Blue Ink Tech Blog

According to the ELD requirements, electronic logging devices are supposed to log certain events as malfunctions or data diagnostic events if the device can't acquire all required data items. Some ELD providers will indicate these items as a "malfunction" or "data diagnostic" with little information about the cause. This can confuse and worry users into thinking their ELD is broken and leaving them exposed for DOT violations for not having a working ELD.

Like every piece of technology available there will be times when an ELD starts to malfunction. The FMCSA has set specific rules in the ELD requirements for what carriers and drivers should do to remain compliant in the event of an ELD malfunction. In the ELD mandate the FMCSA provides specific steps for carriers and drivers to follow in order to protect themselves in the event of an ELD malfunction.

The ELD mandate was introduced in December 2017, requiring all commercial motor vehicles to keep their Hours of Service (HOS) logs electronically. This was a huge shift from the old way of keeping track of HOS logs using paper logbooks. Years into the ELD mandate, there is still some confusion on what it is, who is exempt, what is required to be collected, and what restrictions are placed on manufactures.

The ELD requirements set by the FMCSA in the ELD mandate are complex and in-depth rules on how electronic logging devices must act when keeping a driver's hours-of-service records. There are a lot of opinions about how the best ELDs should keep hours-of-service rules and navigate the gray areas that cause a log of frustration among drivers and carriers.

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.