Marc's Safety Corner BigRoad

Dear Marc,

We have been notified by DOT inspectors in Northern Ontario that we are required to have the trailer plate number in the top of our Elog and not only in the inspection portion. We received a warning and were told that the next time it will be a $385.00 fine. Would you be able to please clarify?

Scroll further for U.S. requirements.

Download this eBook that will help you view the ELD mandate with a new and positive perspective. Learn about the challenges facing the industry, violations, consequences, and more! 

We are demystifying how a Facility Audit is managed in Ontario and, more specifically, how the vehicle preventative maintenance (PM) profile is scored. 

As a former DOT Auditor, I can attest to the fact that being selected for a Compliance Review (C.R.) is not always the most pleasant of experiences for a motor carrier. That being said a C.R. of a motor carrier’s safety program records could be relatively issue free if the motor carrier’s management team and staff understand the regulations that they are subject to, and what records an Auditor will expects to review during the C.R.

With the ELD mandate in full effect in the United States, the Government of Canada has unveiled a draft of its own ELD plan north of the 49th parallel. As you will note below, the proposed regulations on electronic logging devices has a number of similarities with the U.S. mandate in terms of the overall purpose and specifications.

For specifics, please click here.

Much like the case with the U.S. ELD rules, the electronic logging regulations in Canada will apply to federally regulated motor carriers and commercial drivers of trucks and buses.

Some provincial jurisdiction may adopt the federal rules by reference, or may elect to follow the strategy of some U.S. States by adopting an ELD mandate at a later date. No further information is known on such timelines at time of writing.

Transport Canada announced the new regulations on December 18, 2017, which coincidentally occurred on the same day that ELD compliance formally came into effect in the U.S. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has also allowed a phased in compliance based on specific circumstances.

There has been a lot of mixed feedback from the field with regards to the ELD adoption. Some love it, some hate it, some are trying to keep their heads above the water. The response from fleets on the subject of the ELD rule-making highly depends on the carrier, the hauling destination, and the type of business.

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Backhaul is a very commonly used term in the trucking industry. Truckers are able to make more money with these types of loads. Leveraging backhaul helps optimize their cargo-carrying opportunities to reduce unladen miles in order improve bottom line when running a trucking business.

There was a big ripple effect after the ELD rollout that some industry participants did not anticipate. Some ELD vendors were forced to fold. Motor carriers had to adjust to the new time schedules. Truck terminals had to make more accommodations. Take a look at the chain reaction that took place.