You might be surprised at how many fleet owners and managers still rely on paper-based processes. These outdated methods have real costs in terms of wasted time and money. But with electronic logging devices, you can track driver hours of service in real-time, making the process more efficient and streamlined.
In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at electronic logging devices and discuss how you can use them as a vital part of your existing fleet management program.
Table Of Contents
- From Logbooks To Electronic Logging Devices
- Electronic Logging Devices And Your Fleet Technology Stack
- ELDs Help You Stay Compliant
- ELDs And Fleet Technology In Action
From Logbooks To Electronic Logging Devices
Traditionally, each commercial driver had a physical logbook they were responsible for updating. This logbook would track their hours of service, including driving time, rest breaks, and off-duty hours.
With the introduction of electronic logging devices (ELDs), you no longer have to worry about these issues like errors in entry, or tracking each paper log. Installing a logging device in a vehicle automatically records data from the engine, and you’ll get real-time tracking of driver activity, which is nearly impossible to modify.
The information ELDs provides helps reduce your administrative burden and ensure Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) compliance so you can focus on tasks that drive your business forward, like securing more fleet vehicles so you can serve more clients.
And since they integrate with other components of your fleet technology stack, such as fleet management software, telematics, and smart fuel cards, you can get a complete picture of your entire fleet’s performance in one place.
This real-time data helps improve efficiency and productivity and allows you to make better decisions when it comes to route planning, dispatching, and maintenance scheduling.
ELDs Help You Stay Compliant
Now that you know how ELDs can help streamline your fleet operations and reduce costs, it’s important to note that they are also required for many commercial vehicles.
The FMCSA regulates commercial motor vehicle operations and ensures drivers adhere to safety standards. Except for a few exemptions, all commercial drivers must use registered electronic logging devices to record their hours of service and records of duty status (RODS).
ELDs help you stay compliant by providing the following:
- Automatic recording of drive time
- Alerts for potential violations
- Integration with vehicle engine data
- Secure transfer of data to law enforcement officials through local or telematics
- Ability to view RODs
- Ability to annotate log entries made in error
With these features, ELDs make it easier for you to adhere to federal regulations and avoid fines and penalties.
Other Benefits Of Using Electronic Logging Devices
Improved compliance isn’t the only benefit you’ll notice by installing electronic logging devices on every commercial vehicle in your fleet.
Here are some others:
Enhanced Safety
Fatigue is a major cause of accidents, and drivers are more prone to this condition if they push themselves too hard and don’t take enough breaks.
For example, maybe you have a driver who got stuck in traffic for a few hours and is now running behind. Instead of pulling over to rest, the driver keeps going in order to make up some time. But this can be dangerous because they likely need a break even more after the delay.
ELDs help keep everyone safe by accurately recording drive time and alerting drivers when they’re approaching their maximum hours of service.
Electronic logging devices reduce the risk of accidents by ensuring drivers get enough rest. They’re an excellent addition to your existing fleet safety protocols.
Cost Savings
Installing ELDs can also save money through improved efficiency.
With accurate records of driving time and duty status, you can better plan routes and schedule your drivers. This can result in reduced idle time, shorter routes, and more efficient use of fuel and vehicle maintenance resources.
By combining ELDs with your existing fleet management tools, such as your fuel card and telematics, you gain even more insight into your fleet’s efficiency and can identify areas for improvement.
Time Savings
Searching through a pile of paper logs or manually calculating driving time is time-consuming and tedious. With ELDs, this process is automated, giving you more time to focus on other aspects of your business.
These devices also provide real-time data on vehicle location and driving status, allowing you to track your drivers’ progress and estimate arrival times more accurately. This can be especially beneficial for time-sensitive deliveries or when adjusting schedules.
Driver Benefits
Your drivers will also benefit from electronic logging devices. For example, maybe they’re frustrated with the amount of paperwork they have to complete after each route.
With ELDs, they’ll no longer need to waste valuable time filling out paper logs. This can reduce driver frustration and improve morale, leading to less turnover.
Additionally, this technology can help drivers avoid violations by alerting them when they need to take a break or stop driving for the day. They’ll be more likely to comply with regulations and maintain safer driving habits.
Electronic Logging Devices And Your Fleet Technology Stack
One of the best ways to ensure your fleet’s success is to get your fleet technology stack up and running. Let’s examine how electronic logging devices can complement other important tools in your tech stack.
Fleet Management Software
Fleet management software helps streamline all the details for each vehicle in your fleet. It’s where you can track VINs, registration, insurance information, and vital information about your drivers, as well as optimize routes and monitor fuel use.
By integrating ELDs with your fleet management software, you can easily track and manage your FMCSA compliance, saving you time and reducing the risk of human error that could result in fines or penalties.
They also provide accurate and verifiable records of driver activity, which you’ll need for audits or in case of an accident.
Telematics
Telematics uses GPS tracking and onboard diagnostics to gather data about each vehicle’s location, speed, and performance. By integrating telematics with electronic logging devices, you can get real-time updates on driver hours of service, vehicle usage, and potential safety issues.
It can help you identify instances of:
- Excessive speeding
- Harsh driving behaviors (such as hard braking or sharp turns)
- Idling time
You can use this information to create targeted training to improve driver behavior and reduce fuel costs, leading to significant savings for your fleet.
Smart Fuel Cards
With a smart fuel card, you can easily track and manage fuel expenses for your entire fleet. When you combine this data with the electronic logs, you can identify discrepancies or potential fraud.
For example, if a driver is using company fuel and then driving outside of the approved route to make an unauthorized stop, you’ll have the fuel use record and vehicle location information needed for further investigation.
In addition, using fuel cards can help you track and manage your overall fuel expenses, allowing you to identify areas where you can cut costs or improve efficiency.
Streamline Operations With Coast
The Coast fuel card and software can help you streamline fleet management tasks and comply with FMCSA regulations when combined with electronic logging devices and other telematics.
Take pest control company The Bug Master, for example. With a fleet of 80 trucks in multiple locations, President Dauphin Ewart needed an accurate and easy way to track fuel consumption.
After integrating Coast with Fleetio, the company’s fleet management software, The Bug Master now has a comprehensive system for managing operations.
Dauphin explains, “Instead of logging into all these different portals, we’ve got one place with really good data that tells us what we need to know so we can make the decisions that we need to make regarding the fleet.”
For more information on how Coast can help you streamline operations and save money, visit CoastPay.com.
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