ELDs Are Coming: Why Some Fleets Are Starting with E-logs Now

The ELD mandate will require all drivers to transition to ELDs. If you’re on paper, to get ahead of the mandate without adding costs, consider starting with e-logs. It will allow drivers to get acquainted with electronic systems while still maintaining the editability factor associated with paper logs.

A well designed e-log should mirror the aesthetic of paper logs — drivers shouldn’t face a steep learning curve. This allows for an intuitive transition from paper logs to e-logs.

What are the real benefits of e-logs compared to paper logs?

1. Like paper logs, e-logs are fully editable. So if you make a mistake on your hours of service, it’s no problem! You can easily adjust your duty status to reflect the changes.

2. E-logs save you time. Writing your carrier information each day on your log can be cumbersome. With e-logs, repeated information only needs to be added once, after which the information auto-populates for future logs. For drivers, this means less time on paperwork and more time on the road.

How will e-logs eventually help me transition to an ELD?

Evaluate your electronic provider without financial risk:

E-logs allow your fleet to get comfortable with a new system without investing in ELDs. Change can be implemented in pieces by starting with e-logs, which gives everyone a chance to test the software and the vendor’s customer service before buying.

Reduce the learning curve:

Making the jump straight from paper logs to an ELD is not always easy. The format is not the same — logs are not editable. However, going from paper logs to e-logs is much easier because drivers still control their hours of service. We think that this is a great first step in transitioning to electronic log formats.

How to start with e-logs.

Transition is a chain reaction. We suggest getting a few of your drivers to try e-logs. If they like it and the success rate is high, before you know it, others will transition from paper logs to e-logs. Upgrading to an ELD is simple once high e-log adoption is established, which will make ELD mandate compliance a breeze.

Trucking Essentials: Top 10 Things Drivers Say Are a Must-Have

Whether you’re new to driving or a seasoned veteran, there are essential items to keep stocked in your cab. We checked in with a few drivers to uncover the essentials for life on the open road. Here’s what we found…

1. Shower flip-flops

Many showers aren’t exactly known for their cleanliness. Avoid a possible fungal infection by carrying shower flip-flops with you when you’re on the job!

2. Sleeping bag/blanket + pillow

Carrying sheets and bedding is difficult. Some drivers find it much more convenient to take a sleeping bag instead.

3. Emergency bathroom container and toilet paper

Well, we don’t think there’s much explaining to be done on this one.

4. Hygiene basics — toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, soap

Most folks we spoke with said every driver should make a bathroom kit filled with travel size containers of all the basics.

5. Gloves

According to drivers, flatbed truckers find gloves to be particularly essential. Not only do gloves provide warmth on cold days, but they’re a good way to protect your hands from injury.

6. Flashlight

You never know when you might need to step out of your truck at night to check the engine or tires.

7. Bad weather gear

Given the mileage drivers cover, it’s important to be prepared for rain or shine so make sure to keep an extra jacket and pair of boots in-cab.

8. Dash-mounted cell phone holder

Safety is key. Avoid tickets and play it safe with a hands-free, bluetooth setup for your phone.

9. Water and nonperishable food

It’s important to stay nourished, and eating out can be time consuming and expensive. Keep ample water and healthy, nonperishable snacks in-cab.

10. Earplugs

This item is very relevant to team drivers, particularly if the co-driver snores! A set of earplugs ensures good rest, which every driver needs to be safe and efficient on the job.

Themes from the ATA’s Safety, Security and HR Exhibition

This week KeepTruckin visited Little Rock, AK for the ATA’s Safety, Security and Human Resources Conference. For those who couldn’t attend, we wanted to share a few things we heard to keep you in the loop!

1. ATA is bullish on the ELD mandate hitting this year

The picture is a bit fuzzy, but we captured this shot from an ATA keynote. The slide’s first bullet — “Final rule appears on track for Oct/Nov 2015” — was also covered in an ELD rule piece by FleetOwner.

2. Fleets managers were frustrated with onboard recorder malfunctions

Many of the fleets we spoke with complained about onboard recorders not working properly. Issues with AOBRDs and EOBRs are all too common. Since AOBRDs and EOBRs won’t be compliant after 2019 with the anticipated ELD mandate, it’s all the more reason to consider ELDs.

3. New driver shortage solutions

One presentation on the driver shortage suggested programs to enhance driver fitness with healthy lifestyle coaching. If you’re looking for other ideas to help your fleet’s recruiting, check out our pieces on leveraging mobile tech or veteran drivers.

4. The future: Safety-related driving technology

A theme during the conference was preventative measures related to driver safety. Two interesting solutions to prevent distracted driving were Seeing Machines and Maven Machines. Both companies offer tools to sense and alert drivers when they’re fatigued.

Hiring Veterans — The Recruitment Tool Your Fleet Should Know About

Two barriers have led to the driver shortage —

1) Lack of awareness among the unemployed regarding trucking industry opportunities.

