ELD Mandate FAQ: Should you wait to implement ELD?

The deadline to comply with the ELD mandate is December 18th of this year — but things get a little confusing beyond that. With protests, petitions, House bills, and everything in between, the facts surrounding the mandate are getting fuzzy. We get questions every day from drivers who are confused by all the conflicting information they’re getting about the status of the mandate, and whether they need to grab their ELDs now, wait until April 1st, or not worry about it at all. Today, we’re updating you on the latest news, laying down the current facts, and sharing our thoughts about where drivers should be on their ELD journey at this point in the game.

Let’s get started with the facts. *As of November 22, 2017

1. The ELD mandate deadline is still on for December 18th, 2017.
2. If you’re caught driving without an ELD from December 18th to April 1st of next year, you won’t be placed out of service.
3. If you receive a violation for not having an ELD before April 1st, you will not have points recorded against your Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) score.
4. Unless you are exempt or are using AOBRDs, you still risk citations and fines if you don’t have an ELD after December 18th, 2017.
5. The rules for exemption seem to be changing every week. Here is the most updated information on exemptions from the FMCSA. If you’re an ag hauler, check out this handy exemption fact sheet.

So, to put it simply, if you are required to comply with the ELD mandate, you’ll only get a fine, warning, or citation before April 1st. After that date, though, you’ll risk getting points against your CSA score or worse, being placed out of service.

So, where should you be on your ELD compliance timeline?

It’s estimated that up to one million truckers have yet to purchase an electronic logging device. Some are waiting for the December deadline, others are waiting until April, and some are still holding out hope that Rep. Brian Babin’s letter urging President Trump to delay the mandate will pull through. Either way, there’s less than a month until the compliance deadline, so it’s time to make a decision on ELDs now — are you going to get compliant in December, or wait until April 1st and risk the potential of fines and citations? Either way, you know you won’t be placed out of service. But are the fines really worth it? Think about it for a second — would you rather pay hundreds of dollars in fines, or be covered from now until the April deadline for as little as $45 (just $15 per month)?

We hope we have helped clear up some of the confusion you may have had about all the different dates, rules, and rumors surrounding the ELD mandate. If you’re thinking about getting compliant by the December deadline, check out the My20 ELD. It’s simple, user-friendly, and packed with all the features owner-operators need. Plus, at just $20 a month, it’s affordable for any budget.

Got more questions about the mandate? Ready for an ELDs now? We’re here for you. Give us a call!