ELD Trucking

If you work in the trucking industry, you know that it is very heavily regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. A trucker must account for every hour that their truck drivers are on the road or face fines and even a shutdown from the FMCSA.

The Department of Transportation also mandates that trucking companies keep stringent records of inspections and repairs. Simplex Group wants to make sure that your small trucking company is always compliant with FMCSA regulations. 

Commercial truckers must use an electronic logging device to keep track of daily activities. When Simplex Group partners with you, we will make sure that you have the very best ELD devices to keep track of hours, inspections, and repairs.

As of December 18th, 2017, when a driver uses an ELD, they must carry an information package in their truck. This packet can be in electronic form. A driver must carry both an instruction manual and an instruction sheet for the process of recording hours of service. They must also have enough blank driver’s records of duty status graph grids to record their status for eight days.  

The FMCSA allows you to put an ELD on a smartphone. However, it is always a good idea to have a separate device. You must keep your ELD data on file for six months and use a registered device such as those offered by Simplex Group. You have to protect your driver’s right to privacy in this situation, and our ELDs have the latest security.

The EDL law was implemented to save lives, save the environment, and make record-keeping easier and more uniform. The ELD final rule is over 513 pages long and very complex. The trucking experts at Simplex Group understand every word of these rules and our ELDs are fully compliant. We can tell you everything from the kinds of commercial motor vehicles covered by the rule to each piece of data that must be stored.

With over 20 years of experience in the trucking industry, Simplex Group has helped many small trucking companies get their start, stay compliant and become successful. We understand the DOT regulations and know exactly what features truck drivers want and need in an ELD. When your drivers use one of our devices, they will be able to record everything they do, find answers to questions, and get where they are going safely and on time. Owner-operators love us, and we can provide you with plenty of references.

Electronic logging devices can keep track of everything that a trucker does during their day. The device synchronizes itself with a commercial vehicle’s engine. It records the driver’s on-the-road driving time and gives accurate readings with no chance of human error.

The device is plugged into the Onboard Diagnostic Port. It can determine how far the vehicle has been driven and show the amount of gas that has been used on any given trip. Not only can this remarkable device ensure that your drivers are not on the road longer than they should be, but It can also monitor many of your driver’s activities. No more worrying about where your drivers are and what they are doing. 

If you are using older vehicles that do not have an ODP, you will still be required to use an Electronic Logging Device to record driving hours of service. There are some ELD Models that do not require an Onboard Diagnostic Port.

Simplex Group offers the very best ELD systems available on the market. Our state of the art electronic logging devices will ensure drivers are doing what they are supposed to at all times.

A driver is only allowed to drive for 11 consecutive hours at a time. The ELD records will be able to tell you how long drivers are on the road and exactly where they are when they stop. Drivers will also be able to record all of their break time, including lunches. They will also be able to record their off-duty time and the time they spend in their sleeping berth on this device.

The HOS rules are not only about drive time. The FMCSA requires that a driver makes a record of each of their activities, such as when they are doing an inspection, loading or unloading a truck, or gassing up the truck. Your drivers cannot work more than 14 hours in total, and this handy device will let them know exactly how long they have been on duty. Our ELDs allow drivers to record each of their activities. When an FMCSA auditor arrives at your facility to do your new entrant audit, you will be able to show them meticulously kept electronic records if you use this device.

Drivers must perform a safety inspection before they operate their vehicles, and trucking companies must keep an electronic record of this inspection. If a vehicle needs any repairs, the repairs must be completed before the truck is allowed to go back on the road. You will also have to electronically record the details of the repairs.

A driver’s daily vehicle inspection reports are closely scrutinized during an audit. Our electronic logging devices record each step of a driver’s daily inspection. Using an ELD to record the results of an inspection will help to avoid any clerical errors. It is a convenient, environmentally sound, and accurate way to store information. Everyone in the commercial trucking industry knows that daily inspections will help your company with fleet compliance. It will also help your driver easily pass their next roadside inspection.

Fuel efficiency is very important to running a successful trucking business. When you attach the Electronic Logging Device to your vehicle’s ODP, it will also monitor your fuel use.

Even if a driver inspects their vehicle regularly, they might not be able to detect anything wrong with it. If a truck is using too much fuel, it may have a slow leak. Problems with the engine can also cause a truck to consume too much gas. If you catch a problem soon enough, you can fix it before too much damage is done. If you fix problems as they occur, the truck will last a lot longer. Long-lasting trucks can save your company thousands of dollars a year.

Routing is one of the most important factors in running a successful trucking company. Simplex Group will find you a route that will save you and your client’s money. We know that there is much more to consider than the distance between two points when planning how to get your cargo from one place to another. We will consider all of the stops you have to make, the fuel and weight taxes you will pay, and the safety of the roads.

You should know that even the best route plans in the world will not work unless your driver follows them. When you use an ELD from Simplex Group, you will be able to see where your driver is and correct them if they go off course.

Trucking accidents are often very expensive. It is important to make a detailed report when an accident happens. A truck accident may result in millions of dollars worth of damages. Your insurance company will want to see proof of all the damages you claim, and an EDL can help prove your driver did nothing wrong.

Making sure drivers operate their vehicles safely should be a top priority for any trucking company. We offer an EDL with advanced telematics that will tell you how fast vehicles are going and whether or not they are following the speed limits. You will even be able to see if they suddenly hit their brakes.

Before you hire a driver, you are required to check their driving record and verify all the driving jobs they have had. However, a background check will not tell you everything. A driver may have a good record because they are lucky.

Drivers will often speed to make up for lost time or to get a load where it is going in a hurry. If they have an accident while they are speeding or driving erratically, your insurance company may refuse to pay your bills. 

Our EDLs will enable you to monitor your driver’s safety and provide training when it becomes necessary.

Simplex Group knows that one of the greatest challenges of running a trucking company is having remote employees. When a trucker has a question about company policies or procedures, they may not be able to contact you to ask right away, or they may forget their question by the time they talk to you or see you. 

You can give them access to all of your company policies and procedures on the ELD. When they have a question, all they have to do is type it into the ELD.

Can a driver edit their hours on an ELD?

No, the data from the engine is recorded by the ELD, and a driver cannot change it. You will never have to worry about an auditor questioning the validity of your hours.

Do EDLs improve safety?

Yes. According to an FMCSA report, accidents were reduced by 11.7%, and rule violations were reduced by 53%.

Are there any exemptions to the ELD rule?

Yes, If you have trucks that were manufactured before 2000 or if your drivers are not required to maintain a Record of Duty status, you will be exempt. 

What will happen if my drivers exceed their 11 hours of on-the-road time?

The ELD will simply record all the hours that the trucks are in motion. When you have your new entrant audit, the auditor may question you about it.

Is an ELD Expensive?

Electronic logging devices will save commercial drivers money in the long run. We offer an ELD lite option for clients who need to save money.

Simplex Group is like no other company in the trucking industry. We offer a full package of services for small trucking companies. We can handle all your compliance, insurance, and even your taxes.

We are not a factoring company, but we are partnered with one of the best factoring companies in the business. We can also handle the logistics of your trips for you. 

When you use one of our ELDs, safer, more efficient trucking is in the palm of your hands. Give us a call today so we can become your ELD provider.