Installing Electronic Logging Devices required by new federal rules has created some headaches for operators. A recent UMA survey, completed by 53 respondents, indicated 85 percent had compatibility issues with their coaches.
Complaints have ranged from screen failure to engine malfunctions, and 40 percent of those surveyed said they wouldn’t purchase the same product. UMA addressed this hot topic at its first round of regional town halls by bringing in experts to answer operators’ questions. The call featured a panel of representatives from bus manufacturers ABC/Van Hool, Prevost and Motor Coach Industries; and ELD device makers Saucon and UBT. Device makers and manufacturers offered advice on steps to take to either prevent or resolve issues, some of which is summarized here.
Why are some devices causing buses to shut down?
There have been compatibility issues between devices and coaches, including incidents of bus engines shutting down. The issue is often resolved by unplugging the ELDs. The major reason for the malfunction is the device isn’t installed correctly, say manufacturers. Devices can interface differently with a vehicle’s electronic system depending on the model and year. That’s why coach manufacturers suggest calling them first to talk about what products works best with vehicles. “Once you have the technical specs required for proper communication for the model and the year of the vehicle, then it will make it a lot easier for your provider to be able to make sure they can hook up with it,” said Brent Maitland from Motor Coach Industries.
Why are two-way communication ELDs being replaced?
Initially, the ELDs could send and receive information in the vehicles, which resulted in error messages responsible for engine shutdowns. Since then, ELDs have been reworked to only receive information. “In probably eighty-five percent of the issues I’ve dealt with here at our tech support, they have been installed incorrectly or there was just bad firmware (permanent software programmed into a read-only memory) from the ELD that needed to be updated from the manufacturer,” said Dany Landry with ABC/Van Hool.
How are new products dealing with drivers forgetting to log out?
Drivers forgetting to log out of the ELDs when they take a break or finish driving for the day has been another glitch. Some device manufacturers have responded by rewriting their device’s software so when vehicles idle for more than five minutes, the time stops being logged. While manufacturers are trying to make their devices foolproof, driver training remains crucial. “Driver training is the ultimate launch pad for you to be successful with your ELDs. Without that, you are really going to have some issues,” said Michael McDonal from Saucon.
How are the devices holding up during inspections?
With 270 ELD providers and a total of 316 devices registered on the FMCSA website, inspectors are experiencing a learning curve in collecting the electronic data. Even after the hard enforcement came into play on April 1, law enforcement officers have struggled at times to transfer the electronic logs to their systems. “There are 316 devices that can show up on their doorstep at any given time throughout their day that they have to know and use. And I’ll jump back to driver training; if the driver can speak comfortably and confidently about their display and have their onboard paperwork that is required, they’re going to get through that as well,” McDonal said.
How long does a company have to fix a broken ELD?
If an ELD breaks, companies have eight days to get it fixed (and must keep a paper log in the meantime) or the bus can’t be used—unless a request for an extension is filed with the FMCSA. But don’t, experts say, wait until the last day to file.
