An ELD is an Electronic Logging Device installed in a commercial vehicle to record a driver's duty statuses, available driving time and vehicle data.
The main purpose of the ELD is to provide a motor vehicle carrier and a driver the ability to automatically record and manage a driver's available hours according to the hours of service rules they are being monitored against. An ELD has a connection to the vehicles engine that electronically records driving time and all required legislated information in order for the driver to be compliant.
The MiX ELD solution is an entire eco-system consists of the following components:
- MiX Fleet Manager - where administrative users create drivers, choose rule sets based on the jurisdiction the driver's will be operating in, view driver's logs, reports, etc.
- On-board computer (OBC) installed in the vehicles - connected to the CAN bus to get the required information like VIN, odometer reading, speed, etc.
- Display device, e.g. Rovi II / Rovi IV - this is what the driver connects with. The Rovi has a serial connection to the OBC to get the telematics data for display on the Rovi.
- MiX Timeclock - a driver interface not connected to the OBC.
- Driver ID plug - a red portable driver plug used to operate outside of cell coverage.
The ELD Mandate, also known as the ELD Final Rule, was instituted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in December 2015 and requires commercial motor vehicle drivers to track their duty status electronically, using compliant ELD's versus paper logbooks. In 2021 the Canadian electronic logging device (ELD) mandate also came in effect.
The MiX ELD solution now supports both the US ELD and Canadian ELD mandate.
The Canadian requirements are very much the same as the US ELD requirements which means motor carriers are able to use a single ELD solution in both countries. This also allows the driver to be compliant when crossing the border.
In Canada, the main major differences between US ELD and Canadian ELD include:
- Drivers can switch operating cycles but need to meet a minimum requirement to make the switch (i.e. 7 day cycles, 14 day cycles and oil field permits).
- Canada has two different zones of operation: South of 60th deg. and North of 60th. deg.
- The driver is able to manually defer off duty time to the following day should they meet certain criteria.
- US ELD requires the driver to retain 7+1 days worth of logs where 14+1 days worth of logs are required for Canada.
- US Governing body – FMSCA / Canada Governing body – CCMTA.
Technical Standard for Electronic Logging Devices for Canada can be found at: https://www.ccmta.ca/en/commercial-motor-vehicle-safety
Canadian HOS regulations can be found at https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2005-313/