The FMCSA has been active recently in removing certain electronic logging devices (ELDs) from its approved list. ELDs are important for trucking companies, as they help them keep more accurate hours-of-service records, among other things. So, what does ELD revocation mean for your truck? What can you do when the FMCSA no longer recognizes your device?
What is an ELD?
An ELD is a small device that keeps track of a lot of trucking activities. In the past, truck drivers would all need to keep a detailed notebook that logged all of their activities on the road. This process relied on truckers keeping their information organized, which was often one of their last concerns.
ELDs make recordkeeping a lot cleaner and easier. They use technology to automatically organize and maintain truckers’ records. However, not all ELDs do this well enough for the FMCSA to get on board.
What is ELD revocation?
The FMCSA has a set of minimum requirements for ELDs that every device has to meet. These requirements ensure that an ELD will be able to keep track of a driver’s records in a variety of circumstances. Truckers often wind up in places where service is bad or nonexistent. They also deal with mechanical issues and accidents that can affect the functioning of their devices. If an ELD cannot handle these circumstances for any reason, then the FMCSA will remove it from its list of approved ELDs. This has already happened three times in 2023, so it’s not exactly uncommon.
What can you do about it?
Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to predict which ELDs will get revoked. The FMCSA isn’t exactly transparent about how often it checks ELDs and what exactly it looks for. The best thing you can do for your business is to stay up-to-date on the latest FMCSA news. If it catches you using a revoked ELD, it will consider you to be operating without an ELD, which carries serious penalties. So, you should make sure to pay attention if your ELD winds up in the news. Beyond that, replacing your revoked ELD with a legal one quickly is the best thing you can do. After all, one of the most important things a trucker can strive for is compliance.
