Company’s Affordable AOBRD Includes Hardware and Software; Additional Special Offers Extended to OOIDA
HOUSTON– Gorilla Safety, provider of an innovative, proprietary and patented software solution that fully automates all aspects of fleet and safety management, announced today it is helping fleets prepare for the December 18, 2017 deadline when, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) become mandatory for motor carriers and commercial drivers.
The impending ruling allows for three phases of implementation, to provide fleets ample time to adapt and transition to the final ELD adoption stage and meet those requirements. According to the FMCSA, an ELD must automatically record drivers’ time behind the wheel and other hours-of-service (HOS) data. This capability allows for easier, more accurate HOS record keeping, making it simpler for commercial vehicle operators to create precise reports. An ELD monitors a vehicle’s engine to capture data on whether the engine is running, whether the vehicle is moving, miles driven and duration of engine operation (engine hours).
To help bridge the gap between the Phase 1 and Phase 3 deadlines, Gorilla Safety is offering affordable AOBRD technology for fleets in transition to help ensure they meet the initial deadline. While AOBRD — the ELD predecessor — is the previous acceptable technology, the FMCSA ELD ruling does allow drivers to use an AOBRD for the next two years (from December 18, 2017-December 16, 2019), only on the condition that it was installed prior to the effective date of the mandate (before December 18, 2017). A grandfathered AOBRD is considered to be a device that motor carriers installed and required its drivers to use before the new ELD compliance ruling was established and takes effect.
Gorilla Safety is offering its AOBRD for $10.00 per month, including hardware, with a typical turnaround time of approximately 3-4 weeks. There will likely be a limited supply as the deadline nears, so Gorilla Safety is encouraging fleets to place their orders soon to allow enough time to meet the deadline.
Furthermore, to help facilitate AOBRD adoption and mandate adherence, Gorilla Safety is offering any member of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), the international trade association representing the interests of independent owner-operators and professional drivers on all issues that affect
truckers, a complimentary month of AOBRD subscription. This is to help every small business owner and owner operator remain compliant while they become accustomed to these new regulations.
“Using an AOBRD instead of taking risks by putting off implementation enables fleets to continue operations without any interruption or fear of being placed out of service by the FMCSA. The AOBRD also provides fleets and drivers more confidence as they transition to compliance more smoothly than they might with an ELD. By using an AOBRD instead, the system is less cumbersome to small fleet operators,” explained Mark Walton, co-founder and chief executive officer at Gorilla Safety.
“As a leading provider of fleet technology, we believe in the American trucker and want to do everything we can to help small business owners and owner operators remain compliant with the new regulations. It’s important to Gorilla Safety that the transition to compliance for these small business owners is simple and by introducing a low cost compliance solution, we are making this possible. Many of the largest fleets will be operating with AOBRDs over the next two years, and our AOBRD affords owner operators this same opportunity, leveling the playing field for all,” Walton said.
Tommy Johnson, Gorilla Safety’s co-founder and president, added: “Gorilla Safety’s AOBRD solution is affordable, convenient and easy to implement. At just $10.00 per month, including the hardware, Gorilla Safety believes it is offering the most cost-effective option available on the market today. It’s an ideal choice for the owner operator because they grapple with costs and operational burdens associated with many of the ELDs out there today. Our AOBRD is very simple to install, keeps drivers compliant and helps them transition more easily. We are confident that by helping facilitate the transition to the ELD mandate through our AOBRD, fleets will be more confident, comfortable and well prepared.”
While an AOBRD is important in that it will aid in the transition time allotted to move from current paper logs to an ELD, the ability for any fleet that installs an AOBRD by the FMCSA deadline of December 18, 2017 to use it until the final December 16, 2019 deadline, only applies to current vehicles within the fleet. If any new vehicles are purchased or put into service during this two-year period, those will require adherence to the new ELD mandate. Essentially, AOBRD reduces the restrictions and allows fleets to operate more freely as they take the time to transition to the new ELD requirements, in a cost effective manner.
About Gorilla Safety
Launched at the onset of 2016 and founded in 2013 by two seasoned insurance industry professionals, Houston-based Gorilla Safety provides the transportation industry with a patented, affordable cloud-based software solution that automates every aspect of fleet and safety management. Gorilla Safety brings to the marketplace the first and only easy-to-use mobile app that fully integrates all the capabilities necessary for safely and efficiently managing large short-haul and long-haul vehicle fleets. The Company’s state-of-the-art solution is helping fleets more quickly and easily adapt to mandated Electronic Logging Device (ELD) regulatory requirements. The Gorilla Safety app boasts many features that allow users to better manage their business, improve productivity, increase profitability and lower insurance claims and premiums – all done quickly and simply from the palm of their hands. For more information, visit www.gorillasafety.com, go to the Gorilla Safety Facebook page or follow the Company on Twitter @Gorilla_Safety and LinkedIn.
