Blue Ink Tech Blog

Personal conveyance can be helpful when used correctly, from finding a safe haven or getting a bite to eat. It is important to your hours of service records that you properly log your time. However, your carrier may wonder what the limits are and if you have a say in it when it comes to your policies. Being able to use personal conveyance is an ELD requirement that you should know about.

ELDs or "electronic logging devices" are devices that are required for most commercial motor vehicle drivers to keep their records of duty status (RODS) electronically for their hours-of-service (HOS) logbooks. The FMCSA published the ELD mandate back in December 2017 with strict guidelines on how electronic logging devices have operate in order to be certified for industry use. This guide will help you understand what ELD providers must do under the ELD mandate to be compliant with the FMCSA.

You want to get the most out of your fleet vehicles, avoid unscheduled downtime, and keep them as long as possible. Here are some tips on how to lengthen the longevity of your vehicles and avoiding maintenance issues that generate DOT fines.  

Truck insurance is one of the main expenses a trucking company will have to pay. With claims that are able to easily cross over $100,000+ it takes a lot to cover a truck on the road. The FMCSR requires all carriers to have a minimum of $750,000 in liability insurance just to operate. A new owner/operator can expect to pay $1,500 - $3,500 per month using their own authority. High insurance rates is a main reason why newer owner/operators prefer to lease on to another company.

On September 13th, the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced $80,714,223 will be going toward grant awards.