When it comes to the number of continuous hours they are permitted to drive without taking a break, truck drivers are required to adhere to the regulations established by the FMCSA.
In the long term, electronic logbooks can save trucking, transportation, and service companies time and money by providing precise records of driver activity and vehicle operating data.
The Log Department's job is to make sure that drivers adhere to the truck driver log requirements set forth in chapter 395 of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's regulations (the green and white book PAM provides to all of its drivers at orientation). Drivers are accountable for compliance; state Department of Transportation officers anticipate it of a qualified driver.
Experts say, “A small tablet computer must be installed in a truck cab to serve as an electronic logbook. Some gadgets can be hand-carried by a driver and have mobile functionality. The motor vehicle may also have data-gathering sensors to measure variables like engine temperature, fuel usage, motion, and speed. The recorded information about the vehicle and the driver may be automatically sent to a location or saved for later use, such as timekeeping or review during a vehicle inspection”.
Experts in the trucking industry mention some of the best electronic logbook software tools for 2023
Drivers who work in other industries or whose professions don't require them to keep track of their driving time may find the idea of trucker logbooks alien. Trucker logbooks, however, are a vital safety tool. Too much time spent behind the wheel (or even being on duty but not driving) can cause weariness and raise the risk of accidents.
By keeping track of the trucker's actions throughout a 24-hour period and ensuring that he or she is getting enough time off to allow for proper relaxation and sleep, trucker logbooks can help to solve some issues. The logbooks are also used to assess a trucker's weekly actions as a whole and make sure he or she is taking enough time off each week.
By requiring truckers to record their daily and weekly actions and ensure that the maximum number of hours is within the maximum, trucking logbooks assist in preventing these issues and oversights.
To meet the regulatory deadlines and successfully execute adoption across their fleets, a number of trucking businesses and other organizations have already converted to ELDs. As a result, many people have started to benefit from the advantages that this technology provides.
A trucking company can save time and money by using electronic logging devices. It contributes to the bottom line by cutting expenses and raising production. A driver may be able to spend more time driving and less time filling out paperwork or waiting at inspection stations if they use an ELD. It can even lessen the need for unforeseen maintenance, minimizing unneeded vehicle and driver downtime.
Through research, experts emphasize that through electronic logging, businesses can increase efficiency and profitability in the following ways:
A log book keeps track of the overall hours spent driving and taking breaks, as well as a thorough breakdown of the precise hours spent on and off duty.
Duty hours, driving hours, and sleeping hours all need to be recorded in the log. Commercial trucks have electronic logging devices fitted that are connected to the engines to record the amount of time the truck is moving. With an electronic logging device, truck drivers can avoid having their licenses suspended and receiving fines and citations.
People always ask experts, “What size truck needs a log book, and when do I need one?”
Commercial vehicle drivers must adhere to HOS regulations, with limited exceptions, if any of the following situations exist:
Drivers had to utilize paper trucking logbooks in the past, which may be tedious and challenging to keep up with. Many processes are automated by the new ELDs.
Your ELD will establish a direct connection with the computer in your truck, enabling it to fleet access a wealth of data directly. It will keep track of your engine's running time, mileage, GPS system location data, and tracking data like your employee ID, truck tags, and cargo numbers.
You must also keep a detailed hour-by-hour journal of your own activities. Off-duty, sleeping, driving, and on-duty (not driving) are the four divisions of this. These fields frequently auto-fill as well, especially when you're on duty.
The bad news is that ELDs are expensive; the lowest price they can cost is up to $1,000 for top-of-the-line devices, with an average price of a few hundred dollars. If you work directly for a shipping company, their trucks ought to be equipped with LEDs. If you're independent, however, you'll need to get your own ELD. By 2020, both Canada and the US will have made electronic logging a requirement.
But once you obtain your ELD, it's straightforward to use and makes managing all the red tape you have to deal with much easier.
In the past, people used writing to make their memories and notes observable and palpable. These days, you have more instruments to measure and, consequently, manage all facets of your organization thanks to electronic logbook software. These technologies, which are based on the proverb that "knowledge is power," give you more information about your company and give you the ability to improve it.
We took this video from The Trucking Guy YouTube Channel.
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