The Canadian ELD (ELOG) Mandate Deadline & HOS Rules will be launched as a combined set of rules effective this June 12th, 2021 and will be applicable to all drivers carrying freight or passengers. According to the current set of rules presented, there will be no grace period given to aid in the transition so it’s extremely important to understand what this new set of rules will mean for you or your drivers. The good news is that if you’ve already been in compliance with US regulations due to cross border requirements, you will already be at a good starting point for reaching compliance here in Canada.
What are the Canadian HOS rules?
HOS stands for hours of service and the applicable set of rules will outline what the Canadian daily driving limits are for truckers within Canada. As part of this set of rules, drivers will be required to accurately log the hours that they’ve worked in an electronic log book (or ELOG application). Using ELD devices, drivers can track how long they’ve been at the wheel in an effort to improve the safety of themselves and everyone on the road. The aim is to ensure all drivers are compliant with the Government of Canada’s Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service HOS Regulations.
What is the Canadian ELD mandate?
The idea behind the ELD mandate is to offer a tamper resistant device integrated within the engine of commercial vehicles. The purpose of this device is to electronically help track and log the time and distance a driver has gone in a single day. Full compliance will be required by June 12th, 2021. These changes were announced for the first time in 2019, allowing motor vehicle carriers a 2 year period to reach compliance. The pain point for many motor vehicle owners and carriers has been the lack of guidance around approved ELD’s, unlike the US which has an extensive list of approved devices that has been in effect for several years.
What is the Canadian ELD mandate?
The idea behind the ELD mandate is to offer a tamper resistant device integrated within the engine of commercial vehicles. The purpose of this device is to electronically help track and log the time and distance a driver has gone in a single day. Full compliance will be required by June 12th, 2021. These changes were announced for the first time in 2019, allowing motor vehicle carriers a 2 year period to reach compliance. The pain point for many motor vehicle owners and carriers has been the lack of guidance around approved ELD’s, unlike the US which has an extensive list of approved devices that has been in effect for several years.
What will the Canadian ELD mandate include?
As part of the ELD mandate, only approved ELD devices will be permitted, all older devices such as (AOBRDs, EOBRs, e-Logs) will require updating by June 12th 2021. All drivers and carriers will need to follow a standard set of processes and procedures to prevent possible logging errors, tampering or harassment of drivers. In many cases, these provisions will be adopted from the mandate set out in the US in December of 2017. HOS regulations will not vary greatly from what’s in place today, however as part of the logging updates, no more paper logs will be permitted. The process for reporting and recording drive time will be amended with reliance on the approved ELD’s, which will be connected directly to the engine ECM diagnostic ports.
Though there will be some exemption to commercial vehicles requiring to comply with these rules, the list is minimal. If the commercial vehicle is operated by a motor carrier under a permit, if there has been an exemption permit issued, if the vehicle is older than model year 2000, or as part of a rental agreement which can be in place no longer than 30 days are the only approved scenarios for exemption.
Do ELD Mandates and HOS rules exist in US and Mexico?
To answer this question in a single word – yes – each country will have their own set of rules and regulations when it comes to approved HOS rules and ELD mandates. In both Mexico and the US, there is a requirement under law to follow the rules set out by that particular country. Depending on where you are delivering goods, you will want to ensure that you have a look at the country specific regulations so you have the appropriate documentation upon arrival at road side log checks and country borders.
One big part of that difference is that Canadian regulators elected to wrap up Canada’s hours of service rules and the ELD mandate within the same regulation. Alternatively, In the U.S., the HOS regulations and ELD regulations are two separate sets of rules but work together with the ultimate goal of helping ensure the safety of all motor vehicles on the road. The US has also launched a much more accessible program for logging the information collected through the ELD, however their rules have been in place much longer. Hopefully as drivers, operators and government officials get comfortable with the new system – which will initially offer a single approach to logging – the logging systems available will expand and improve as well.
Conclusion
The introduction of the combined HOV rules and ELD (Elog) mandate will be a huge step forward to improving the safety of all drivers on the road and the fair treatment of commercial motor vehicle drivers which is long over due. Though the introduction of any new system can seem a little scary, the end result will be safer roads for everyone and hopefully an improved quality of life/ less critical risk of fatigue for drivers everywhere.
If you need assistance with a trusted provider of logistics, and assurance of compliance with all the new rules and regulations set out by the Government of Canada, look no further than Camelyon Group. We are a name you can trust. Contact us today!
