New Regulation on Electronic Logging for Truckers
A fresh regulation comes into effect for truck drivers on Tuesday, mandating the use of specific devices to log their driving hours electronically.
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance announced that it will start enforcing a Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration rule requiring truckers to utilize electronic logging devices (ELDs). These devices must connect to a truck’s engine to accurately record when the vehicle is active.
This regulation aims to enhance safety for truckers by limiting them to a maximum of 11 hours of driving and 14 hours of total work time each day.
However, some drivers express concern that this new requirement could adversely affect their earnings alongside job safety. They fear it transforms a safety initiative into an added pressure to “beat the clock.”
Current Trends in Trucking Company Failures
According to Omnitracs, the price of the most common electronic logging device is approximately $495 per truck.
This ELD mandate arrives during a challenging period for the trucking industry, with companies failing at nearly three times the rate compared to 2018.
Last year saw 310 trucking companies fail, resulting in 2,805 trucks being taken off the roads. This figure was marked as a “historically low rate for trucking company failures,” noted Donald Broughton, a data firm principal. Yet, this year, 795 companies have failed, removing close to 24,000 trucks from national capacity.
Recently, the Celadon Group, the largest provider of international truckload services in North America, closed its operations due to bankruptcy. Other significant companies that have also shut down include New England Motor Freight, which employed over 1,400 drivers, along with HVH Transportation, Falcon Transport, and LME.
