Fleet managers focus on continuous process improvement, always searching for ways to make their fleet more efficient and profitable while also improving service to customers. Electronic Logging Devices (ELD) have become a key component to achieve those goals.
ELD solutions help fleets stay compliant with regulations by tracking records of duty service (RODS) they must file under hours-of-service (HOS) regulations. That alone saves fleets the costs of penalties and fines.
But ELD benefits extend beyond regulatory compliance. These advanced systems help fleets save money in a variety of ways.
Saving Fleets Money With ELD Systems
When they use ELD, fleet managers want to maximize all the benefits these systems offer modern commercial fleets. Those benefits include the following.
Vehicle Maintenance
Breakdowns on the road cost fleets time and money. ELD synchronizes with the engine to record engine power status, vehicle motion status, miles driven, engine hours, duty status and provides identification of the driver, vehicle and motor carrier.
Because ELD connects with a vehicle’s diagnostic port, they monitor fault codes within the engine. By setting up the system to provide real-time alerts and reports on these issues, fleets can stay ahead of mechanical issues, fixing problems before they lead to breakdowns.
They also can use the collected data from fault code reports and identify recurring issues, allowing them to set up preventative maintenance schedules for each type of vehicle. ELD tracks information that includes engine power status, vehicle motion status, miles driven, engine hours, duty status and identifies the driver, vehicle and motor carrier.
Lowering Risk of Liability
Even the best drivers can sometimes get involved with crashes and collisions, landing fleets in court even if the driver is not guilty of any type of infraction. The information gathered and stored by an ELD system gives fleets information they can present to show that a driver was not at fault. They also contain information on how well the vehicle has been maintained – that also can lower a fleet’s potential liability. ELD also keeps consistent, accurate records that the court system will likely trust above information kept manually (which often contains errors).
Reducing Fuel Use
Among their many features, ELD tracks the time a vehicle spends idling, which costs fleets money. With fuel making up one of the biggest budget items for most fleets, data from ELD can help fleets know which drivers need coaching on driving habits that reduce fuel spend.
Route Optimization
ELD allows fleets to monitor the location of each vehicle in real time, allowing for route optimization that allows drivers to avoid areas experiencing traffic delays. It also helps dispatchers with better route planning that improves delivery time and reduces fuel costs.
Record-Keeping Costs
In tracking all the information to file reports that keep drivers and fleets compliant with regulations, ELD also saves hours of work for staff members by automating the collection of data and the filing of paperwork. This also increases productivity, allowing employees more time to work on important projects and tasks rather than routine data entry. ELD systems also can automatically transfer data to safety officials through secure methods.
ELD systems provide fleet managers with many different options for how to put them to use, giving managers the chance to increase productivity, eliminate mistakes and errors, manage risk and improve productivity. It’s a must-have for fleets that want to stay competitive.
