The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) recently sent a letter to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), urging the agency to support an exemption from the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate for certain small-trucking businesses.
OOIDA is seeking a 5-year exemption. To qualify, motor carriers must be classified as a small business by the Small Business Administration and must have a proven safety record with no attributable at-fault crashes. They also cannot have an unsatisfactory carrier safety rating.
These companies have already proven ELD will not improve their operations, OOIDA said, and it would save small businesses the expense of upgrading technology.
Saving funds is in line with President Donald Trump’s pledge to end many costly and burdensome regulations to small businesses that impede economic growth, OOIDA said.
“FMCSA has already granted several requests for exception from the ELD mandate,” OOIDA said. “Clearly, the agency is capable and willing to provide relief for industries (that) have demonstrated that exceptions will not decrease safety. In this regard, OOIDA’s application for exception is unquestionably consistent with those previously granted and merits approval.”
OOIDA told FMCSA it believed a 90-day relief period is warranted as the agency reviews the applications for waivers and exceptions.