trucks stopped worried about ELD enforcement

ELD Mandate Enforcement Around the Country

With the ELD mandate having gone into effect for most drivers and fleets on December 18, 2017, the next issue to face has been regarding the enforcement of the mandate. Around the country, ELD mandate enforcement varies from state to state. When you cross state lines on your route without a properly installed ELD, you[…]

a small fleet using ELDs

Fleets of All Sizes Can Benefit from an ELD

The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), in a last ditch effort, petitioned the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for a five-year exemption for “small business truckers” to delay the ELD implementation. OOIDA may think that small businesses should be exempt but with all the benefits, the system will pay for itself with increased efficiency[…]

Looking Beyond the ELD Mandate

Looking Beyond the Mandate

Getting in and staying compliant with the law, like the ELD mandate, might be required but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t leave a bitter taste in your mouth. People, in general, don’t like to feel forced into things. You’re pragmatic, though. You’ll do what you have to do to stay in business, keep making money,[…]

eld mandate lawsuit

ELD Mandate Lawsuit Won’t Be Heard By the Supreme Court

  If you’ve been waiting to find an ELD for your trucking business until the Supreme Court ruled on the legality of electronic logging devices, the wait is over. On June 12, 2017, the Supreme Court issued a decision refusing to hear the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) lawsuit over the ELD mandate. The previous[…]

truck driver marijuana

The Impact of Legalized Marijuana on the Trucking Industry

  Right now, four states and Washington D.C. have legalized recreational marijuana usage. Other states allow medical marijuana for the treatment of certain illnesses, diseases, and disorders. While legalization has not taken place at the federal level and there are plenty of drivers who don’t live in states where it is legal, it’s still having[…]

telematics for fleets

4 Ways Telematics Can Help Your Fleet

  A full fleet management system that includes a GPS vehicle tracking system is invaluable for running an efficient fleet. It provides information known as telematics, which only becomes available through the addition of technology to your trucks. Telematics gives you control over your fleet with more information than you’ve ever had before. That access[…]

truck using Gorilla Safety's AOBRD

Make Your ELD Transition Smoother With Gorilla Safety’s AOBRD

  Every day you’re hit with a new rule or regulation. Failing to follow them can cost your fleet time and money. Complying with a new regulation is stressful, can be costly, and requires getting your entire staff and drivers on board so that no one gets caught out on the road breaking the rules.[…]

a truck using a self certified ELD

Self-Certification and Third Party Reviews Matter in an ELD

Recently we talked to a very large fleet (85,000 employees worldwide) who said they were told that the ELD they were using would not be certified. Some ELD providers and fleets believe self-certification isn’t required. Whether it’s required or not can be debated. What’s not debatable is that every fleet deserves to know that the[…]

a truck that belongs to a fleet that understands that not all EDLs are equal

Not All ELDs are Created Equal

Every company offers a different electronic logging device (ELD product) and fleet management system. That’s almost never a bad thing. Competition breeds innovation, and companies that respond to customer needs and make life easier and more profitable for fleets and businesses, do well. The free market is a beautiful thing. But the trucking industry is[…]

intake form for a truck driver that needs to improve his health

Improving Truck Driver Health

Since 2010, 70,000 drivers have been pulled from the roads due to new regulations about driver health by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). These drivers didn’t have a hangnail or a simple cough. Many of them were diagnosed with serious diseases like uncontrolled high blood pressure, advanced diabetes, sleep apnea, and obesity. The[…]

speedometer

Proposed DOT Speed Limiters

On August 26, 2016, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced a speed limiter mandate proposal by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). At the beginning of September, a 60-day window for public comments began to give the motor carrier industry the opportunity to supply feedback[…]

average cost of ELDs

Average Cost of ELDs

Because they’re regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), electronic logging devices (ELDs) must meet specific requirements, especially if owner-operators and fleets want to be in compliance by December 2017 and December 2019. Every ELD must be able to do specific things and the benefits of an ELD are compelling. However, when you[…]

changes to commercial truck inspections

FMCSA Inspection Changes

In July, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced a few changes and updates to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSRs). The “Parts and Accessories Necessary for Safe Operation” and “Inspection, Repair, and Maintenance” portions of the FMCSRs were the areas that received the most amendments. The FMCSA says no new regulations have[…]

an iphone filled with apps for truckers to use while on the road.

Top Apps for Truckers

A 2013 survey of truck drivers showed that almost 80% use a smartphone and more than 90% download apps to their phone. There’s no doubt that number has grown over the last few years. Even though we use our phones for personal things like email, texting our family, and playing games while we’re in waiting[…]

gavel

FMCSA Anti-Coercion Ruling

In late 2015, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) made significant changes to their anti-coercion rules. Drivers have more options for dealing with coercion, and the FMCSA made it clear they will not tolerate harassment or threats against drivers who are complying with federal safety regulations. What is Coercion? Coercion is the act of[…]

uber of trucking

Has the “Gig Economy” Come to the Trucking Industry?

With the recent announcement of $16 million in investor funding available for Convoy, a startup billing itself as the “Uber of the trucking industry,” it seems that technology is continuing to catch up to the trucking industry. Convoy, founded by former Amazon employees and backed by plenty of heavy hitters in the investment world, aims[…]

DOT Recordable Accident

DOT Recordable Accidents – What They Are and Why They Matter

Not all accidents are created equal. While that may seem obvious, it may be more complicated than you think. While every accident can impact your bottom line, DOT recordable accidents can have a major impact on your business. Here’s why. What is a DOT Recordable Accident? Carriers are required to keep records of an accident[…]

oversized load, a truck safety issue

4 Common Trucking Accidents and How to Avoid Them

The fact that commercial trucks get into accidents out on the highways, back roads, and other roadways across the United States is no surprise. The actual numbers, however, may shock you. In 2013 alone, there were 3,900 fatal crashes involving commercial trucks, 73,000 crashes with injuries but no fatalities, and 265,000 accidents that involved only[…]

gavel

The ELD Final Rule – What You Need to Know

In 2012, Congress passed the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) bill requiring the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to create new regulations for the use of Electronic Logging Devices (ELD). They were given until 2015 to enact the Final Rule. The FMCSA announced the provisions of the ELD Final Rule[…]

a truck driver that loves our electronic logging device

8 Reasons Why Drivers Love ELDs

You’ve probably heard of electronic on-board recorders (EOBRs) or automatic on-board recording devices (AOBRD). With new technology expected perhapsperhaps you resisted making the change or just wanted to wait until the dust settled and rules were finalized. Whatever the reason, if you’re new to the world of electronic logging devices (ELDs), don’t let a new[…]