Dallas Electronic Logbook for Trucks

Every motor carrier and truck driver, in December 2017, had to start using an “Electronic Logbook Device,” or as it’s also called, an “ELD.” Due to work from the FMCSA, this has been coming since December 2015. We’ve found that some of even the most experienced truck drivers or owner operators don’t realize all of the different opportunities that are possible through an electronic logbook. We can sit down with you to show you how it works, how to integrate, and how it can help your business.

Gasoline powers the trucking business, but now it’s also powered by data reporting. What these electronic logbook devices can do is make the process of recording data that much easier. In the modern trucking world, with so much to keep in mind, this easy data reporting can be more important than ever. Electronic logbook devices, for example, use “RODS.” That’s an acronym for “Records on Duty Status.” You can track these RODS simply with ELDs. That information can prove invaluable when you’re figuring out to best run your company. With this information in hand, you’ll see where you can pull back some funding, as well as where some more should be spent and a host of other benefits. Information is critical to running your business as well as possible.

RODS are far from the only thing that one of these logbooks can do. You don’t have to keep track of your info on your own, for example. All you have to do is connect it to the engine. From there, it keeps track of how your motor’s performing without you having to do a thing. This eliminates the guesswork and assumptions from engine maintenance. Now, you’ll know the complete truth.

There’s never been a better way to keep track of a driver’s time. ELDs make it simple. Your drivers just have to press a button. That’s all it takes to go to “On-Duty,” “Off-Duty,” and “On-Duty Not Driving.” Status updates don’t have to come down to an interpretation. This makes it easier on your drivers as well as yourself.

In the very recent past, it wasn’t easy to keep track of your drivers’ hours. You had to spend hours tying it all into a computer or writing it all down. You don’t have to do that now with an ELD. Instead, you can share it just by pressing a few buttons. With Bluetooth, a USB or some other wireless web service, you can share it quickly and simply.

Yes, the ELDs are mandatory, but they can be a real boon for your business. Accessing them electronically saves you and your employees’ time. You don’t have to hire additional administrative helpers to type in all that work. You’ll save paper, which will help the environment, too. Then, you can do all of your paperwork just by pressing a few buttons. No more file cabinets, no more boxes stacked in a room somewhere.

With ELDs, you’re bringing your business into the future. You can cut down on clutter, unnecessary administrative work and so much more. It can help your business in so many ways.

An ELD can have many different prices. Not one single cost exists. You can get them from $150 to $800 or anywhere in between. In our time with these, we’ve found that the difference tends to rely on the vehicle they’re in. On average, they cost $500.

Yes, we did say that these ELDs are mandatory. That being said, there are exemptions. Companies that can be exempted from them but use them anyway usually do learnt that ELDs can save them money. Some of our clients, however, still don’t want them. To be clear, you are exempt from having to use these ELDs should you:

Not be the owner of a CMV (commercial motor vehicle) as a tow away driver.

Have a CMV that uses an engine that was manufactured before the year 2000.

Drive on one hundred or one hundred-fifty air-mile hauls that don’t track RODS. Even then, this only applies to certain drivers. As with all exemptions and everything else, we can walk you through the specifics.

Use RODS tracking for less than eight days a given, 30-day period.

Many of our clients don’t meet these standards but still would prefer to keep an ELD out of their truck. You can still, of course, apply for an exemption. In that case, you would use tracking processes of the past. Before you do that though, we do recommend giving ELDs a chance. We even offer training, so that you can get up to speed on them rather quickly. Your vehicles can be ELD quickly and completely before the inspection comes around.