The ELD mandate is changing the landscape of the trucking industry, and the FMCSA recently confirmed that their decision is definitely final. 

While companies may have some difficulties adjusting to the changes, there are reasons to be optimistic that the mandate can positively affect the industry in the long term. 

Per CCJ, one positive effect has already come to fruition, as roadside inspections have increasingly become simpler and more efficient for drivers, according to Joe DeLorenzo, director of the FMCSA office of enforcement. 

“I think we are going to see efficiency gains and make the process smoother for everybody,” DeLorenzo told CCJ. 

Using the FMCSA’s electronic Record of Duty Status (eRODS) software, more than 500,000 log transfers have already been accomplished. Additionally, DeLorenzo says that 45-minute inspections are now reduced to about five to 10 minutes. 

Because ELD systems have made the process quicker, it allows drivers to spend less time being inspected and more time on the road. In the end, the less time they spend stopped, the more time they have to make money.

Drivers have long had to deal with long inspections, which ultimately set back their arrival times substantially. While many were, and still are, weary of the implementation of ELDs, they can look forward to spending less time with DOT officers. 

In addition to an increase in speedy inspections, the agency also said that hours of service violations have already been reduced by half. There are still issues with false logs, though, as the number of citations for the violation has remained the same. 

Nonetheless, receiving fewer violations, especially those that pertain to hours of service, can ultimately have a positive impact on the trucking industry. With drivers improving their CSA scores due to decreasing violations, they’ll be able to find better job opportunities. 

Of course, it’s important to note that there are still fundamental issues with how the FMCSA uses its safety scoring system. The Safety Measurement System, which is used to produce scores for drivers, was identified to have “data quality issues” in 2017 by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 

While there have been some issues in the industry that have improved for drivers, there’s still a lot of work to be done. ELDs may well solve some reservations for truckers in the industry, but real data on their impact won’t be available for a couple more years.

What do you think? Have ELDs made life easier or more difficult for you? Let us know in the comments or on social media!

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