Warning signs: How to know if your ELD solution isn’t the “one”

Warning signs: How to know if your ELD solution isn’t the ‘one’

There are three key warning signs that fleet managers and drivers should take note of in this early stage of implementation—either to help course-correct with their existing vendors or, as a last resort, find a new vendor within the eight-day deadline the FMCSA has given businesses to replace their ELD solution if needed.

Zonar-Tablet-NEW

It’s been about six months since the ELD mandate went into effect. We’ve all read about vendors scrambling to manage unexpected traffic loads, frustrated drivers still trying to learn how to use the new technology, and increasing questions about how businesses and inspectors will take into account situations beyond a driver’s control (e.g., being stuck in traffic and HOS, etc.). This maelstrom of confusion was to be expected with the new regulations—any time there’s a new law or piece of legislation that impacts our industry, people will have questions and concerns, since non-compliance can impact their business’s bottom line.

Despite being only a few months in, businesses may already suspect that their existing ELD solution isn’t a good fit for their fleet. There are three key warning signs that fleet managers and drivers should take note of in this early stage of implementation—either to help course-correct with their existing vendors or, as a last resort, find a new vendor within the eight-day deadline the FMCSA has given businesses to replace their ELD solution if needed.

1. Lack of service and support

With vehicles on the road at any given time, it’s imperative that a support representative be reachable and responsive to any issues a driver may have. This is the most basic and, yet, crucial kind of support that a vendor should be able to provide and one that a business must have full confidence in. If a driver has a device malfunction in the middle of their route, someone needs to be on the other line of that call to pick up and help. Along with timely roadside support, a vendor should be able to offer in-depth, comprehensive training for fleet managers and drivers at all levels of comfort and knowledge with technology. After all, they developed their solution; they should be able to train users on how to use it accurately.

2. Confusion regarding the mandate and beyond

Because the ELD mandate is so complex and nuanced, vendors should be able to demonstrate a deep understanding of the mandate and how it impacts the business of their customers. Not only are there hundreds of annotations, businesses are expected to be in full compliance now with ELDs or AOBRDS regardless of their own understanding of the legislation. An ELD vendor should act as a partner and have the ability to provide counsel when it comes to staying compliant, and they should be able to show customers how ELDs can further provide positive business changes beyond the mandate.

3. Device Difficulty for Drivers and Enforcement Officers

Is the device easily accessible for roadside view inspections? Are drivers, even ones that are familiar with ELDs, struggling to figure out how to use their devices? Is there a significant lag when a driver tries to enter data? Does the device feel flimsy and not built to stand up to the rigors of trucking? It seems simple enough, but it should be noted that an ELD device needs to be easy to use for people both inside and outside the vehicle, and should be built to last. If the learning curve seems too high or too lengthy for drivers to overcome in a relatively short amount of time, then it’s not designed for ease of use. The last thing a driver should worry about during an inspection is for law enforcement to have issues with the device, or getting cited for not displaying it properly.

The old adage “better late than never” applies here: the mandate is new and everyone is still adjusting, making it imperative that fleet managers keep a close eye on their ELD vendor and whether or not the solution they chose meets the needs of their drivers and the business. One or two issues may be resolved with a simple conversation about expectations, but if a fleet manager experiences multiple red flags, like a lag or even absence of customer service support, a vendor having trouble answering simple questions about the mandate, or even ongoing device issues, it may be time to consider other vendors.

This article was contributed by Fred Fakkema, vice president of compliance at Zonar.

You May Also Like

Isaac Instruments celebrates 25 years

While marking a quarter-century in business, ISAAC instruments is also celebrating 10 years exclusively focused on helping fleets succeed.

logo-ISAAC-25-years

Isaac Instruments announced it is celebrating its 25th anniversary as a provider of telemetry data to the transportation industry. As part of the yearlong celebration, Isaac unveiled a 25th anniversary logo and is planning anniversary-themed giveaways at trucking industry events throughout 2024.

“Isaac Instruments has 25 years’ experience developing technology for vehicles, with many of these years focused on research and development of OEM prototypes,” explained Jacques DeLarochelliere, co-founder and chief executive officer of Isaac. “We were initially involved in projects that were extremely sophisticated and complex.”

Merchants Fleet hires AI expert Suzannah Hicks

Merchants Fleet says Hicks will work to implement AI-driven solutions to optimize operations, enhance efficiency and drive cost savings for the company and clients.

Merchants-Fleet-hires-AI-expert-Suzannah-Hicks
Noregon adds Fault Guidance, bi-directional testing to JPRO

The new JPRO update also includes an optional Technician as a Service (TaaS) add-on.

Noregon-JPRO-update
Powerfleet, MiX Telematics approved for business combination

The combination is expected to be complete in the first week of April, after which the businesses will be branded as Powerfleet.

Powerfleet-x-MiX-telematics-integration
Scania speeds up autonomous transport pilot program

Equipped with Plus, Scania has been testing its trucks in Sweden since 2021 — now it plans to expand operations throughout Europe, this year.

SCANIA-Logo-vector

Other Posts

IRS clarifies: RNG cleaning and conditioning equipment eligible for tax credit

RNG Coalition notes a correction to an investment tax credit proposal regarding RNG cleaning and conditioning equipment.

RNG-Coalition-logo-ITC-technical-correction
Stellantis and UFOFleet form partnership

Stellantis says it chose UFOFleet for its proven customer experience, flexible technology and deployments with leading global brands.

UFO-Fleet-Stellantis
SKF helps Maverick Transportation keep wheels attached

Having a wheel fly off while driving can be catastrophic, and SKF says TraX and Road Ready help catch issues early.

SKF-Road-Ready-TraX-wheel-telematics-Maverick-Transportation
FieldRoutes announces ServiceTitan Fleet Pro integration

The company says this integration helps customers to eliminate side jobs, prevent unsafe driving, maximize billable hours and more.

service-maintenance-data-generic-1400