Like Christmas, the U.S. ELD mandate will be here before you know it.
Christmastime and the ELD mandate coincide this year. December 18, 2017 is the deadline for truck drivers and carriers begin users an ELD or grandfathered AOBRD.
But that’s not the only important date. And if you’re a carrier in Canada, dates and deadlines are less specific at the time when we’re writing this post. How are you to know when to prepare?
If you’re confused about when you need to prepare for the ELD mandate in Canada or the U.S., read on. We’ve got all the important dates lined up in our post so that you can avoid steep HOS penalties and enhance safety culture within your fleet.
Important Dates for ELD Mandate in Canada
As the Canadian Trucking Alliance reports on the ELD mandate, Transport Canada should issue its Gazette I Notice sometime this summer. This would include a phase-in period for the regulation (including some grandfathering protection for existing electronic recording devices).
By the end of 2017, Gazette II (the Final Rule), is likely to be issued. This will “spell out the transition timeframes and compliance date for ELDs in Canada”.
Summary: Start looking at ELD solutions for your fleet now so that you will be ahead of the game for the phase-in period that is likely to take effect by the end of summer in 2017. While the deadlines in Canada for the ELD mandate are less concrete, Transport Canada intends to synchronize as much of the Final Rule with the U.S. ELD mandate as possible, so one can anticipate a similar timeline.
Important Dates for ELD Mandate in the United States
The FMSCA implementation timeline has three phases:
- Awareness & Transition
- Phased-in Compliance
- Full Compliance
As of the publication of this post, we are amidst the Awareness & Transition phase, which has been in effect since February 16, 2016 (sixty days after the Federal Register published the rule).
Awareness & Transition ends on December 18, 2017. Phased-In Compliance will extend from the 18th of December 2017 until December 16, 2019. During this time, carriers will need to have ELD or continue to use grandfathered AOBRD (these devices must be installed prior to December 18, 2017).
After December 16, 2019, “all drivers and carriers in the U.S. will be required to track HOS using only registered and compliant ELDs”. This marks the Full Compliance phase.
So what should you do next? Here’s our assessment:
What to do right now:
- Speak with your AOBRD provider about what is offered for transitioning to ELD within their solutions.
- Gather information from competing ELD solution providers to assist with comparing prices, user experience, and FCSMA certification.
- Prepare your staff for the transition by opening up communication on AOBRD versus ELD and HOS safety culture.
What to do by September 2017:
- Make your decision on which ELD solution provider you want to work with
- Begin implementation within your organization.
What to do if you want to continue using AOBRD:
- Ensure your AOBRD meets the requirements of 49 CRF 395.15.
- Alert your drivers to your plan and let them know what your transition timeline will look like and how it will impact their hours.
- Talk to your AOBRD driver and explore your options for ELD transition no later than January 2019 so that you will be prepared for the Full Compliance phase deadline on December 16, 2019.
Be prepared for the ELD mandate in Canada and the U.S.
There’s no such thing as being too prepared for the major changes that are about to hit the trucking industry. Learn more about affordable, streamlined ELD solutions from GPS Commander here and book your free demo today!
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