Blue Ink Tech Blog

There isn't much worse than not getting value out of something you've paid for and are required by law to have. When the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate was implemented it left truck drivers with few options and even fewer ways to deal with it. Selecting the wrong ELD provider is one of the main problems with ELD.

An ELD provider should keep the driver's best interest a priority. Those priorities include making sure their ELD is easy-to-use, there's a knowledgeable support team ready for any questions they have, and there are no hidden or extra costs to any services provided.  

There are a number of reasons carriers and drivers are ready to switch ELD providers. Some of those top stresses include:

1. Equipment malfunctions and failures

2. Poor customer service

3. Costly and lengthy contracts

So what should you do when you’re ready to drop your provider and get a better one?

First things first, plan ahead at least 60-90 days. You want to make sure that you have plenty of time to vet new ELDs before you existing contact is going to end so you can easily make the transition.

The Daily Vehicle Inspection Record (DVIR), typically known as a pre-trip inspection, is done each day that a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) is in use. The driver of that vehicle does this to ensure the safety of the truck before it hits the road.

The sleeper berth split provision is one of the most complicated events to use in the hours or service regulation. A sleeper berth split can allow you to get more out of your 14 hour driving window but it must be performed correctly or else you can get place out-of-service for not having enough rest.

Many drivers are unsure about the ins and outs of the hours of service rules. There are HOS rules for passenger carrying vehicles, property carrying vehicles, local drivers and all of the rules are a little different from each other.

Occasionally drivers will encounter adverse driving conditions during their travels that they could not have planned. Just like the sleeper berth split and the short haul exemption, the hours of service regulation has a provision in place to account for these events.

The "adverse condition" provision allows drivers to extend their shift and drive clocks by 2 hours to reach destinations who find themselves in abnormal situations.