Trucking industry supports electronic logging systems

The trucking industry, including ABF Freight System and USA Truck, support federal legislation pushed by U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., that would require electronic logging devices to monitor driver hours-of-service.

Along with U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., Pryor filed March 31 a bill (S 695) that would require the Secretary of Transportation to implement rules for use of “Electronic On-Board Recording” (EOBR) devices. The law would give truckers three years to implement an EOBR system. Pryor and Alexander were unable to get the law passed in 2010.

“The trucking industry faces the constant balancing act of keeping fatigued drivers off the road while ensuring stores are full of merchandise,” Pryor said in a statement. “After several meetings with the trucking industry and Senate hearings on highway safety, I believe the most effective solution is to require the use of electronic on-board recorders.”

The American Trucking Associations announced Thursday (April 7) that its membership endorsed a policy supporting federal laws and regulations that would require trucking companies to use electronic logging devices to monitor driver hours-of-service.

ATA added caveats to its support.
• Cost-effective device specifications allowing for accurate recording of driving hours.
• Data ownership and access in order to protect the privacy of fleets and drivers alike.
• Relief from the current, significant burden of retaining additional supporting documentation.

“Many fleets already use these devices and they report not only compliance and safety gains, but also improved efficiency,” Dave Osiecki, ATA senior vice president of policy and regulatory affairs, said in the statement. “Those benefits make supporting an electronic logging requirement good business.”

Even without passage of S 695, electronic logging could happen. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) published in February a plan to mandate the use of electronic logging devices along with associated updates to hours-of-service rules. Final rulemaking on the plan is expected in June 2012.

Some groups and small trucking companies have complained about costs associated with an EOBR mandate. Lane Kidd, director of the Arkansas Trucking Association, brushed off those concerns.

“If a small operator can afford a truck tire, they can afford an EOBR. Cost will not be a major factor. That’s simply a smokescreen to hide fact there are those out there who like log books so they can fudge,” Kidd said.

He said the Arkansas Trucking Association has supported EOBR use since 1999.

“We are working closely with Sen. Pryor on his legislation,” Kidd added.

Fort Smith-based ABF Freight System and Van Buren-based USA Truck support electronic logging systems and are now testing different systems.

“However, we share in the ATA’s concern that any new regulatory mandate must provide for cost-effective device specifications allowing for accurate recording of driving hours, and should address ownership of the data and access to information on the device in order to protect the privacy of fleets and drivers,” said Rodney Mills, vice president of Safety at USA Truck. “Additionally, any new regulation should provide relief from the current regulatory burden that requires transportation providers to retain a significant number of supporting documents relating to a driver’s record of duty status.”

Russ Aikman, director of marketing and public relations at ABF, said EOBR system prices range between $500 and $2,500 per truck.

“ABF has been utilizing micro browser technology to record data in our city fleet for several years,” Aikman said. “In regards to over-the-road use, we are currently piloting various models of ELD’s with the anticipation of having our fleet outfitted before the deadline, which will be three years after the passage of the legislation.”