Reasons Why You Need My20 ELD
The process of transitioning to ELDs can be complicated and time-consuming. With the deadline growing closer and closer, waiting until the last minute to get your ELD is not a good idea.
In our recent Facebook poll, only 12.5% of drivers responded that they are compliant with the ELD mandate. That’s a very small number, especially considering the deadline for ELD compliance is four months away. What’s the deal?
With all of the current legislation and rumors swirling around concerning the ELD mandate, drivers don’t know what to expect come December. Yes, there is a new bill to delay the ELD mandate two years to December 2019 – but with the way things are looking right now, it is unlikely that the bill will pass. Here’s why you shouldn’t delay transitioning to ELDs.
Transitioning to ELDs takes time.
When we asked truckers what their game plans were for getting compliant, 21% said that they are waiting until December to start considering their options. Why go through the trouble to implement an ELD until you absolutely need to, right?
Not quite. With all the options available nowadays, choosing the right ELD provider for you can be time-consuming. Additionally, many drivers underestimate how long it will take them to get comfortable with their ELDs. ELDs, like any piece of technology, come with a learning curve. You need time to work out the kinks and get adjusted to a new way of logging your HOS. If you wait until the last minute to pull the trigger and purchase an ELD, you may pay for it after December 18th when a small mistake could result in noncompliance.
There may be a shortage of ELDs come December.
Currently, many ELD providers are growing more and more concerned that the demand for ELDs will outweigh the supply for them, resulting in a possible shortage.
Even though there are many ELDs out there that are in the form of an app, like the MY20 ELD, you still need hardware to connect to the engine of your truck. If too many small fleets and owner-operators wait until mid-December to purchase an ELD, suppliers could struggle to keep up with orders – and you definitely don’t want to be caught without an ELD after December 18th.
The December 2017 deadline probably won’t get pushed back.
Since its introduction back in 2015, the history of the ELD mandate has been a roller coaster of lawsuits and appeals. The OOIDA took a lawsuit challenging the ELD mandate all the way to the Supreme Court, but it was ultimately declined. Then, in July, a bill was introduced by U.S. Representative Brian Babin to delay the ELD implementation deadline two years. While there is a very small possibility that the deadline could be pushed back to December 2019, drivers and fleets shouldn’t bank on it. The FMSCA is not backing down, and it is even embarking on a national tour to help educate drivers about ELDs ahead of the December deadline.
So, if you’re a trucker that is holding out on getting compliant because of the recent House bill, don’t count on it being successful.
Now is the Time to Take Action
The ELD mandate is happening, and you don’t want to be caught off guard in December with no time to get prepared. If you’re really against making a purchase right now, you can at least begin the process of looking around at your options. Start doing your research – weigh the features and benefits of each ELD. Once you’ve narrowed it down to a few, see if you can get a demo of each ELD to see if it would really work for you. Konexial offers free test drives for our MY20 app – no commitment or purchase necessary. If you’re interested, get in touch with us!