Electronic Logging Devices are essential tools used by truck drivers on their daily routes. These devices help fleet-operating businesses to operate smoothly by tracking the vehicle’s diagnostics. By connecting to the truck’s engine, the ELD records driving data, engine hours, ignition status, location, miles driven, and much more. With these statistics, business can better understand their routes and how to optimize them.

As an incredibly vital tool in a fleet-operating business, ELD failure can be a massive headache. Not only will it effect productivity, it can also result in higher costs due to unoptimized routes. An ELD failure may also mean that you cannot use the connected vehicle since they are required by law to be operational.

Your bottom line will be effected by ELD Failures

What To Do When An ELD Failure Occurs:

As soon as a malfunction or failure is detected, you must inform your carrier within 24 hours. The carrier then has 8 days to repair, service, or replace the ELD.

Hours of Service data (HOS) may be recorded using paper logs or a secondary system. Recording HOS data is an ELD’s primary function, so when this goes down, you must be able to keep track of the data in the meantime. Your carriers may also extend the period of time for repair or replacement by contacting the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)

How To Prepare For Failures:

The best practice you can implement to curb ELD failures is to train your drivers on how to diagnose, troubleshoot, and assess any potential issues. This is a cost effective method so that you don’t have to spend money on repairs through a third-party company or through your carrier. This will also help save time on repairs and replacements if your drivers successfully resolve the issues themselves.

What Do ELD Failures Look Like?:

ELD Failures come in many different forms. Some of the most common failures occur with the data diagnostics communicated by the ELD, rendering them completely invalid. Data diagnostic issues can be the result of physical mechanical failures, a loss of GPS, or a simple connectivity issue. Another common, yet simple failure, is the event that the ELD disconnects from the Engine Control Module. To help save time on diagnostics, the ELD may notify the drivers whenever a malfunction takes place.

Other more serious issues include loss of power, mechanical malfunctions, and data record failures.

For more information on how you can save on costs as a business, keep an eye out for more content on the Watchdog Management Services blog!