Commercial trucking fleets commonly have to regularly adapt to new technologies and regulations that impact their industry. The upcoming switch in Canada involving electronic logging devices (ELD) will have repercussions for truckers, especially when it comes to transit times. Here is all you need to know about the ELD mandate in Canada and its impact on third party logistics companies.
The ELD Mandate And What It Means To Truckers
Transport Canada announced in 2019 the new rule for trucking fleets. As of June 12, 2021, any commercial motor vehicle driver currently responsible for keeping a record of their duty status must switch to electronic logging devices to fulfill the same duty. Logistics companies in Canada need to be aware of these regulations, because truck drivers who follow hours of service (HOS) regulations will be required to switch from paper logbooks to ELDs. When these new compliance rules come into effect, 3PL companies in Ontario and other operations relying on drivers will have to stay on top of the ELD mandate to keep their commercial vehicle fleets operating as smoothly as possible without violating the rules. Currently, the HOS rules in Canada allow drivers to complete 13 hours of consecutive driving in a 16 hour day of driving, followed by a minimum of eight consecutive hours of off-duty status. The Canadian HOS regulations and those in the U.S. are similar; however, Canada previously had no specific requirements that governed the use of electronic recording devices, e-logs or automatic onboard recording devices as official alternatives to traditional paper logs.
Transport Canada had originally agreed to allow a two-year grandfathering period to allow fleets and third party logistics companies arranging truck transport extra time to make the switch. Now, June 2021 is the date that all commercial vehicles must be in compliance with the rules governing ELDs. Some commercial vehicles will be exempt from the rule requiring them to use ELDs, including those operating under very specific permits, those subject to rental agreements with terms under 30 days, or if they’re operating a vehicle built prior to the year 2000. In Canada, there are also other exemptions. For example, drivers who don’t drive outside of a 160km radius from their home terminal will not be required to be in compliance with the ELD mandate.
Canadian and U.S. official worked collaboratively to ensure the regulations for ELD use were as similar as possible in both countries. Most fleets won’t have to make significant changes, and most of the differences that will arise with the new ELD mandate will be at the vendor level. In Canada, fleet managers will be required by law to use only those ELDs that have been properly certified by third-party organizations. This is to ensure they meet the guidelines established by the government of Canada. A list of certified ELDs will be available on Transport Canada’s website. The entire goal of the changes is to reduce the number of fatigued drivers currently hauling on Canadian roadways. The belief is the ELD rules will reduce risks of crashes, injury and road-related deaths of both commercial fleet drivers and innocent victims. The number of hours drivers spend on the road in a single stretch will be reduced as a result.
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NATS Canada Is Fully Compliant With All Safety Rules
As one of Canada’s top third party logistics companies, NATS Canada believes that any measures that improve driver safety and CSA scores are good for the industry. NATS Canada has a long history of providing safe, affordable transport services across North America.
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