ELD Mandate 2017: Trucking Companies Need to Act Now

It’s countdown time, and if you put off installing ELDs on your fleet hoping that the mandate would be delayed or dropped, you need to act fast, as the mandate goes into effect on December 18, 2017.

Yes, there are still some driver organizations fighting the mandate, and yes, the current administration is known for its disdain for federal regulations. But in June, the Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to the mandate, and there are no indications that Congress plans to step in to stop it.

“It’s going to happen and it’s going to be enforced,” American Trucking Associations president Chris Spear said recently.

So, what’s next?

Preparing Your Trucking Company for the ELD Transition

Ideally, even if you didn’t already buy ELDs for your trucks, you at least did some research into the many options available. Buy now. With the deadline approaching, demand is way up and ELD vendors expect a rush that could drain the supply available to fleets.

If you haven’t done any research yet, don’t delay any more, and decide what you want to go with quickly. Start with the buyer’s guide from CCJ magazine to help you wade the ELD buying waters with more confidence.

You’ll need to do intensive training for the transition to ensure your fleet is ready when the switch happens. Installing an ELD is not merely a matter of adding another piece of equipment to the truck, and there is learning curve for everyone – from driver to dispatcher.

The margin for error will decrease, and you’ll need to get your paper logs squeaky clean so that your fleet management team understands what compliance with an ELD really means.

Make the time to understand the technology and be assured that you will have tech support when you need it. Review fleet policies to address any gaps that implementing ELDs will surface, and enact a plan to deal with it in phases if necessary. Talk to your valued drivers and ask them to lead the way in making the transition work.

Be sure to accentuate the positive when introducing ELDs into the fleet. If you have been vocal about your concerns with ELDs for the past two years, your drivers definitely picked up on your reluctance to adopt the devices.

You don’t need to pretend that you are happy about the regulation, but at least present a neutral tone and highlight the benefits that drivers will see — easier roadside checks; fewer driver check calls; and less paperwork. When problems or confusion arises — and they will — do your best to take it in stride and avoid blaming the device.

You’ll need to do some “self convincing” as well. Here’s an opportunity to embrace new technology and make it part of your business. Adoption can give you a competitive edge, and in the coming years, mandated or not, your trucking company will need to know how to use current technology if it wants to stay in the game.

The key here is to face your concerns about ELDs head on – whether it’s the technology or concerns over productivity and driver retention.

There’s no doubt that business will change once ELDs are installed. Plenty of companies have already seen the impact of ELDs.

But, you’ll be better equipped to deal with those changes if you start preparing for them now.