FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) and the Electronic Logging Device (ELD)

The passage of the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate was thought to possibly be rolled back by President Trump’s de-regulation efforts. The mandate was pending, its expected effects still being studied by Congressional committee. But, perhaps the refusal of the Supreme Court to hear a challenge to the mandate should have foreshadowed the rule becoming a certainty.

And here’s where the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) says things stand as of July 17.  The Department of Transportation’s fiscal 2018 funding bill was passed this mid-July. Despite the fact that MAP-21 requires the use of only the most basic, lowest cost devices that meet the law’s requirements, the House Appropriations Committee admits that the ELD mandate will be: “… one of the most expensive of all transportation rulemakings.”  Lawmakers further admit that the mandate will likely harm small carrier businesses. Yet this seems to be a cost legislators believe American freight carriers are willing to pay in order to improve safety on the nation’s highways. Bearing the stamp of approval from the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), there is no expectation that Congress will overhaul or amend the ELD mandate as it stands.

Other trade groups have also expressed support of the measure as well. Executive vice president of American Trucking Associations (ATA) advocacy efforts, Bill Sullivan, had this to say: “[The ELD mandate] is a rule that will ensure compliance with hours-of-service and improve safety.” It seems that critics and opponents have 60 days to present their concerns and data if there is to be any hope of stalling the final passage, enactment and enforcement of the bill. Considering, however, that representatives from The Trucking Alliance believe there is no valid reason to delay a bill that will save lives with this truck safety measure, it seems that the message is clear.

The ELD mandate is here to stay. For more information on compliance and safety in the freight industry, please contact freight liability experts.