Blue Ink Tech is proud to announce a new Agricultural cycle in the BIT app to help drivers manage Ag Exempt loads. The new cycle tracks exemption status within the 150 air-mile radius with one press of a button.
The new Agricultural cycle features will let drivers set the center of the exemption radius when they get loaded. Once the app has the Ag Exempt Center set, it can do the rest on its own. The driver doesn't have to keep track of the 150 air-mile radius or manually switch to using e-logs when they leave it.
Although the BIT app always made it easy to switch from Personal Conveyance (PC) to Driving without having to pull the truck over, drivers did have to keep track of their own exemption radius. Taking that off the drivers' plate and letting the app handle it is a big quality-of-life improvement.
Drivers with the Agricultural cycle rule selected in the app will have a new AG EXEMPT button on the duty status selection screen. When they pick up a load of qualifying cargo, they can tap the button to set their location as the Ag Exempt center point.
Any driving recorded by the ELD inside the exemption radius will be logged as Personal Use. When the driver leaves the exemption radius the app will automatically switch to Driving.
Driving to the commodity source is also included in the agricultural exemption, and the app lets drivers add a Personal Use status in the past where they crossed into the circle of exemption on their way to the pickup.
The Available Hours page will track the distance from the center point so the driver will always know their exemption status.
Don't worry, livestock haulers aren't left out of the new features. Drivers hauling qualifying livestock can also set their endpoint as the center of an exemption radius and the app will retroactively change any on-duty Driving inside the circle to Personal Use.
The exemptions for agriculture and livestock haulers are part of the exemptions allowed by the ELD mandate.
Drivers must have app version 7.0.5 or better to get the Agricultural cycle rule. For more details on how to use the new Agricultural cycle features, check out our knowledge base article: How do I use the agricultural popup in the BIT app?