E-log, or electronic logging devices, are installed in commercial vehicles. These devices are installed inside trucks to notice the driving timing of these commercial vehicles. These benefit the trucking companies and transportation industries and allow them to comply with federal rules and regulations.
Do All Semi-Trucks Have To Have Electronic Logs? All semi-trucks launched after the year 2000 have to have electronic logs to record driving timing. FMCSA mandated the installation of ELD in December 2015 in all commercial vehicles. These devices help improve road safety and reduce driver fatigue, are more reliable than paper logs, and provide accurate recording.
These are automatic devices that collect information about the carrier’s name, time, date, location, engine hours, vehicle miles, and user identification. These devices are helpful in recording (HOS) hours of service and (RODs) records of duty status.
Is it necessary for semi-trucks to have electronic logs?
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration passed the legislation in December 2015. It mandated the installation of these devices in vehicles that were launched after the year 2000 to reduce the number of accidents on highways.
However, the last deadline to comply with this rule is 16 December 2019. The rule stated that commercial carriers driving their trucks without e-log after this deadline are subject to fines and violations.
These devices record drivers’ service hours and duty records. The law states that all commercial vehicles should have these devices to maintain the records.
In addition, semi-trucks that carry a weight of more than 1000 pounds should have e-logs for better assessment of driving hours.
Drivers have to use these devices to comply with federal laws. You should check the rules regarding using e-logs in your respective states.
Moreover, you can get tickets when driving vehicles that are not 2000 models without an e-log. Furthermore, you can also be subject to violations and fines for not following the rules.
You cannot drive the truck without e-logs because of the FMCSA rules. You can do this if your vehicle is exempted from one of the ELD laws.
You should use these devices because the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program can stop the motor carriers at any time to check their duty status.
Moreover, e-logs are also responsible for transmitting the data to the Department of Transportation USA.
How do you use electronic log-in semi-truck?
Open your truck’s doors to enter inside and use an electronic log. Turn on the ignition to start your vehicle, and you can see a touch screen in front of the driver’s seat.
The touch screen also comes on when you start the ignition. You have to log in to the ELD using the unit, license, and trailer numbers.
These numbers are already saved in the system, and you have to confirm these to process the information. You can see the start shift button on the screen after verifying the previous information.
Click on the start shift button, and it automatically starts the new trip to record your duty timing. These devices automatically track your driving hours, whether you are moving on highways or in city areas.
Moreover, you can also select the landing button while waiting so it can record your waiting time and exclude these from the duty hours.
Push on the loading option when loading cargo from different places.
How do electronic logs work in semi-trucks?
The electronic log is the device that serves multiple functions in your semi-trucks. It contains several parts to perform various tasks. Moreover, the set of multiple devices in a single package performs different functions to ensure safety.
It contains GPS, tracker, navigation devices, and JBUS connectors. GPS trackers in these e-logs are considered the black box in the transportation industry.
It is attached to the dashboard, which analyzes the speed, mileage, driving conditions, and vehicle location to detect the cause and location of the accident easily.
The navigation tracker is installed on the upper side of the dashboard. It records the hours of service and duty status of the drivers.
These devices are connected with GPS trackers for communication purposes. JBUS connector processes the information relevant to the truck, including engine status, oil pressure, and water temperature.
What makes a semi E log exempt?
Semi-trucks are exempted from electronic logs under certain circumstances. It shows that carriers are not subjected to fines and violations when these come under one of these exemptions.
They do not have to use these to record service hours if manufactured before 2000. The engines that are manufactured this year do not require these rules.
However, carriers have to follow these rules if the vehicles are old but equipped with newer engines manufactured after 2000. You can check the manufacturing year by reading the last four digits of VIN.
These trucks do not require electronic logging devices (ELD) when you are using these for drive-away or tow-away. Many times, people use these for transportation of motorhomes or other recreational vehicles.
You do not have to install these devices if you operate trucks older than the 2000 model year. These are unnecessary for drivers who only work for short hauls and occasionally go for long trips.
Carriers with duty hours of specific 8 hours do not need these devices. Moreover, you do not need this if your vehicles work in the same location all day.
The short hauls usually include a working radius of 150 miles. Drivers that have service hours of 10 hours are exempted from these laws.
Can truckers still use paper logs?
Truck drivers use paper logs to save the service hours and records of duty staff. It is not an efficient method for recording this information because of its less precision and more time-consuming procedure.
Trucking companies changed several aspects of their operations to ensure the safety of drivers and other vehicles.
Federal regulations mandate electronic logging devices to save this information instead of conventional pen and paper logs.
Why is it mandatory for semi-trucks to have electronic logs?
Trucking companies were using paper logs in the previous era to record the service hours of drivers. Moreover, everything changes and shifts towards advanced technology to save time and effort. The federal government also converted these paper logs to electronic, digital devices.
Improve road safety
These are specifically used to improve road safety during driving.
These devices improve road safety by decreasing the number of accidents on the road. Most accidents on the road can occur because of the driver’s negligence and distractions.
These devices help record the duty hours and allow them to change their shift every 8 to 10 hours for safe and secure driving.
Reduce driver fatigue
Drivers can get tired when they go on long trips to transport several materials. It is necessary for them to take rest after 8 to 10 hours to restore their energy.
These help to reduce driver fatigue.
They can take a rest after completing the maximum driving hours.
Accurate recording
Federal regulations replaced pen logs with electronic logs because of their reliability and accurate recordings. The chances of errors and misperceptions are higher in paper logs.
In addition, semi-truck drivers require more time to fill these with their hands. Moreover, some carriers can manipulate driving hours to get extra money.
These are automatic devices and provide more precision and accuracy of service hours. Moreover, these e-logs can quickly transmit the data to the Department of Transportation.
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