time can “put it back” if they incorrectly assigned it to themselves
- Personal use option must disable if the driver has used 75 km a day
- ELD must warn drivers when they are running out of HOS
- Roadside transfer will send a data package to an email address that is typed in by the driver and will include a PDF file of the logs and a .csv file that can be deciphered
- ELDs will need to be accredited by a third-party certification body
Will ELD work with smartphones and tablets?
Yes, fleets may choose to use a smartphone or tablet ELD to help minimize costs as truck drivers find them easy to use and already use them in their everyday life on the road. They also allow drivers to be un-tethered from the cab giving them flexibility to choose from various mobile devices.
However, some things to keep in mind are:
- The ELD device is not portable so ensure your smartphone or tablet is able to connect to it without being physically connected to it
- Potential conflicts between ELDs and operating systems - Mobile device manufacturers, such as Google and Apple, are continuously looking for ways to optimize smart devices to make batteries last longer and increase system speed. One such way to save battery power is to restrict apps from running in the background when you’re not actively using them. This is good for smartphone and tablet users. However, for drivers trying to use their smartphone to calculate ELD violations in the background, this will not work.
- Connectivity – Whether it’s WiFi or Bluetooth, the driver needs to make sure the two devices are paired throughout the day and don’t lose connection
- Battery life - With the ELD mandate, the vehicle’s activity must be monitored at all times. You cannot depend on the mobile device to be on and running at all times to capture information and create ELD records without having a charging source
How do I sign up in advance for DRIVING FORCE services?
If you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to us:
- Email: info@eldmandate.com
- Phone: 1-844-353-6263
- Fill out this form and we will get back to you.
