Does the ELD Exemption Apply to Your Fleet?

Managing your vehicle fleet is a strenuous task by itself. Today many owners are worried about upcoming Electronic Logging Device (ELD) rules. As technology advances and more fleet owners are shifting to tracking management systems, keeping up with the regulations should be easier, not harder. Companies like UPS have petitioned the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for technical exemptions to the ELD mandate.

An ELD exemption would provide an extension and would go a long way in assisting companies with a sizable fleet to come into full compliance. It would also buy time for small business owners and individual truckers.

Read on to see how the rules can apply to your business.

How Old is Your Vehicle?

If the make of your commercial vehicle is 1999 or older you may be exempt. However, if the engine has been replaced with a year 2000 or newer model you are required to adhere to the ELD mandate.

The guidelines indicate that owners are not required to have information present in the vehicle that verifies the age of the engine. It is the responsibility of the fleet owner to keep accurate records of fleet maintenance available for inspection. Be careful and ensure your documents are in order and you are being compliant.

What Type of Vehicle are you Driving?

No one likes dealing with government mandates, so expect some fleet managers to hold-off until the last minute to get ELD compliant. If you happen to be one of the procrastinators, check to see if your drivers may get an ELD exemption.

It’s important to know which type of fleet is exempt. For instance, if you transport inventory such as RV’s or motor homes and your employee is driving the vehicle to its destination, you may be exempt. In addition, cargo containing livestock is also immune from the rules.

Record of Duty Status (RODS) May Provide an ELD Exemption

Part-time drivers or those drivers who may work on an on-call basis may not have to switch to an ELD. If you use paper RODS you may be exempt if your usage is limited to 8 days within every 30 day driving cycle. If you find yourself exceeding this threshold you would be safe to go ahead and install the required ELD. Additionally, a fleet company that has a mixture of full-time, part-time and on-call drivers should treat them all the same and have all vehicles up to code.

The goal of FMCSA is to ensure the overall safety of the roadways. By mandating ELD in the majority of fleets they can better monitor the habits and treatment of commercial drivers. These new rules have set dates of implementation and it is important that all fleet owners are aware and prepared to take action. If you find that your specific business does not meet the exemption threshold, we can help you become compliant. At Fleet Trax we have a wide array of products for every size company.

Contact us today, we are here to help.