As freight brokers, it is important that you impart all necessary information so that your truckers are fully briefed about changes in legislation, rules and regulations. With changes to the electronic logging devices due from December, 2017, are your plans already in place?
Is Your Fleet Prepared?
Competitive freight brokers will ensure that all truckers will be fully trained and maintaining their new electronic logging devices (ELD) before the December, mandatory time limit.
Supporting documentation and the way it is handled, become vital links to prove a trucker’s compliance with the compulsory obligations. After years of reducing paper usage, paper will be required to be retained or it can be converted into a digital image. Truckers will need to retain the documentation for eight days with receipts provided to the carrier within 13 days, after the driver received the necessary documentation.
The documentation will include trip records, receipts for expenses related to times not driving, dispatch records, settlement sheets and efficient payroll records. There must be a positive data link between the driver and the necessary information for the trip including the date, location and time. These documents must be maintained for at least six months.
A Few Exemptions
Freight brokers will know that some drivers will become exempt because of the organization of their driving patterns. Those truckers who operate timecards and work within 100 miles of the terminal will be exempt, as are drivers that work eight days out of every thirty. Trucks manufactured before or during 1999 may be exempt because they do not carry the infrastructure required to support ELD’s.
Truckers must be ready to be inspected at any time. They will be checked that the ELD handbook is always available along with a sticker confirming certification by the manufacture. Drivers will be able to transfer the log electronically, via email, Bluetooth or USB. Inspectors will be able to handle the device directly where cables are not sufficient in length to accommodate a direct link with an inspector outside of the vehicle.
