Within the construction industry, it has become increasingly important for business owners to lower costs and streamline their operations. With the Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate now in effect, regulations for how a driver’s Hours of Service (HOS) are tallied and tracked are standardized and more rigorous.
The mandate can seem overwhelming for business owners and drivers who are doing all they can to deliver on time while watching HOS rules. However, complying with the mandate can be a positive experience even for ELD-exempt businesses. Looking beyond the mandate’s requirements, there are several benefits to using ELDs for construction fleets that help enable a business to get the most out of the device.
The benefits of ELDs
ELD technology can help to keep drivers safe and a business running smoothly in a number of ways, including:
- Promoting compliance and safety: When delivery deadlines are looming, drivers may be tempted to compromise safety procedures in the interest of saving time. ELDs can help alleviate some of this pressure, more so when considering that drivers must also maintain set HOS and monitor road regulations. ELDs can help enable drivers to focus on what matters most—driving.
- Increasing automation and efficiency: ELDs are connected directly to a vehicle and record when they are turned on and off. This helps to automate the current, labor-intensive task of manually tracking HOS and eliminates the guesswork in record keeping, which can cause costly delays and impact efficiency.
- Providing peace of mind: ELDs help to give business owners peace of mind during vehicle inspections by reducing downtime and the risk of heavy fines. Audits and roadside inspections can be managed quickly and efficiently as the information is automatically logged by the device.
- Lowering operational costs: When ELDs are used with fleet management software, HOS data along with the historical route information provided by GPS technology, can help business owners enhance routing and save on fuel costs by reducing idle time. This, in turn, helps lessen wear and tear on the vehicles and lower investment and replacement costs down the line.
Getting the most out OF ELD compliance
Like other service industries, the construction industry is feeling the growing pains of adapting to the mandate. Many businesses will install the devices simply to meet the minimum level of compliance. This meets basic regulations to avoid costly fines, but there are few additional upsides. Instead, business owners should view the installation of ELDs as an agent of change, capable of future-proofing their business as it and other technologies evolve. There are several ways ELDs can be used to change how both businesses and drivers operate.
- Help drivers become more tech-savvy: No matter the industry, technology is changing how work happens. It’s no different for companies operating fleets and managing drivers. Business owners should hold training sessions where drivers can understand the ins and outs of how an ELD device works and can be paired with other fleet management technology. While it takes time out of day-to-day driving and responsibilities, sessions such as this can help in lowering the learning and acceptance curve among drivers. Additionally, the time spent sharing knowledge and practicing with ELD technology can instill in drivers the skills to problem-solve on the spot and advocate for themselves when issues arise.
- Use ELD for change management: From mobile apps and fleet management software, to dashcams and in-cab Wi-Fi, commercial vehicles are becoming more connected than ever before. It’s important that drivers understand the technology surrounding them and what data is shared and collected for the company. This is not only important from a data privacy perspective, but also when aiming to shift drivers’ perspectives on new technology and reduce resistance to adoption. If handled correctly, onboarding ELDs in a fleet can be an opportunity to revisit solutions already in place and reinforce understanding of how installed technologies impact business performance.
- Combine ELD data with other solutions: There are numerous solutions that give businesses greater control of and visibility into the vehicle’s cab. When implementing ELDs, it is best to use those that offer seamless interoperability with other fleet technologies so HOS records can be analyzed and layered with additional data points, such as harsh driving and seat belt use. Fleet managers can then have a more complete understanding of a driver’s day and, for example, address problematic behaviors and practices.
What does this all mean?
The regulations of ELD are now set, but owners of new and established companies still have the opportunity to make ELD solutions part of the business’ overall digital transformation. Whether working with drivers to embrace new technology or exploring other means of enhancing what’s already in place, the ELD mandate is a chance for construction fleet owners to drive greater business efficiency and increase worker productivity and safety.
