Blue Ink Technology (BIT) is offering a simplified, FMCSA-registered ELD that will allow drivers to be compliant with the ELD mandate without including any more features than what the driver and fleet need.
“We try to make it as user-friendly an experience as possible,” said Chris Riegel, chief technology officer at Blue Ink Technology. “Research shows that the average age of drivers is somewhere between 50 to 60 years old and many of them are still using flip phones. We wanted to make everything in the BIT ELD app very easy to use.”
According to Riegel, the BIT ELD app is designed as an alternative to costly and complicated ELD systems that may confuse drivers.
The BIT ELD app is compatible with a driver’s smartphone or tablet and connects to their device that plugs into a truck’s diagnostic port.
“There are many more affordable bring-your-own device solutions, which is what we are,” said Riegel. “In the recent past, ELDs were manufactured for companies with big budgets who needed enterprise features. Smaller fleets don’t have a need for these features or the budgets for these type of systems.”
With a one-time fee, Blue Ink Technology reports that it allows drivers to eliminate monthly charges or contracts that other systems may require. Riegel said that he hopes that the BIT ELD app will be more accessible to owner-operators and small to medium-sized fleets as a way to ease themselves into compliance. Riegel also expressed a hope that smaller fleets and owner-operators will not wait too long to get compliant.
“We try to let people know that the last-minute compliance may be a dangerous way of thinking because this mandate will affect millions of drivers and a demand that size will quickly wipe out supplies leaving many drivers waiting until manufactures can build up more inventory.” said Riegel.
For more information, visit the Blue Ink Technology website.