2) Cost/access to appropriate driver training.

These two barriers have resulted in a limited pool of drivers, many of whom are insufficiently qualified.

Veterans are a great solution to the employment gap

In response to the shortage, the ATA has provided fleets with a driver recruitment solution — military veterans. Veterans tend to be younger, healthier, and more self-disciplined because of their military training. These qualities have resulted in higher retention rates, better CSA scores, a healthier workforce, and lower turnover rates.

What is training military veterans for commercial driving going to cost me?

Veteran services and the DMV have adopted laws that waive the CDL skills test for qualified military veterans. Veterans can also apply their GI benefits to the cost of training school.

What is FastPort, and how can they help with veteran recruitment?

The ATA partnered with FastPort, a recruitment agency for drivers, to host the Hiring Our Heroes campaign. This free program allows you to post job listings based on geographic and qualification requirements, and filter drivers based on license type, expected pay, and company benefits.

The Hiring Our Heroes campaign provides access to drivers who are well qualified and familiar with trucking industry expectations. This means low turnover rates for your carrier and a high-caliber selection pool for your employment needs.

America loves veterans so let’s show our appreciation

ATA President, Bill Graves, was right when he said, “There’s no higher calling for an American than to serve in our armed forces, and I’d like to think that driving a truck – delivering America’s most essential goods safely and efficiently is also a high calling.” The trucking industry has served America’s needs for decades, and to ensure that we continue to employ high quality drivers, hiring veterans is a great solution.

The Future of KeepTruckin

Ryan, Obaid and I quit our jobs and started KeepTruckin two years ago because we wanted to build great technology products to help the 4.5 million men and women who keep America moving. In 2013, we put a beta of the KeepTruckin Electronic Logbook App into the hands of a few hundred drivers who had until then used paper logbooks to record their hours of service — the response was tremendous. Today over 150,000 drivers and 5,000 fleets trust us with their logs.

But our work is just getting started. On October 30th, 2015 the U.S. Department of Transportation is expected to publish the final rule that will require all interstate truck and bus drivers to use an Electronic Logging Device (ELD) to record their hours of service with the goal of improving road safety and reducing the paperwork burden on the industry. The implications are massive.

In line with our mission to build modern technology products for the trucking industry, we are excited to announce the launch of the KeepTruckin Electronic Logging Device — a powerful hardware device that plugs into a vehicle’s diagnostic port and connects wirelessly to the KeepTruckin Electronic Logbook App to deliver the easiest to use and most cost effective electronic logs and fleet management system in the world. Compliance with the upcoming ELD mandate will be a breeze with KeepTruckin.

Building great technology products requires great people and forward investment. We are excited to announce that we have raised $8 million from Index Ventures and Google Ventures so that we can continue to invest in our product and deliver exceptional customer service to our users. In addition, our new board member Ilya Fushman’s experience will be invaluable as we continue to grow.

To all of our users who have told others about KeepTruckin — we are grateful. We would not be here without you.

We care deeply about the men and women who spend their lives on the road to keep our country moving. It is a privilege to build tools that make your lives easier and more productive.

Shoaib Makani, CEO

Combat the Driver Shortage: Budget-Friendly Tips to Help Retain Drivers

The driver shortage is impacting fleets, and carriers are actively trying to recruit new drivers. With high turnover rates, a great way to retain drivers is to make sure they’re happy. We spoke with numerous drivers and came up with four easy-on-the-wallet tips to help you increase driver satisfaction.

#1: Provide realistic expectations for new drivers.

Be honest about the role and potential challenges. You don’t want to sugarcoat the job to a new hire just to get them onboard — it may result in rapid turnover, which costs more in the long run.

#2: Maintain driver loyalty through feedback.

54% of the drivers we surveyed said they felt disconnected from their company. By creating feedback channels between drivers and dispatchers, you can bridge the gap and let your drivers know that their opinions are valued. Learn more on how to incorporate driver-fleet feedback.

#3: Create incentives for drivers to switch to e-logs.

Electronic logs provide business benefits to fleets by providing an automatic audit system for HOS violations. They also simplify communication between dispatcher and driver. But, not all drivers are ready to make the transition from paper to e-logs. Drivers accustomed to paper logs may need a little extra push. Instead of forcing your drivers to use e-logs, provide incentives to encourage them to make the change on their own.

#4: Reward cost-saving behavior.

You don’t have to categorically increase driver pay, but you can provide conditional pay increases for drivers who consistently demonstrate cost-saving behavior like efficient fuel use, vehicle maintenance, and a clean driving record (which also saves you from incurring fines and can protect your CSA score).

Photo Credit: Andrew Laker

Stay Out of Trouble with Law Enforcement: Everything to Know about Safe Driver Week

Operation Safe Driver Week (OSDW) is here and we have a few tips to help keep you informed and safe on the job.

