5 Key Benefits of Using ELD Devices for Fleet Management

Image by Freepik

ELD solutions are excellent tools for eliminating manual work processes. This software also provides fleet managers with essential data on their vehicles (like mileage and fuel usage) to help ensure preemptive maintenance.

Other benefits include reducing time spent filling out paperwork, faster roadside inspections, and safer driving habits with additional driver behavior monitoring. It is all made possible by an ELD’s automatic HOS compliance and vehicle data organization capabilities.

Increased Safety

ELDs electronically record driver hours of service (HoS) and hold drivers and trucking companies accountable for FMCSA regulations. They also make it easier for drivers to exchange information with dispatch and back office staff. It saves time and reduces the amount of paperwork that must be completed.

Fleet operators can use the data provided by their ELD to monitor and take action on driver behavior that could endanger everyone on the road. Video-based safety solutions paired with ELDs allow managers to intervene immediately and coach drivers for safer driving.

Small fleets can also use the engine diagnostics and miles data an ELD provides to prevent breakdowns. The device also helps them stay on top of preventative maintenance and avoid costly last-minute repairs.

Increased Efficiency

Besides simplifying compliance and eliminating paper logs, ELD device offer a variety of other benefits that improve fleet efficiency. For example, integrating with telematics systems can help small fleets implement preventative maintenance programs based on engine hours and miles. It helps reduce downtime and costly last-minute repairs.

Dispatch and routing can also be made more accessible with an FMCSA-approved ELD with real-time GPS tracking data. It allows fleet managers to dispatch drivers without calling and provide customers with accurate, reliable ETAs.

Look for a flexible solution that is compatible with the latest regulations. Avoid devices that only ask for information on a set schedule, known as time ping rates, which can be inaccurate. Instead, choose one that offers real-time location tracking.

Reduced Fuel Costs

ELD devices help fleets reduce fuel costs in a variety of ways. First and foremost, they eliminate the need to manually track driver hours of service on paper logs, which are prone to errors. It saves drivers and dispatchers time and improves efficiency.

Additionally, IFTA fuel tax reporting is automated, which cuts down on paperwork and prevents costly mistakes. Furthermore, real-time GPS location reports enable small fleets to optimize routes to ensure drivers can make deliveries on schedule and avoid costly delays.

Finally, many ELD solutions come with a telematics system that integrates with the vehicle’s engine to gather critical data like mileage and fault codes, which can be used for predictive maintenance. It also helps to reduce expensive last-minute emergency repairs, which can cost as much as four times more.

Improved Customer Service

ELD devices reduce the amount of manual paperwork fleets must handle, freeing up time to focus on customer service. They eliminate the potential for human error in logging service hours, reducing liability. They also help drivers avoid over-hours violations by alerting them when it is time to stop driving. Research by ATA found that trucks equipped with ELDs experienced 53% fewer driver-related CSA scores.

In addition to helping you comply with FMCSA regulations, an ELD can provide fleet owners with a wealth of data to increase profitability and efficiency. Among other things, they allow managers to track engine diagnostics, reduce fuel costs by monitoring engine idling, and improve dispatch and routing with features like geofencing capabilities. These benefits can all lead to a lower overall cost of operations for small fleets.

Increased Compliance

Using an ELD with a mobile app, fleet managers can track engine and GPS location data to create duty status logs for their drivers. Some devices even collect the vehicle and driving behavior data such as acceleration, hard braking, and severe turns. It can help fleets train drivers on safer habits and reduce the risk of accidents.

Adding an ELD to a fleet also allows for automating and simplifying the process of recording HOS, making it easier for drivers to meet compliance requirements. By reducing human error, companies see improved CSA scores and fewer violations. ELD devices also record diagnostic vehicle data like engine fault codes and mileage, which allows fleets to plan routine maintenance based on vehicle health and increase uptime.