ELD Makers Back Rule, But Seek Clarifications

This story appears in the March 24 print edition of Transport Topics.

Truck technology vendors said they see no major flaws in the federal government’s new proposal to require electronic logging devices in commercial trucks, but they are seeking further clarification on some facets of the expected rule.

Based on their assessments of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s proposed regulation, most ELD providers said software updates will enable them to meet the proposed technical requirements rather than having to make major hardware changes to their current onboard systems.

FMCSA published its long-awaited proposal on ELDs on March 13. The plan — mandating that all interstate truck drivers implement the use of ELDs two years after the rule becomes final — is intended to enforce hours-of-service rules to mitigate fatigue, eliminate driver harassment and diminish paperwork burdens.

The technology companies want clarity on such matters as security, engine connectivity and data transfer, for example, but they also said the proposed rule would give them enough flexibility to develop a range of new products.

“There weren’t any dramatic surprises, which in our opinion is a good thing,” said PeopleNet President Brian McLaughlin. “It accommodates some existing technology, but it leaves it open for a healthy evolution, moving forward.”

He said PeopleNet doesn’t anticipate any hardware changes being required for the systems it has deployed.

“It’ll require some decent work, but the good news is that it’s all software, based on what we’re seeing today,” McLaughlin said.

PeopleNet has already begun planning for the necessary software changes, but as it does so it would like further clarification on issues such as security and display requirements and the data-transfer process, he said.

Meanwhile, Dale Smith, staff product manager at Omnitracs, said his company’s initial reaction to the proposal has been “very positive,” though it is still being vetted.

However, the rule does need further explanation, including how to handle drivers using trucks for personal conveyance and how to make data available to roadside inspectors, he said.

Any hardware changes would probably be related to the roadside data-delivery process, depending on how the final rule takes shape, Smith said.

Kelly Frey, vice president of product marketing at Telogis, said his company also is seeking better definitions and more details on tamper-proofing, engine connectivity and how to present the logbook data.

He said it’s his understanding that Telogis’ current product would meet the standards identified in the proposal.

“If any changes will be needed, they will probably be software-oriented,” he said.

Rustin Keller, executive vice president and chief operating officer at J.J. Keller & Associates, said he’s pleased that FMCSA’s proposal offers a broad definition of an ELD platform rather than an abundance of detailed technical criteria for the electronic hardware.

“Our view is it actually opens up the field a little bit for more innovation and for companies like ours to excel and drive costs down,” he said.

Keller said his firm will need to prepare software updates and make some tweaks to file formats, but doesn’t see any need for a major architectural change.

Jay Coughlan, CEO at XRS Corp., said his company is “extremely encouraged” by the proposal, which he said will promote safety.

“There will be some changes, but I think it’s going to move forward . . . with the majority of what’s in there,” he said.

XRS is “very comfortable” that it can make any necessary adjustments for its XRS and Turnpike platforms in a “very quick and efficient way,” Coughlan said.

He and Omnitracs’ Smith said their older Omnitracs and XataNet systems would likely require additional work to meet the mandate’s requirements, but customers would probably have migrated to newer technology anyway by the time the “grandfathering” provision expires.

That provision gives fleets that already have logging devices on their trucks two additional years from the compliance date to install new devices if theirs do not meet the technological specifications contained in the proposed rule.

“In general, we have a very positive stance on the rule,” said Jim Rodi, senior vice president of mobile communications at Rand McNally. “Most of what will need to be updated will be software.”

But Rodi said Rand McNally will likely let the rulemaking process play out further before taking a deep dive into those software changes.

“We’ve got plenty of time to adopt any changes,” he said.

Eric Witty, vice president of product management for Cadec Global, said the FMCSA has provided “flexible” answers to some of the more challenging aspects of the mandate.

The options for data transfer will allow vendors to continue to take advantage of new technology “and not be limited by a very specific data transfer method,” he said.

The FMCSA also took a “more open approach” by making ELD providers the responsible party for certifying their devices, he said.