Per the new rule announced by the FMCSA in the ELD mandate, all commercial vehicles must be equipped with ELDs or AOBRDs by the end of December 2017. Most trucking companies are now going for ELD implementation as a result. If you’re one of those companies and ready to transition but don’t know where to start, we’ve got your back.
Here’s a list of the most common mistakes trucking companies make while moving to electronic logging devices. By avoiding these ELD implementation mistakes, you can make your fleet’s compliance shift as smooth as possible.
1. Overpaying for ELD implementation
Although shifting to ELDs have significant advantages and their overall benefits far outweigh the costs, there are a lot of ELD service providers out there that are overpriced and don’t have the quality to match.
Make sure you do your research and take the best available deal possible in terms of value for money. It’s a common mistake for companies to overestimate the cost of shifting to an ELD, and some good ELD providers aren’t as pricey as you fear.
The technological advances in this industry help do more for less money. Companies can issue smartphones or tablets to their drivers or simply let them install the app on their personal devices, which makes it a very cost-effective solution. You have to make sure you choose the best price in the market.
2. Dealing with unregistered and uncertified ELD providers
Make sure your ELD service provider is on the FMCSA’s list of self-certified ELDs. As you evaluate ELD vendors, ask them to prove to you that they can deliver on each one of the technical specifications mentioned in the ELD Mandate. Otherwise, you won’t be compliant with the ELD mandate.
3. Neglecting important ELD features
Most trucking companies while transitioning to ELDs don’t realize how important the features, especially the time-saving software, are for their use. Choose an ELD provider that regularly updates itself and offers you a variety of additional solutions. Motive offers a wide array of helpful features like the Electronic Logbook App, Messaging, Idle Time Tracking, Vehicle Diagnostics, Driver Scorecards and GPS Tracking. Such features will lead you towards achieving higher efficiency, improving safety, and capitalizing on your savings.
For example, fleet management software, such as IFTA and GPS tracking help you save time on tedious tasks like calculating fuel tax and driver check calls. You should pay attention to the features your ELD vendor provides you with because good features will lead to a more organized and improved means of communication between fleet managers and truck drivers.
4. Lack of proper training
When it comes to ELD implementation, proper training is essential. No ELD solution can be properly implemented if the users aren’t trained efficiently. They must know how to properly use electronic logging devices (ELDs) to their best advantage.
Fleets who don’t pay enough attention to proper training experience an uneasy transition process. Drivers feel uncomfortable adopting new technology, and so do fleet managers. Therefore, it is essential that you pay a lot of focus on proper training before the ELD implementation. You should also seek sufficient support and help from your ELD provider, which brings us to our next point.
5. Missing out on technical support
ELDs or electronic logging devices are still relatively new in the trucking industry. Proper technical support is necessary for a smooth transition from paper logs to ELDs.
Whenever you’re implementing ELDs, make sure that you’re choosing a provider that offers the best technical support.
From purchasing to installation to ELD implementation, you will require a lot of assistance and professional help.
6. Waiting till the deadline
If you’re a trucker, fleet owner, or manager, it’s not advisable to wait. Waiting could mean fines, overpayment, and potential risk.
Waiting till the December 2017 ELD mandate deadline to transition is an overpriced mistake because it’s likely that vendors may increase costs due to high demand near the end. Also, vendors may be jammed by the end date and you might end up actually missing the deadline.
If you choose to keep spending on paper logs instead of transitioning as soon as you can, you are actually spending needless money and forgoing a lot of savings which a switch to an ELD solution will provide you with. Besides, we all know the various economic benefits of ELDs. You can actually save more than $5,400 per truck every year with electronic logging devices if you implement them now.
7. Getting into a long-binding contract
It’s important to look into the duration of the contract your ELD solution provider is offering you. Most ELD vendors bind the fleets with a tedious three to five years contract. These long contracts may be too long for you, if you don’t like their services. What if you want to shift to a better provider?
Long binding contracts are constraining if the services provided are not up to par. Look for the minimum 1-year contract so you have the option of moving to another ELD provider if you want.
Motive simplifies ELD implementation
You can easily avoid these ELD implementation mistakes to make your transition journey as easy as possible. ELDs are not just here to adhere to industry regulations; they also offer you better solutions to your logging problems. These electronic logging devices can provide complete transparency and help eliminate any lags or common violations, while also improving your company’s efficiency and reducing the overall costs.
Motive is offering one of the most affordable ELD solutions in the market. Request a demo for the Motive ELD, and a product specialist will get in touch with you with all the information you need.
