Once the final rule for Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) is published–possibly by the Summer of 2015 according to DOT on May 5—then the trucking companies will have two years to comply (i.e., Summer of 2017).
What I want to find out is: Why are they allowed two years? What takes so long to get ELDs installed?
That’s what I am going to investigate.
It looks like part of the situation is the need for a management system which will monitor the ELDs:
“Other provisions state that every motor carrier will have to set up and use an hours-of-service management system to detect and prevent violations. This has always been a best practice. Now it would become a requirement when the rule is finalized. This management system will likely include the use of supporting documents that carriers generate or receive in the normal course of business. The rule will specify the exact criteria these documents will have to meet.” http://truckcompliance.com/industry-updates/elds-electronic-logging-devices-matter/
But why two years?
Here are details on the rule-making process:
”So, to break down the EOBR / ELD mandate process so far:
The road to the ELD mandate began when Congress passed MAP-21 in June 2012.
The president signed MAP-21 shortly thereafter, requiring the FMCSA to write a rule requiring use of electronic logging devices, or EOBRs, for all drivers that keep a Record Of Duty Status—about 3.1 million trucks and 3.4 million drivers today.
The FMCSA developed a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM) that was sent to the Office of the Secretary, who approved it and sent it back to the FMCSA in July 2013.
From there, the rule moved over to OMB, where it cleared today, March 12, 2014.
The FMCSA will keep the rule for the next two weeks, eventually publishing the SNPRM for public comment.
A comment period will then take place, published as 60 days, giving anyone a chance to add their feedback.
The FMCSA will take those public comments and revise the rule, a process that can take between six and nine months.
According to these time frames, we can estimate a final rule to be published in the first calendar quarter of 2015.
Based on MAP-21 requirements, fleets will have two years to comply with these rules—meaning you will be required to implement an EOBR for an Electronic Logging Device by January 2017 at the latest.”
Taken from: http://eobr.com/eobr-news/eobr-mandate/eld-mandate-clears-omb/#more-849
