ELD Mandate May Mean Changes in Level of Service

Yesterday (December 18, 2017), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) electronic logging device (ELD) mandate came into effect. Yesterday marked the beginning of phase one of complete ELD adoption.

Phase one’s goal is to raise awareness and offer a transition period for the mandate. And to complement that effort of raising awareness, this blog post aims to do that, as well. We want to raise awareness of the effects of the ELD mandate regarding shipments made today going forward. You can expect a change in your usual level of service, whether it is a small or a significant change depends on the details of a given shipment.

What does this mean for you?

Note: The ramifications of the ELD mandate are not yet known. The below recommendations are guidelines to help mitigate any disturbance to your regular shipments and to prepare you for possibilities.

Many carriers use paper logbooks, which will now be replaced with electronic logbook devices. As with anything becoming electronic, electronic devices remove the ability for human error and for human manipulation.

As such, ELDs are a lot less forgiving and if a driver is 30 minutes away from completing a delivery, the ELD may force the driver to stop for the night. If the driver goes over the allotted driving hours, they can be penalized by having an extended cooldown period before they can drive again.

This means that shipments that used to be overnight or same-day delivery may not be, as the ELD can prevent a driver from completing a delivery if they are near the end of the driving hours.

Not only that, but cost may be affected as well, since carriers may not be able to make as many deliveries per shift as they used to do prior to the ELD mandate.

How do you navigate delays due to the ELD?

Schedule loads a day earlier than you normally do. This should make up for the possible day delay that an ELD may cause. Also, don’t forget to factor in the poor winter weather, as that will inevitably cause delays.

Feel free to call us at 1-877-363-7381 if you have any questions about how best to plan your next loads.

With the ELD mandate in effect now:

  • expect delays for your usual deliveries,
  • cost may increase, and
  • plan your loads a day earlier than usual.

Enlist ADLI Logistics to manage your freight shipping, warehousing, and distribution needs. For more information fill out our contact form or call 1-877-363-7281.