Most fleet operators have less than one year remaining to become compliant with the electronic logging device (ELD) rule established by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Because the rule is set to take effect in December 18, 2017, now is the time to begin making the transition, installing the equipment, and getting your trucks compliant. These tips will help.

Get the Facts

It isn’t always easy to separate fact from fiction when new rules such as these go into place. The best place to go for compliance information is often directly to the source. One thing that is important to know is that Automatic On-Board Recording Devices (AOBRDs) are not the same thing as ELDs. If your fleet is currently using AOBRDs in an effort to reduce paperwork and the challenges that can generate, you will have additional time, until December 16, 2019, to achieve compliance, though there is no reason to delay.

Why ELDs?

The fact that ELDs can be synchronized with the trucks engine to capture all driving segments is critical to the accurate recording of driver information. This protects drivers from undue pressure to drive unlogged hours and reduces risks that drivers are putting their safety and the safety of others on the road at risk, by driving while overly tired. The fact that ELDs electronically record and track driver information provides a log that is reliable and difficult for organizations to tamper with in order to circumvent safety rules that are put into place under current laws.

Another benefit to fleet owners and managers is that the information that is recorded in these logs can be transmitted, in real time, so that everyone knows exactly what is going on in the field. This reduces paperwork for drivers and administrators, keeps dispatched up to date regarding the status of drivers and their loads, and reduces the distasteful act of logging miles and hours by hand for drivers (and administrators from chasing down these papers each and every time).

Is GPS Tracking Necessary for ELD Compliance?

While there is no technical rule requiring GPS fleet tracking systems like those we offer here at LiveView GPS, these systems make compliance easy by offering automated and accurate location information according to GPS coordinates and can be easily integrated and adapted to meet the needs of various organizations. Plus, you can enjoy great savings on things like fuel costs, insurance costs, labor costs, and more by using GPS tracking services wisely in combination with its function as an ELD which also reduces and enhances paperwork – saving you even more time and money.

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If you’ve wondered where Cuckoos migrate during the winter, in the past there hadn’t been a definitive answer. However, now the birds are being tracked on Google Maps with the help of a GPS tracking device saddled to their backs.

Beijing Cuckoo Project was launched by a group of conservationists and led by ecologist Chris Hewson and conservationist Terry Townsend. Its goal is to record the birds migration journey. Each bird for the project was picked by hand from the Beijing outskirts and equipped with tiny GPS tracking devices.

The birds traveling activity is now being tracked on Google Maps. Each day, Townsend monitors their geolocation, marks new stopovers and maintains a travel diary.

Migratory birds often migrate to Beijing to get away from Siberia’s cold winter months. According to Townsend, you can equate Beijing to a service station you would find on a superhighway. The UK had a tracking project going earlier where they learned that cuckoos would travel to West Africa from Europe, however, nobody knew about the Asian cuckoo migration pattern until the Beijing project.

The project isn’t perfect, of course. There hasn’t been any movement from two birds out of the five for months and is suspected they might have died. Scientists, however, are gaining a lot of insight from the other three.

These three birds that have been named Skybomb Bolt, Flappy McFlapperson and Meng Zhi juan (Dream Bird) traveled from China in the Northeast through Asia in the Southeast and then landed in Mozambique, Kenya and Somalia.

Each bird has flown up to 7,767 miles (12,500km) each. Skybomb Bolt was the first bird to reach Africa after it flew across the Arabian Sea non-stop for 4 days. Townsend refers to it as an unbelievable bird. They feed up a great deal before they make the trip which adds on a lot of body weight of fat reserves. Then, while on their journey, they don’t sleep and they burn off the fat.

Conservationists are able to study migration behavior thanks to the Cuckoo project and identify where the birds rest. However, the project hasn’t shown them how the birds know how to get to Africa. This was not something they learned from a flock or from their parents since cuckoos lay their eggs in the nests of other birds and then fly solo. Because the birds were genetically evolved from Africa, the theory is that it is through their DNA that they learned their flight itinerary.

The birds should be heading back toward Beijing by the end of the month of May, says Townsend.

When it came to fuel tax reporting years ago, each state had its own mandates and regulations. Today, most are now International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) members. This system standardizes the multiple and sometimes occasional contradicting regulations created by the states. Although some states might have additional rules and requirements for this reporting system, since they now use the IFTA system, the fuel tax reporting system has become much more simplified.

The IFTA is an agreement that the U.S. lower 48 states and the Canadian provinces have to make fuel reporting easier for the motor carriers that are operating in several jurisdictions. One way to simplify this process is through GPS tracking. GPS fleet tracking software can help you make your IFTA report more accurate in a number of ways including:

Fleet Asset Turn-by-Turn Tracking

GPS fleet tracking technology allows you to track all your assets in the field turn-by-turn. You can divide activity into a monthly reporting system or by specific driver trips. This helps you keep track of every mile.

GPS Data Reporting

You can create records of the data collected from your GPS tracking technology. Not only can you create reports, but you can also store this information to use in the future in the event you are audited. You can also track your vehicle fleets’ average MPG to help you keep track of inconsistent fuel consumption rates.

Round-the-Clock Tracking

GPS fleet tracking can track every vehicle 24/7 so you can collect each fleet vehicle’s use and mileage data continuously, even if you have drivers that forgot to document their driving activity. You can also spot any gaps in odometer data. The data you get from the GPS tracking devices  allows you to monitor your drivers’ driving behaviors, keep your drivers on task, and help you to plan detours quickly to get your drivers around closed or congested traffic roads.

When it’s time to come up with your IFTA report, it can often be a challenge to collect and log each vehicle’s fuel use. You could face investigations and fines if there are discrepancies, which will cost you both money and time. GPS fleet tracking can help you improve the accuracy of your IFTA reporting as well as stop any type of fuel fraud or theft. When you reduce loss risks, your insurance company will likely lower your insurance premiums.