Isaac Instruments has received mandatory third-party certification in Canada for its electronic logging devices (ELDs). The formal certification from FPInnovations on behalf of Transport Canada comes after months of evaluation and testing of Isaac’s ELD solution that automatically tracks hours-of-service requirements. Canada’s ELD mandate went into effect on June 12, but provinces and territories are not yet enforcing the rules due to the challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic and because no ELD was certified by a third party prior to the implementation date. Instead, progressive enforcement is being phased into law over a 12-month period.
The rule applies to nearly all truck drivers operating in Canada, including those crossing the border from the U.S.
The regulation, which is similar to the mandate already in place in the U.S., aims at reducing the risk of fatigue-related collisions. In the U.S., ELD manufacturers are allowed to self-certify their devices, with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) maintaining a list of registered devices. Carriers are ultimately responsible if their ELD malfunctions.
However, any device used in Canada, including those by U.S.-based fleets crossing the border, must receive third-party certification. As a result, the responsibility falls on the vendor to take action should a device malfunction. The objective of this approach is to protect carriers by ensuring that an independent authority has validated that ELDs comply with technical requirements and cannot be falsified.
For carriers based in both Canada and the U.S., the company says its solution can enable fleets to remain in compliance and also optimize overall operations.
