Take Action – Ask Your Representative to Cosponsor Relief from Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Compliance
NLBMDA urges its members to take action by
contacting their Representative
and asking them to cosponsor the Small Carrier Electronic Device and Exemption Act (H.R. 1697), which would exempt businesses that operate 10 or fewer commercial trucks from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) electronic logging device (ELD) requirement.
The legislation has been introduced by Reps. Collin Peterson (D-MN) and Greg Gianforte (R-MT), who are concerned that the ELD requirement is overly burdensome to small businesses with fleet operations and that more regulatory flexibility is needed.
For over two years, all drivers with a commercial driver’s license that are required to keep a Record of Duty Status (RODS) must use an ELD to document compliance with Hours of Service rule. The ELD connects to a vehicle’s engine to record driving hours, and is intended to eliminate the type of driver fatigue that can lead to crashes. Exemptions from the ELD requirement do exist for drivers who operate under the short-haul exception, or use paper RODS for not more than 8 days out of every 30-day period.
NLBMDA acknowledges the need for the ELD requirement, but believes motor carrier safety regulations should promote safety without imposing unnecessarily high cost and compliance burdens on employers and small businesses. Additionally, NLBMDA supports the ELD exemption for short-term truck rentals of eight days or less.
