The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will visit six cities this summer and fall to educate commercial drivers on electronic logging devices (ELD).
The devices automatically record driving time to track, manage and share duty status records.
The ELD Implementation National Tour will feature panel discussions and presentations. FMCSA representatives will be available to answer questions.
A rule on ELDs went into effect Feb. 16 with a compliance deadline of Dec. 18 that requires carriers to replace paper logs and automatic onboard recording devices with ELDs. Additionally, they are not required for vehicles model year 1999 or older.
The rule is not without some controversy, however.
The rule was challenged by the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), but was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals. OOIDA petitioned the Supreme Court, but it declined to hear the case.
Trade groups opposing the rule wrote members of Congress and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, urging them to reconsider. Compliance would cost the industry $2 billion, the letter said.
Prices range from $170 to $500 for “bring your own device” systems, and from $400 to $2,000 for dedicated-unit systems.
Most systems also require a monthly subscription fee, beginning at $15.