By Lilli Chiu and Steven Bojan

In the U.S., electronic logging devices (ELDs) have been mandatory since late 2017. New Canadian legislation introduces a similar requirement for commercial truck drivers in Canada, but with a twist – the ELD systems in Canada must be certified by a third party. Once the legislation goes into effect, it will be important for cross-border drivers to use an ELD that is compliant in both the U.S. and Canada in order to avoid using different vendors in each country.

Since roughly 50% of Canadian motor carriers have business across the border and the U.S. already has similar regulations for tracking driver hours in place, the majority of Canadian trucking companies already use an ELD. However, not all of the existing ELD providers will want to go through the Canadian approval process, so there will likely be fewer ELD vendors in Canada than there are presently in the U.S.

The electronic tracking system is more precise than graphical logs and motor carriers will have access to a driver’s hours in real time, and the new mandate will provide greater transparency in the system. The hours of service regulations, which prescribe how many hours a driver can be on duty and behind the wheel, is not changing. This means drivers will have to be more diligent about ensuring they stay within the allotted hours and greater attention to route planning.

While ELD regulations are often viewed as onerous and intrusive, when utilized correctly, they can play a critical role to improve the safety and operational performance of many fleets. Fleet operators can utilize data collected from ELDs and telematics technology to optimize a variety of key performance areas, including fuel consumption, maintenance costs, driver productivity and customer service. Most telematic systems can transmit information from the engine control module to capture system warnings, mileage driven, duration of engine operation, aid in crash investigations and more.

Here are some tips to help you comply with the new Canadian ELD Mandate:

  1. Don’t wait until the last minute. Any time you have technology implementation, there will be challenges. Educate your drivers about ELDs, why they are used and how they are used. Find a system that meets your needs and with a high level of customer service.
  2. Jump right in. The approved ELD vendors haven’t been selected yet. If you’d like to start now, select a well-known electronic recording device (ERD) provider that has a high likelihood of being certified and begin using it. If you have to switch later, you will have minimal costs associated with re-training and your drivers will already have valuable hands-on experience.
  3. Don’t be intimidated by the unknown. Switching providers has already been proven to be easier than it seems. In the U.S., where similar legislation has already gone into effect, a large number of trucking companies are now switching ELD providers for a variety of reasons, from ease of use to better customer experience.
  4. Monitor your drivers’ hours of service closely. Small violations on the hours of service rule can have a big impact. Make your team aware that there will be less flexibility and no honour system to rely on when precise monitoring is in place.
  5. Create a mentorship program. Some drivers may be extremely uncomfortable with technology, especially if they’ve been driving without it for many years. Pairing tech-savvy drivers with others who are less familiar can help create a safe space for learning and adapting.

Any time you are implementing a new technology, there will be challenges, but planning and communication can help eliminate the hurdles and bring your company into compliance.

Contact HUB’s transportation specialists to learn more about selecting the right ELD for your company and training your drivers in advance of the legislation.