Getting the most out of your ELD

Jan 6, 2022

The date of June 12, 2021, has long been circled on the calendar. That’s when the Canadian rule making the use of electronic logging devices (ELDs) mandatory came into effect for federally regulated carriers. Sort of…

The challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the importance of giving carriers sufficient time to purchase and install certified ELDs led the government to opt for a phased implementation. The transition period focuses on an intensive education and awareness campaign, with no penalties applied, and will vary in each region – a current overview of per region is available here.

The full application of the federal ELD rule, including sanctions, will begin in June 2022 in most Canadian provinces and territories. From that point forward, carriers subject to the rule will have to use ELDs certified by an ISO/IEC 17065 accredited body, as required by Transport Canada.

If you are transitioning from paper logs to ELDs, or if you are considering switching providers, choose an ELD that offers benefits beyond basic compliance. A complete ELD solution with a wide range of features will improve your return on investment. Discover how to boost productivity and enhance operational efficiency with an ELD that does more than merely record your drivers’ hours of service.

Automated Functionality and Workflows

Are you 100% certain that your drivers’ logbook and trip sheets match up, error-free? That’s one of the first things officers will check when auditing your facility. Did your driver use the right status while loading the truck? Tracking hours of service is not enough – you have to make sure every activity matches the correct status.

Hours of Service

Automated workflows help save time, avoid errors and eliminate stress. They guide drivers step by step throughout their shift. Every activity programmed in the ELD, such as loading, refueling, inspections, waiting at customer facilities, breaks, and so on, is matched to its appropriate hours of service status.

Let’s see how it all works.

Take, for example, a driver going to pick up a load. Using geolocation to determine the perimeter of a customer’s location, the device can detect that the vehicle has reached its destination. When the driver parks in the customer’s yard, the activities related to this stop, in this case, the pick-up, are automatically displayed on the ELD.

The driver selects the activity, and their status automatically switches from driving to service. Their daily log is automatically updated. Synchronization avoids having to switch between various screens and ensures the logbook and hours of service match.

The appropriate form for the customer appears on-screen. The driver doesn’t have to look for it – it all pops up at the right time, and can then be filled out in just a few clicks. Not only do integrated workflows reduce the risk of error, but they also mean drivers can simply follow the steps displayed on the ELD screen in the most efficient sequence.

Most importantly, the electronic logbook automatically synchronizes with the trip sheet for flawless compliance.

Document Scanning

How often do your drivers have to fill out documents and send them in to office staff? ELDs are an efficient work tool that helps drivers complete a variety of tasks more quickly.

Electronic logging devices fitted with a camera and a scanning feature are a great time-saver for drivers and help avoid the loss of important documents. They can scan bills of lading, shipping notes, waybills for customs, or fuel invoices.

And with cloud-based data synchronization, anyone in your organization can be notified when documents are scanned so they can be processed right away. Your accounting department can invoice a delivery to a customer before the driver even makes it back to the terminal.

Instant Communication

How do you communicate with your drivers? Do your messages take several minutes to reach recipients? You know all too well that every minute counts in the trucking industry. You have to be able to rely on an effective messaging system to ensure maximum efficiency and avoid costly wait periods.

ELDs that integrate with fleet management solutions are a must when it comes to communication between your drivers and dispatch personnel. They can message each other instantly and see read receipts in real time.

Trip Communication

What about trip dispatch? How do you make such critical operations efficient for both your dispatch team and your drivers? You can maximize your ROI with an ELD solution that integrates with your TMS.

Trips created in your TMS are automatically transmitted to ELDs. Trip messages are added to the automated workflow described earlier. Your drivers follow trip steps directly in their ELD. Steps are logically sequenced depending on the task to be performed.

Dispatch can change existing trips without having to start over from scratch. Stops can simply be added or changed, without losing critical trip information. ELDs show updated workflows automatically, eliminating the risk of error.

Maximize your ROI

Technology is an investment. It will help you remain competitive and make things easier for your drivers and office personnel. When it comes to selecting ELDs for your fleet, it goes without saying that compliance is critical. Make sure you choose a certified device that appears on the official Transport Canada list. But don’t stop there. Invest in technology that provides other benefits and helps maximize your return on investment.

See how Trimac unlocked the full potential of ISAAC’s solution to optimize safety and its operations across the board.

Download case study

Time to move forward with managed technology

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