Are you really compliant now that ELDs are almost here?

The hot topic for people in trucking is, “What type of ELD do I get and where can I purchase one?”

The purchase of an ELD does not necessarily mean it will be compliant for IFTA and IRP. So, are you really compliant with IFTA and IRP standards?

We looked into it for you.

Distance & DATA Collection ELD for HOSIFTA and IRP Compliance
Location data for the vehicle to which the records pertainREQUIREDREQUIRED
Frequency of GPS Readings, date & time stamps and distance recording requirement
Location readings:
  • Every 60 minutes
  • Every change of duty status
  • Engine on/off at a precision of one mile when On-Duty and 10 miles when Off-Duty
Date & Time of each GPS or other system reading:
Intervals sufficient to validate total distance traveled in each jurisdiction. (Location reading 10-15 minutes or less)
Location of each GPS or other system readingNOT REQUIREDREQUIRED
Calculated distance between each GPS of other system readingNOT REQUIREDREQUIRED
Routes of Travel by UnitNOT REQUIREDREQUIRED
Beginning & Ending reading of OdometerREQUIREDREQUIRED
Engine HoursREQUIREDNOT REQUIRED
Total Trip Distance by UnitNOT REQUIREDREQUIRED
Distance by Unit Each 24 Hour PeriodREQUIREDNOT REQUIRED
Distance by Jurisdiction by UnitNOT REQUIREDREQUIRED
Unit NumberPOWER UNIT & TRAILERPOWER UNIT ONLY
Registrant’s Company NameREQUIREDREQUIRED
Driver Name/IDREQUIREDNOT REQUIRED
Retain Data for audit purposes6 MonthsIFTA: 4 Years IRP up to 6.5 years
Certification that device meets requirementsSelf-certified on FMCSA websiteIFTA/IRP DO NOT certify devices/systems
A monthly summary of fleet’s operations which includes distance traveled during a quarter, in total, by vehicle & JurisdictionNot Required. Reporting is by Driver not unit or fleetMust be provided upon due notice
Differentiate distance recording accuracy between personal & commercial useREQUIREDNo Distinction; All Travel must be documented
Report driver hours of service violationsREQUIREDNOT REQUIRED

*Source – Official IFTA website

In other words, your ELD may not have all the required features to be adequate for IFTA or IRP. 

It is always a difficult task to comply with new changes. It takes time to find a compliant ELD for HOS, which is mandatory for your company, and there are still more requirements to consider.

Using your ELD can make IFTA reporting easier than ever. But interestingly, not all ELDs are made to work for IFTA mileages.

Here are some questions you should ask to help determine if your ELD will comply with IFTA reporting:

  • Is the GPS recording total distance traveled in each jurisdiction?
  • Does the GPS record the location of all GPS pings?
  • Are you able to run detailed trip reports? Routes traveled by each unit?
  • Can you keep your data for 4 to 6 years in case you are ever audited?
  • What happens when your ELD has data gaps – are you able to recover those lost miles?
  • If you were ever given a notice to provide a monthly or quarterly summary, would you be able to provide that information?

P.S. Beware of vendors stating that their ELD systems are IFTA or IRP certified. There is no such certification.

We want to make IFTA reports and other fuel tax reports easy for you. Why not take advantage of our 31-day free trial?

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