Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/358493
Voices 6 | Overdrive | August 2014 Two days prior to the June 26 dead- line for comments on the Federal Mo- tor Carrier Safety Administration's proposed mandate for electronic logging devices, the annual Commercial Carrier Journal Symposium was well under way in La Jolla, Calif. A session devoted to the ELD mandate saw reps from Con-way, Swift and John Christner Trucking speak of their e-log implementations, emphasizing difficulties but ultimately speaking of generally positive experiences. Small fleets have reported a similar dynamic, with some difficulty settling on a system that fits their needs, as well as a tough adjustment period to the devices afterward. In Overdrive's 2014 ELD Survey this spring, owner-operators and small fleets that noted an intent to comply with the mandate, should it become final, were asked about their famil- iarity with devices on the market. It was low, as the chart on this page indicates. Furthermore, only 12 percent of the survey's respondents indicated they were using e-logs for hours of service compliance. Among commenters on the subject at OverdriveOnline.com, Geoff Chausse was among those already running under ELDs – for two years now, he said. Among the advan- tages: "I no longer can be tempted to run two days straight. I don't have to draw lines, figure recaps or figure out where I am." The numerous disadvantages Chausse named, however, could rep- resent a safety negative for trucking, particularly given time pressures of the 14-hour clock in the hours of service rule. "I have no choice but to drive in traffic, adverse weather con- ditions and/or fatigued. I can't take a nap or avoid adverse conditions because it is tick, tick, ticking away." ELDs have exacerbated parking shortages, he added. "We all pretty much pick up at the same times, therefore we all run out of hours at about the same times. Slow loading or unloading times affect my overall productivity and paycheck more so than they did before." In short, Chausse concluded, ELDs "are expensive and restrictive, and should be left as a choice." Introducing e-logs no small matter Owner-operator familiarity with the ELD market Overdrive's 2014 ELD Survey; respondents also indicated a willingness to comply with the ELD mandate when/if it became final. Not familiar at all Somewhat familiar Very familiar Unsure 54% 37% 7% 2% BIGROAD, the well-known smartphone-based logging app and affordable business-management platform, noted that the company was at work on a connection to trucks' electronic control modules. A connecting component would communicate via Bluetooth to drivers' smartphones, where logs are input. Such a setup would turn the BigRoad logging solution into a 395.15-compliant automatic onboard recording device (AOBRD) and set the stage for satisfying the ELD mandate, should it arrive. Terry Frey, president and COO, says the goal is to be "the most cost-effective solution in the market." In April, the KEEPTRUCKIN logging software platform for mobile devices turned a few heads when CEO Shoaib Makani committed to free distri- bution of associated hardware to satisfy the ELD mandate, should it take effect. "We're defi- nitely going to have the hardware," cur- rently in development to connect to trucks' ECMs, Makani says. "The model will be to give it away and generate value on top." Armed with a subscriber base, KeepTruckin will be able to offer fleet and owner-opera- tor customers dynamic products in addition to the current free service in order to stay profitable. Coming attractions in ELDs 'Do these lights make my butt look big?' Such was the caption reader Stacy L. Pullen offered for this photo when editors asked for ideas on Overdrive's Facebook page. Reader Chris Madron's suggestion: "To whoever put these in Overdrive: Thanks. That's mine on the left, and it worked five days a week and got cleaned every weekend." Find other responses by searching "Poetry in photo captions" on OverdriveOnline.com.