Are you risking substantial CSA fines because your drivers aren’t compliant with their HOS logs?  Are your drivers properly logging their hours of service, rest time, vehicle inspections, and eliminating ‘form and manner’ issues?

HOS violations harm your bottom line both by pulling vehicles out of service, and through CSA score increases.  Protecting yourself through a DOT compliant and FMCSA certified AOBRD system is critical to continuing your business relationships and staying in business.  It’s time to learn how best to meet DOT mandated HOS requirements, while protecting your business and saving money.

HOS Regulations

The DOT electronic driver log mandate specifies compliance requirements.  With HOS regulations constantly changing, it is difficult for companies and drivers to keep up as rules shift. Implementing web based HOS log software means automatic application updates that keep you seamlessly compliant without any effort on your part.  Meaning no surprise roadside HOS log audits causing delays or difficulties.

Today, to avoid HOS violations, you’ll need to consider:

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Shift Limits

  • 10 hours of drive time
  • Total 14-hour on-duty window
  • 30-minute breaks are required after eight hours of driving —  breaks must be recorded properly!

Cycle Limits

  • 60 on-duty hours in a seven-day cycle
  • 70 on-duty hours in an eight-day cycle

Note that these are not a “weekly” limit, but they are actually rolling totals. That means you’ll need to count hours gained and lost as days tick by.

Cycle Reset

Drivers can completely reset their cycle by taking 34 consecutive hours off duty. This resets cycle hours back to zero.

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Exemptions: Avoid HOS Violations

Like anything that comes out of the Department of Transportation and the FMCSA, there are plenty of exceptions you’ll want to be aware of — or that your E-Log system can track for you.

Some of the most important HOS exemptions or rules variations include:

  • Short hauls get an exception as long as drivers stay within a 100- air-mile radio of the home terminal.
  • Some drivers may be able to waive the 30-minute break requirement after eight consecutive hours, but this exemption is a little complicated.
  • States have differing regulations that must be adhered to in conjunction with federal regulations. There are also international considerations, such as drivers heading up to Canada needing to have access to 14 days’ worth of logs.

Your best bet is a system that protects you from fines while meeting required HOS log regulations. Today’s digital options automate tracking, alerting, and reporting for you.

HOS Logs That Meet DOT/FMCSA Regulations

The current Regulation 395.8 HOS requirements are growing. Every report needs to have the right information. Requirements today include:

  • Driving Authority (MC Number)
  • Date
  • HOS Graphic Grids
  • Specific Location ID & Remarks
  • Main Office Address
  • Motor Carrier Name
  • Product Shipping Details
  • Shipping Document
  • Signature
  • Day & Time Stamp
  • Total Hours
  • Total Miles Driven
  • Vehicle Identification
  • Vehicle Inspection Flexibility (Pre, Interim & Post)

That’s a lot of information to track manually. Ditch the pad-and-paper approach ahead of the mandated digital conversion and beat the “mad rush” for compliance.  A new suite of digital products that meet DOT HOS requirements, make it easier for your drivers and DOT compliance department to have the right information at the right time and in the correct format.

Price, Features or Support?

What’s most important when considering an electronic HOS Log system?  Let’s look at each one individually:

Price

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  • Low cost is important but is it THE most important issue?
  • Does low price mean being able to cancel it at anytime, without any penalties or fees?
  • Does it mean that the system is FMCSA certified, or am I at risk of not being compliant?
  • Does the price include training and support?  Do you have to pay each time you have a question?
  • Does the system include all of the necessary equipment and software to be compliant, or is there necessary equipment that is not included?

Features

  • Are there more features than you really need, and are you paying for those “extras”?
  • Is the system scalable?  Are you able to add drivers and users easily and quickly?  What is the additional cost for each added driver and user?
  • How do you get a copy of the Driver Log into a “roadside auditor’s” hands easily and quickly?
  • Are Electronic Vehicle Inspections (EVIR’s) easy for the driver to use a checklist, or does it require the driver to manually enter each item individually?  Remember intuitive, easy use by the driver increases thorough driver compliance exponentially.

Support

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  • Typical conversion timeframes for drivers moving from paper logs to electronic logs are 4 weeks to 8 weeks (sometimes even longer).  With all of the requirements on your current schedule do you have the time to manually diagnose driver HOS Log questions?
  • Who is responsible for training your drivers on the new HOS Log system, you, your HOS Log provider or both?
  • What about on-going training and support?  After the initial training, are you on your own?
  • What happens as new drivers come on board, who supports them?
  • Who do you turn to for administrative questions about remote monitoring and correcting of logs?  What about annotating logs and re-establishing available time for the driver?
  • Are you willing to sign a multi-year contract with the “hope” that the HOS Log provider will still continue to support you?
Free 30-Day HOS Log Trial

With the DOT mandate, selection of a FMCSA certified partner is critical.  Price, features, and support are crucial to keeping you operating smoothly and profitably.  Don’t get caught with a costly out of compliance system that is exposed during an DOT audit; and make sure you have all of your questions answered before signing a long term contract. Fill out the form below and start your trial today.

Get a Free Quote Today

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