Soft Enforcement As Canadian ELD Mandate Goes Into Effect June 2021

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After many discussions which began in 2019, the Canadian ELD mandate requiring the use of ELDs will go into effect in three months on June 12, 2021 and will replace paper-based daily logbooks.

However, the minister of transport just announced that there will be no hard enforcement in the beginning due to the country’s difficulty in certifying ELD devices.

To date, there are no third-party tested and certified devices listed on Transport Canada’s website.

“This will give sufficient time for the industry to obtain and install certified electronic logging devices without penalty as of June 12, 2021,” Alghabra said in a statement issued March 2. “Early enforcement measures will consist of education and awareness.”

Cross border carriers and U.S. ELD manufacturers have raised concerns over whether U.S. devices approved for use in the U.S. will also be acceptable to Canadian authorities.

ELD providers must not only invest in changes to meet these new requirements but also pay an expensive fee ($50,000+) to an independent certification facility for each hardware variant.

 

What is an ELD or electronic logging device?

Commercial driver fatigue is a long-standing road safety issue that the United States has addressed through the use of ELDs.

The Canadian mandate closely follows the U.S. rules and operability requirements, but each mandate has unique variations that drivers and carriers across both countries must be aware of to remain productive and profitable.

There are many advantages to using ELDs, but the main purpose is to ensure that commercial drivers remain within their daily driving limit and accurately log their working hours. If commercial drivers are not within the regulated limit, there may be fines associated with the violation.

The use of ELDs also reduces administrative burdens, such as eliminating the need for paper daily logs and reducing the time enforcement officers need to verify regulatory compliance.

These new electronic logs for truckers are aligned with the United States road safety regulations and will support economic growth, trade, and transportation on both sides of the border.

After extensive research and consultation, Transport Canada has implemented a third-party certification process will be put in place to ensure that the electronic logging devices will be accurate and reliable.

Other important facts about the Canadian ELD mandate:

• Transport Canada is committed to aligning with vehicle regulations in the United States.
• Aligning Canadian and US electronic logging device regulations will allow Canadian and US operators to use the same logging device in both countries.
• ELD data transfers are different as Canadian regulations require carriers to send detailed log reports in PDF format and for a longer period of time (14 days vs. 8 days in the US) and, at inspection, drivers will transfer logs directly to officers not to a centralized database.
• Canadian-certified ELDs must be capable of notifying the driver at least 30 minutes in advance of reaching any duty-/driving-hour limitation.
• Transport Canada estimates that requiring the use of electronic logs for truckers will reduce the risk of fatigue-related collisions by approximately 10 percent.

 

ELD Questions? Our ELD Specialist can assist

There are multiple options to fit the needs of today’s fleet, and when it comes to compliance and the ability to expand to do more, there is no better solution than ELD Chrome, built on the award-winning OneView platform from Pedigree Technologies.

Pedigree Technologies’ OneView is preparing to have their ELD system ready and fully compliant for the Canadian ELD mandate starting on June, 12, 2021.

With over 12 years of experience in the ELD business (formerly AOBRDs), Pedigree Technologies has developed the most compliant, intuitive, and reliable solutions on the market. Drivers and fleet managers alike appreciate the ease of use and the superior support they receive.

Simplified and practical ELD, HOS, and DVIR management with IFTA management option, critical data recording, and automated reports, save office staff time while reducing errors and improving accuracy. ELD Chrome eliminates the need for paper logs and inspections by recording all data electronically, tracking (HOS) to meet FMCSA regulations, and reducing manual paperwork. It also offers the ability to expand beyond ELD, giving you both compliance and access to additional OneView applications.”

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