What is an ELD?

An ELD or E-Log is an electronic logging device. This device is an electronic piece of hardware installed to a vehicle engine to record driving hours.

This is a legal requirement in many countries and can also have variations within regions within countries as well. Europeans, for example, use drivers' working hours where in the USA it’s known as the HOS (hours of service) and in Canada, it’s the Canadian hours of service.

There are some variations between the United States and Canada which are important to know which we will come onto. RAM Tracking offers a fully certified offering which covers all of North America.

White van driving on a snowy road

What does an ELD do?

An ELD monitors a vehicle’s engine and will capture:

  • Whether the engine is running.
  • Whether the vehicle is moving.
  • The distance driven.
  • The duration of engine operation.

Prior to ELDs the standard was to use old fashioned paper logs or EOBRs (electronic on-board recorders) to track the hours driven. EOBRs significantly improved accuracy but not quite consistent enough for the new legislation needed and new ELDs are unable to be manually altered.

A truck driving on a road next to water

When did ELDs come into force?

Canadian ELD regulations have been introduced through several phases:

  • December 18, 2017 - Start of regulation recognition.

  • June 13 2019 - Canada announced a mandate of ELDs for Trucks and bus operators

  • December 2019 - Fleets already equipped with loggers or recorders had until to ensure compliance with the published specifications

  • June 12 2022 - Deadline for going paperless

  • January 1 2023 - Extended deadline

United States ELD regulation has been introduced through several phases:

  • December 16, 2015 - ELD Mandate published.

  • February 16 2016 - ELDs came into effect.

  • December 18 2017 - End of transition phase.

  • December 16 2019 - Compulsory phrase live.

Man wearing a US jacket smiling at the camera

Canadian ELD rules v USA ELD rules

The Canadian introduction now means that the rules are more harmonious both north and south of the border, with a few differences. Similarities include:

  • Automatic drive time capture
  • On-screen display in the event of an inspection
  • Provide GPS tracking
  • A mechanism to verify logs and agree to edits
  • Special driving statuses allowed, such as Personal Conveyance (PC) and Yard Move (YM)
  • Engine synchronization

There are some differences, however and these are:

  • ELDs in Canada must be third-party certified
  • ELDs in the USA are self-certified by the manufacturer and then are registered with the FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)
  • Canadian drivers will not need to use a federal system like eRODS to transfer logs electronically as they do in the USA. Drivers will need to email a transfer file to officers who can then open the file in a conversion software in order to read them
  • Canadian ELDs have to warn the driver when reaching the HOS limit.
  • Drivers who have driven 75 kilometers a day must disable the personal use option.
  • Exempt Vehicles in Canada include:
    • Operate specific permit-issued vehicles
    • Statutory exemptions
    • Rental agreement vehicles with a short term (under 30 days)
    • Vehicles manufactured before 2000 (paper logs still required here)

Aerial view of vehicles on a road

USA vs. Canada HOS

Hours of service are a limit introduced to ensure that drivers are not being overworked and are taking the necessary steps to avoid fatigue and, in the worst-case scenario, falling asleep at the wheel. The rules are set out to ensure that drivers are in a fit state to carry out their work. Laid out in the plan are the:

  • Hours a driver must rest between shifts
  • Breaks within the shift
  • Property and passenger-carrying drivers have different hours in Canada than in the USA.

Canadian Rules South Of 60 degrees

  • Driver limit is 13 hours driving time within a 16-hour period followed by a minimum of 8 hours rest.
  • 14 hours of on-duty time from the end of the most recent 8 hours of rest.
  • 7 consecutive days has a 70-hour maximum, and 14 days has a maximum of 120 hours.
    • The 70-hour rule is a rolling 7-day cycle
    • The 120-hour rule is a rolling 14-day cycle
    • A 24-hour period of rest must be taken after doing 70 on-duty hours.
    • Within a 14-day period 24 consecutive hours off-duty is mandatory.

Canadian Rules North of 60 degrees

Because of the adverse conditions and long distances between towns, rules are accommodating of these factors

  • Driving time is increased by 2 hours and on-duty by 4 hours.
  • Drivers must stop after 15 hours of driving and 18 hours on duty.
  • Work shift limits increased by 4 hours, with drivers stopping after 20 hours on a shift.
  • Off-duty time is decreased by 2 hours, but the 8-hour consecutive off-duty rest period remains.

Ask us anything