CANADIAN GOVERNMENT TO INTRODUCE ELD REGULATION

On June 13, at a press briefing at Ontario Trucking Association headquarters, Transport Minister Marc Garneau announced that a mandatory ELD regulation will be introduced nationally by 2021. Here is what you need to know.

Electronic logging devices, or ELDs, are devices used to record and process a driver’s hours of service by linking directly to the truck’s engine control module (ECM). The final rule requires all truck drivers in Canada to operate a third-party certified ELD by June 2021. The purpose of this mandate is to increase safety and accountability in the transportation industry.

With these devices, drivers no longer have to fill out paper logs, which will save them time, reduce the auditing process and eliminate various issues. The ELD will also collect additional data such as engine power status, vehicle motion status, vehicle location, engine hours, miles driven, and more. Furthermore, satellite technology enables seamless communication; keeping drivers updated every step of the way.

“This new mandate will certainly level the playing field for us,” says Tom Boehler, Director of Safety and Compliance at Erb Transport. “It narrows down the gap between companies that still allow drivers to run excess hours and compliant businesses like us. The logging process will become more automated and standardized.”

The new rule is going to take 24 months for implementation throughout Canada. The installation of certified ELDs is critical for HOS compliance and fatigue management, which will significantly increase road safety as well as benefit drivers and employers in many ways.

For more information regarding the ELD regulation, click here.