Last month, Canada’s transport ministry finalised an electronic logging device (ELD) mandate that will come into force on June 12, 2021, aligning the country’s vehicle regulations with the USA.

Photo credit: Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).

ELDs, which will replace paper-based logbooks, aim to ensure that commercial vehicle operators drive within their daily limit and accurately log their working hours. The devices track when and how long drivers have been at the wheel and ensure they are complying with the Canada’s hours of service regulations.

Transport Canada said that it conducted extensive consultations with the industry to ensure the implementation of the devices is feasible. “As a result of these consultations, a third-party certification process will be put in place to ensure that the ELDs will be accurate and reliable,” added the ministry.

It is estimated that the mandatory requirement for ELDs will reduce the risk of fatigue-related collisions by approximately 10 percent.

ELD regulations came into force in the USA during December 2017 and have been a polarising subject in the country’s freight market since their introduction.

As HLPFI has previously reported, drivers complained that the enforcement has lowered productivity, caused delays in the supply chain and raised the cost of shipping. With the freight market in the USA already suffering from a shortage of drivers, the supply chain was also concerned that the mandate would potentially push away the workforce at a time when capacity is already tight.

However, a report from DAT Solutions in January 2019 suggested that the number of active carriers in the US commercial motor vehicle sector has grown at a faster rate following the implementation of the ELD mandate. However, DAT attributed this trend to favourable market conditions in late December 2017 and early January 2018.

www.canada.ca

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