A couple of years after the United States’ ELD mandate went into effect, Canada, which had been working on its own ELD mandate for several years, signed it into law. It was adopted on June 12th, 2019, and it became effective for all federally-regulated carriers on June 12th, 2021. Right now, the enforcement period is purely educational and progressive, but on June 12th, 2022, federally-regulated carriers will officially need to equip their vehicles with certified ELDs. This article will explain the Canadian ELD mandate in detail and how it affects American trucking companies.
What is the Canadian ELD Mandate?
This mandate requires that drivers in Canada keep a record of duty status (RODS). It also requires that they comply with the Hours of Service rules. Most importantly, it requires that motor carriers use a third-party ELD. This means that ELDs will need to be certified by an accredited third party before being approved for use. With these rules in place, drivers will not be working long hours without rest and will therefore be much safer on the road.
What is the Difference Between the U.S. Mandate and the Canadian Mandate?
There are several differences between the Canadian mandate and the United States’ mandate that American drivers need to know if traveling to Canada. Keep in mind that U.S. drivers must meet Canadian guidelines when traveling in Canada.
Third-Party Certification: One of the most significant differences is that Canada’s ELDs are approved by a third party. In the U.S., ELD providers can simply have to meet specific requirements and can then certify themselves. However, in Canada, an accredited third party reviews each ELD and approves them for use.
Exceptions: In the U.S., drivers renting a commercial vehicle for eight days or less or operating vehicles for specific industries are exempt from the ELD mandate. For both Canada and the U.S., vehicles manufactured before 2000 are exempt. However, Canada extends the rental rule to 30 days and includes drivers operating under a permit or statutory exemption.
Warnings: In Canada, drivers are warned 30 minutes before reaching their HoS limits. In the U.S., no such notice is required.
Malfunctions: If the ELD malfunctions in Canada, the carrier has 14 days to replace the ELD. However, in the U.S., the carrier only has eight days.
Roadside Inspection: In Canada, carriers do not have to provide a Bluetooth/USB transfer of their record of duty status. However, in the U.S., this is a requirement.
What Should U.S. Companies Do to Prepare for Enforcement?
Enforcement is only a few months away, and you need to ensure that you are prepared as soon as possible. There are several steps you should take before this mandate goes into effect in June. Luckily, J. J. Keller has created a checklist of steps you should take for yourself and your drivers.
- Determine if a new device is needed, either because you are using paper logs or a provider that is not certified in Canada.
- Communicate plans to drivers and internal stakeholders.
- Select provider.
- Update policies/procedures.
- Conduct driver training (refresher training on the hours-of-service limits and how to use the selected ELD).
- Conduct back-office training.
- Schedule installation/pilot with a few drivers.
- Evaluate and adjust.
- Fully implement.
Azuga’s ELD-Compliant Fleet Solution
Azuga is keeping up with changes in the Canadian ELD mandate, and our fleet solution will help you maintain compliance in both countries. With our e-logs, you can avoid tickets, penalties, and fees that you might otherwise accrue trying to handle things all on your own. Let Azuga help out and see what we can do by trying out a demo of our software.
