As mandated by a rule issued in 2015 by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), most commercial truckers, including those in the floral industry, are required to use electronic logging devices (ELDs) while operating vehicles with model years 2000 or later.

Violations for non-compliance will be issued beginning December 18.

An ELD is a device attached to a vehicle’s engine that is connected to the internet either by a cellular or satellite connection or both. The ELD monitors and reports functions of the vehicle such as speed, distance traveled and critical events such as hard braking and evasive maneuvers.  The device then sends out two reports — one as a display on the vehicle’s dashboard — of a log that tracks hours of service.  This log must be made available to law enforcement officers upon request during a roadside inspection. The other report is sent directly to the company owning the vehicle.

The rule allows smartphones, tablets and other types of portable devices to be used as a truck’s ELD if it complies with ELD requirements, including having a hardwired connection to the truck’s engine.

The rule does not alter existing regulations outlining the number of hours of rest required during driving times.  Drivers who have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) who travel outside of 100 air miles are required to take a 30-minute rest every eight hours and to log all of their activity during a 24-hour time frame.  An “air mile” is a nautical measurement of distance that excludes any twists or turns.

The rule includes an exemption from the ELD mandate that corresponds to the existing “100/150 Air Mile Exemption” for driving hours.

The FMCSA issued a 90-day delay from compliance with the ELD mandate to agricultural carriers. The delay was issued in response to concerns raised about the welfare of livestock during transport.

The FMCSA noted that as of December 18, 2017, violations for non-compliance with the ELD rule will be issued, but they will not count against a carrier’s Safety Measurement System score. As of April 1, 2018, drivers will be taken out of service for non-compliance.

For more information on the ELD requirement, see the FMCSA website.