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 HOS IFTA and IRP Compliance
Location data for the vehicle to which the records pertain REQUIRED REQUIRED
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 reading NOT REQUIRED REQUIRED
Calculated distance between each GPS of other system reading NOT REQUIRED REQUIRED
Routes of Travel by Unit NOT REQUIRED REQUIRED
Beginning & Ending reading of Odometer REQUIRED REQUIRED
Engine Hours REQUIRED NOT REQUIRED
Total Trip Distance by Unit NOT REQUIRED REQUIRED
Distance by Unit Each 24 Hour Period REQUIRED NOT REQUIRED
Distance by Jurisdiction by Unit NOT REQUIRED REQUIRED
Unit Number POWER UNIT & TRAILER POWER UNIT ONLY
Registrant’s Company Name REQUIRED REQUIRED
Driver Name/ID REQUIRED NOT REQUIRED
Retain Data for audit purposes 6 Months IFTA: 4 Years IRP up to 6.5 years
Certification that device meets requirements Self-certified on FMCSA website IFTA/IRP DO NOT certify devices/systems
A monthly summary of fleet’s operations which includes distance traveled during a quarter, in total, by vehicle & Jurisdiction Not Required. Reporting is by Driver not unit or fleet Must be provided upon due notice
Differentiate distance recording accuracy between personal & commercial use REQUIRED No Distinction; All Travel must be documented
Report driver hours of service violations REQUIRED NOT 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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