Now that October has come and gone, you may be wondering about the status of the ELD Mandate ruling, which will require truck operators to use electronic logging devices. Originally, the ruling was scheduled on September 30, 2015, but was subsequently moved back to October 30th. You can read about reasons for the previous delay, as well as some of the implications of non-compliance here. While fleets are eager to hear the final ruling and learn what this means for their operations, since this is a very complex piece of legislation, the FMCSA is taking their time to ensure not only that all concerns are addressed, but also that all implications are fully thought out.
While some in the industry may be concerned that the ruling will get pushed back yet again, at least one industry expert believes this will not happen. At the 2015 Safety, Security, and Human Resources National Conference in Little Rock, Arkansas, American Trucking Association (ATA) senior vice president of policy and regulatory affairs Dave Osiecki informed attendees that he expects the ruling will take place before the end of the month. According to Osiecki, “We’ve been waiting on this rule forever: Where is it, why is it taking so long? We’re pretty confident that November is still the publication date.”
So what makes this time different?
The good news is that although this is a long process, many of requirements needed in order to come to a ruling have been met. As outlined in this blog, we’re nearing the end of the line in regard to what decisions must be made. As of this posting, the rule has been at the Office of Management and Budget for 90 days, and once it clears this office it should be published within a few days to a week.
As always, eldfacts.com will have the latest information on the ELD Mandate as soon as it becomes available. In the meantime, feel free to explore eldfacts.com to find out how ELDs can benefit you.