The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has announced a May 9 public ELD meeting for discussing device specs with ELD manufacturers.
The ELD mandate is set to take effect on December 18. There are over 3.5 million commercial truck drivers that would require electronic logging devices to stay compliant. And although there are many ELD manufacturers, there are concerns about how compliant their electronic logging devices actually are.
According to the announcement by FMCSA, “This meeting is intended to address questions received from ELD manufacturers and to review the required standardized output and standardized data sets.” Additionally, the announcement also stated that the final ELD rule “included detailed performance and design requirements for ELDs to ensure the devices produce accurate, tamper-resistant records with a uniform file format and consistent displays.”
The meeting will play a key role in helping ELD manufacturers understand the federal regulations set by the FMCSA and the latest ELD mandate, so electronic logging devices can be manufactured in compliance with those federal regulations.
There were some speculations that the ELD mandate could be repealed. However, after Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association lost the case against FMCSA’s ELD mandate and was denied the rehearing petition, those speculations died down.
KeepTruckin’s Chief Executive Officer Shoaib Makani said he believes that the ELD mandate is not going to be repealed and this meeting announcement by FMCSA is another step toward final implementtion. Shoaib Makani said, “The ELD mandate is almost here, and it is here to stay. The FMCSA’s public announcement is another step towards making the ELD rule a reality. It’s time for fleets to start preparing for the upcoming ELD mandate.”
Regarding the benefits of ELD mandate, Makani said, “Fleets with ELDs have been able to save thousands of dollars by minimizing administrative burdens, automating tasks and reducing fuel wastage. The benefits of these devices far outweigh the cost.”
The FMCSA’s public ELD meeting on devices specs is scheduled for May 9 at the US Department of Transportation in Washington DC. The meeting will be held from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm.