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The Electronic Logging Device (ELD) is one of the most preferred tools in the fleet industry for getting the real-time location of vehicles, monitoring driving behavior, and receiving time-to-time notifications.
ELD intends to improve efficiency and productivity in operations while maintaining compliance requirements.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has made it mandatory for commercial vehicles to use the ELD to access, record, and deliver the automobile and driver-related information.
Electronic Logging devices are FMCSA-compliant and DOT-certified electronic solutions that can help optimize fleet operations and reduce operating costs.
The ELD technology is rapidly developing and adapting to fulfill the requirements of fleet business owners for achieving compliance, safety, and efficiency.
How Does ELD Works?
An Electronic Logging Device (ELD) works in sync with the automobile engine to collect data that indicates vehicle performance, fuel efficiency, maintenance needs, etc.
It records Hours of Service (HoS) and generates electronic logs for monitoring and analysis. The ELD provides data about the vehicle and driving performance that helps make timely and informed decisions.
The ELDs are certified to comply with FMCSA regulations with automated data collection and reporting facilities. Two types of ELDs are available in the market that is suitable for supporting fleet operations.
One type is Bring Your Device (BYOD), which you can easily plug into the vehicle and access through remote digital devices.
The second type is a fixed and wired hardware device connected to the truck and requires technical assistance for installation and removal.
The Objective of Using ELD
The role of ELD is quite significant in an effective fleet management system to ensure efficiency, compliance, and resource utilization.
It also helps monitor risky driving behaviors, road conditions, traffic rules, and safety norms. ELDs allow the creation of a system with minimum human intervention, resulting in better productivity and efficiency.
The potential benefits that an ELD can offer to fleet businesses are as follows:
- The GPS-enabled ELD systems can map the unpredictable traffic and road conditions and allow managers to optimize routes that improve efficiency in operations.
- The advanced features of ELD allow diagnosing and sending predictive indications about faults to help in necessary maintenance activities.
- The ELD system helps to create safe driving conditions and reduce the chances of violations by managing the driver’s duty status and performance.
- The ELD technology allows managers to access and analyze information to take appropriate actions ensuring safety, productivity, and cost control.
Significance of ELD in Fleet Business
An effective ELD system can provide ample benefits to the fleet business. Many companies are entering the ELD market with feature-rich products that help fleet businesses streamline operations and optimize costs.
You need to analyze the features and benefits provided by the vendor in terms of fulfilling your requirements.
The ELD has features and capabilities to support fleet businesses to remain resourceful, efficient, and safety compliant. The various benefits of ELDs as achieved by fleet business owners are as follows:
1. Real-time Location Update
The ELD is a GPS-enabled device that keeps tracking the accurate location and movement of the trucks.
The ELD also tracks road conditions, traffic congestion, and time factors to help fleet managers make prompt and actionable decisions.
2. Accurate Reporting
The ELD is designed to record data related to HoS, engine diagnostics, driving performance, and preparing accurate reports based on an actual scenario.
The reports are crucial documents to comply with FMCSA regulations for maintaining safety and compliance.
The automated reports based on real-time data enable fleet owners to avoid chances of violations.
3. Route Planning
ELD tracks the predefined routes for trucks and sends notifications in the case of any deviation.
The real-time information allows managers to route optimization considering the delivery schedule, the nature of goods, and road and traffic conditions.
It helps to increase reliability in business by maintaining delivery within the scheduled time.
4. Monitor Driving Behavior
The ELDs are advanced devices that monitor the speed limit, idling conditions, or crossing the defined boundaries and accordingly raise notifications.
This information helps managers control inefficient driving behaviors to optimize the routes that save time and fuel. It also helps carry out maximum deliveries within the specified time.
5. Fuel Management
One of the significant features of ELD is providing data on engine performance, mileage, and fuel efficiency.
It helps managers to make an informed decision for managing fuel consumption and reducing operational costs.
6. Vehicle Diagnostics
The ELD is connected to the diagnostic port of the vehicle’s engine and collects data to prepare reports on engine performance.
These reports provide relevant inputs regarding technical issues and potential faults that might occur.
The managers take prompt decisions accordingly to address the maintenance needs and resolve problems on time to avoid any breakdowns or severe repairs.
7. Better Asset Utilization
The ELD works with combined hardware and software support that makes relevant information easily accessible to managers.
It helps them make strategic and timely decisions to achieve productivity and better asset utilization.
The ELDs can track delays, idling hours, and travel time, allowing managing the driving performance for better asset and resource utilization.
8. IFTA Compliance And CSA Score
The ELD helps maintain records and reports mandatory as per International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA).
The report generation avoids manual intervention, saves paperwork and time, and provides automated data regarding mileage and fuel consumption.
ELD helps fleet businesses improve compliance, safety, and accountability (CSA) scores by taking care of all safety and compliance parameters.
9. Improved Customer Service
The efficiency of fleet operations depends on the delivery of products within the stipulated time.
The ELD in fleet management helps identify discrepancies, provides notifications, facilitates corrective actions, and ensures smooth workflow.
It keeps customers and fleet managers well-informed of the delivery status through transparent and reliable information.
Conclusion
An Electronic Logging Device is a monitoring device that helps maintain better control over fleet operations.
The real-time access and analysis of data help managers make informed decisions toward improving productivity, profitability, and customer service.
The added benefits are time-saving, reduced fuel consumption, and better asset utilization.
The timely data on vehicle performance and service needs helps to schedule maintenance activities and avoid any chances of breakdown and unnecessary repairs.
In the fleet business operation, ELD technology takes care of data collection and report generation so that one can focus more on planning and execution.
ELDs provide reliable and updated data that are easily accessible through a user-friendly mobile app. The fleet business owners use this information to take actionable decisions towards improving productivity, efficiency, and cost.