FPInnovations, Canada, announced that a new federal mandate is expected to come into effect next year making electronic logging devices (ELDs) mandatory for federally-regulated motor carriers and their drivers. With few exceptions, anyone who currently uses paper logs to keep track of their hours behind the wheel will need to use ELDs beginning in June 2021.
Transport Canada included the mandate in the recently amended Commercial Vehicle Hours of Service Regulation. It comes into effect on 21 June 2021. All provinces and territories are expected to adopt the rules as well. FPInnovations’ transportation research group has extensive experience conducting third-party verifications of several ELD systems for the U.S. market. It is applying that know-how to advise fleet managers in their decision-making and implementation process.
For forest-haul managers, the new regulation may also create challenges in fully optimizing the shift time of drivers and may require changes to how trips are scheduled. Adime Bonsi, a senior transportation researcher with FPInnovations, leads a team that conducts ELD verifications for the U.S. market and is leading the organization’s application to become an ELD certification body in Canada.
The certification process is expected to be in place by this summer. Several ELD suppliers have already contacted FPInnovations’ transportation research group to have their systems certified for the Canadian market. Forest-operation companies can become familiar with developments at Transport Canada by checking this Transport Canada webpage, which has resources and information about ELDs.
Fleets with existing electronic on-board recorders should ask whether their suppliers will have their systems certified for use in Canada. The coming ELD regulations will exclude trucks built before the model year 2000 and for short-term rentals under 30-days. Drivers operating under either a permit or a statutory exemption will also be exempt from having to use an ELD. The terms and conditions of a permit or an exemption can be complex and vary significantly depending on the circumstances.
Source: lesprom.com
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