OSDW was started in 2007 as a joint effort between the FMCSA and CVSA to combat the high-fatality rate associated with crashes. In the United States alone, between 2011 and 2013, over 12,000 people were killed and more than 250,000 injured due to accidents involving trucks and/or buses — many of them from unsafe driving practices.

Law officials are known to ramp up enforcement during the week-long campaign. Drivers can expect increased traffic and safety belt enforcement as well as roadside inspections. Here’s what happened last year:

With heightened law enforcement during OSDW, we suggest drivers buckle up, follow the speed limit, and obey traffic signs so that you don’t get stuck with a hefty fine or worse!

Protect your fleet from law enforcement

OSDW awareness is important for drivers and fleets alike. Data collected during the week is used by the FMCSA for compliance investigations so if you don’t want your CSA score to take a hit, make sure your drivers are trained properly, driving safely, and maintaining their logs.

Sources: TruckingInfo, CVSA

Onboard Recorders: Two factors to consider for ELD mandate compliance

In-cab onboard recorders have changed drastically since their introduction in the 1980s. Technology has improved, and provider competition has emerged. The integration of mobile devices has supplanted bulky hardware, lowered the ELD price point, and opened a variety of purchasing options.
In this post, we will examine the evolution of onboard recorders and provide a few key points to keep in mind as your fleet searches for the right ELD mandate solution!

1) Long-term compliance — Why fleets favor ELDs over AOBRDs & EOBRs

Legislation regarding onboard recorders has recently changed. In the past, drivers and fleet managers had the option to choose whether they wanted paper logs or onboard recorders. With the passing of MAP-21, ELDs will soon be a requirement for all CDL drivers.

You may be thinking, “I already use an AOBRD, so I am all set”, but MAP-21 requires the use of an ELD, which is not the same as an AOBRD or EOBR. The federal specifications for ELDs will be released October 30th, 2015, which will force many AOBRD & EOBR providers to stitch together new features and patch them on top of already clunky devices. To maintain long-term federal compliance, make sure you choose an ELD, not an AOBRD/EOBR.

2) Cost savings — Pricing model changes in the ELD world

ELDs haven’t just changed aesthetically — they’ve also changed in terms of purchase options. When AOBRDs first came on the market, buyers had limited and pricey options, with upfront costs averaging upwards of $1500.

New market entrants providing ELDs have shifted from expensive hardware installation to economical software integration with mobile devices. By leveraging smartphones, the pricing structure for onboard recorders has shifted.  Drivers or fleet managers now have the option to buy or lease ELDs at significantly lower costs.

Future buyers should beware of the “real” cost of their ELD (check out the ELD Price Comparison), which is often hidden under tacked-on fees for installation, hardware, driver inactivity, or training. Be sure to ask about these costs, and choose an ELD vendor that is compliant with the federal mandate, wallet friendly, and great with customer service!  

Four of our favorite stories from Truck Driver Appreciation Week

Truck drivers keep our economy and world moving forward. Every day truck drivers safely deliver the materials, products, and food we depend on. It’s easy to forget how critical trucking is to us all, which is why we love National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (NTDAW).

This week we’ve seen a lot of appreciation. From handouts and concerts, to meals and refreshments, here’s a few of our favorite stories from NTDAW…

1. Handouts at the Port of New Orleans

After resolving driver protests back in June, we loved seeing the Port of New Orleans take the high road this week when volunteers handed out water bottles, barbecue, and other giveaways.

2. The #ThankaDriver campaign by ATA

Through the Trucking Moves America Forward campaign, the ATA has been running local ads urging citizens to thank our drivers.

3. Celebration concert in North Little Rock

In partnership with the Arkansas Trucking Association, The Petro Stopping Centers along I-40 in North Little Rock hosted a lunchtime concert with country music singer-songwriter Linsday Lawler. Refreshments and lunch were served as drivers played games.

4. Hot coffee, doughnuts and battery charges at Universal Lumpers facilities

Drivers on the West Coast dropping off at grocery distribution centers may find tables with coffee, doughnuts, and charging stations upon arrival reported Overdrive.

Trucking is the backbone of our economy, and the KeepTruckin team would like to say “thank you” to our drivers for your commitment, professionalism, and dependability.

Edit your drivers’ logs from the KeepTruckin Dashboard for Fleets

Fleet managers frequently tell us they see fewer mistakes on their drivers’ logs because the KeepTruckin Electronic Logbook App alerts drivers of HOS violations and form and manner errors.

But what happens if a driver does make a mistake? Until today, a fleet manager would have to send a message or call their driver to ask them to correct the mistake — a process that is tedious and error prone.

We are excited to announce that fleet managers can now edit a driver’s log themselves from the KeepTruckin Dashboard.

Any edits you create will be sent to the driver for approval.

Once the driver approves, the changes are applied to the driver’s log.

You can learn more about how to edit your drivers’ logs in the KeepTruckin Support Center.

As always, we would love to hear what you think about the new log edit suggestions feature. If you have any questions or comments, email us at support@keeptruckin.com.