Know the right steps required in getting your fleet ELD-ready. This can help in evaluating your needs, purchase options and installation requirements.
To get an idea of what is involved, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration created a checklist to help ensure that everything is in place before the compliance date. The essential items on this list:
1. Install ELDs and run power-up and functional tests
2. Create logins for drivers, administrators and other users
3. Provide training for drivers on how to:
- Log in
- Respond to unassigned driving hours the ELD records
- Record duty status changes
- Edit records
- Add notes to records to explain any edits or additions
- Certify records – to indicate that they are complete and accurate
- Access records of duty status (RODS) data from the ELD
- Review and understand the ELD printout/display information
- Transfer ELD data by email or Bluetooth to inspectors or law enforcement
- Identify and correct or report data diagnostic issues
- Report ELD malfunctions
4. Make sure that drivers carry the required documents in-cab, including:
- An ELD user manual
- An instruction sheet for transferring HOS data
- An instruction sheet for reporting possible ELD malfunctions
- A supply of paper log sheets as backup
5. Provide training for compliance managers, drivers, administrative personnel, and other ELD users that includes:
- Compliance requirements and processes
- Supporting document requirements and processes
- ELD operation
- Proper editing of records
- ELD data retention
- Understanding and preventing harassment and coercion
- ELD troubleshooting/malfunctions
Full checklists for carriers and drivers are available from the FMCSA: