Continental is working to counter the misconceptions associated with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) ELD Mandate.

VDO RoadLog product managers have seen that many drivers and fleets believe that the mandate includes changes to the longstanding Hours of Service (HOS) rules, which it does not, according to VDO. The managers are working to educate the market on the reality of the HOS rules under the mandate.

No Changes to the 14-Hour Rules

“Some drivers believe that there are changes to the 14-hour clock rule now that the mandate has been put in place,” said James McCarthy, business development and marketing manager for VDO RoadLog. “The 14-hour limit means that once a driver comes back on-duty after 10 consecutive hours of off-duty time, that driver cannot drive beyond 14 consecutive hours. Designed to prevent driver fatigue, this workday limit is the total number of hours a driver can work in a day.”

“The 14-hour period includes driving, rest limits and various off-duty breaks,” explained McCarthy. “The ELD Mandate has not affected the 14-hour rule. These restrictions were in place before the ELD mandate was drafted and have not changed.”

Sleeper Berth Rules Remain Unchanged

The sleeper berth rule refers to a driver spending 10 consecutive hours in the sleeper-berth. If a driver spends the full 10 hours, the driver’s 11-hour and 14-hour limits are completely reset. Drivers, who do not take 10 consecutive hours of rest, do not get a full reset. Many drivers believe that they can take eight hours rest and take advantage of the “sleeper berth split” rule. This is not the case. If drivers try to take the “sleeper berth split” after only eight hours, their ELD will show that they are not in compliance. Again, the mandate did not change the sleeper berth rules, but the ELD devices are pointing out non-compliance issues of which drivers may not have been aware.

“Most drivers and fleets believe that the split sleeper berth rule will give them a full set of new hours once they complete the eight and two split,” said McCarthy. “To gain hours using the split sleeper berth rule, drivers need to spend at least one of the two required rest periods in their sleeper berth. The rest period in the sleeper berth has to be at least eight, but less than 10 consecutive hours. This eight-consecutive hour rest period will not count against the 14-hour duty clock. The other, separate rest period must be at least two consecutive hours. It can be spent in the sleeper berth and/or off duty. However, this two-hour period will count against the 14-hour on duty limit. That’s why the eight and two split does not provide a full set of new hours.”

VDO RoadLog wants to ensure that drivers, owner/operators, and fleet managers are well informed about the many new requirements that are actually associated with the ELD Mandate. “Changes to the mandate have been frequent, and those affected by the new regulations need to stay in the know,” said McCarthy. Individuals can visit the VDO RoadLog blog to stay abreast of news and changes that impact their day-to-day lives. The blog can be viewed by visiting vdoroadlog.com/about-roadlog/blog.

VDO RoadLog was one of the first stand-alone ELDs offered in North America, providing an affordable, simple and secure solution for mandate compliance and reporting. VDO RoadLog ELD is available without monthly fees. For those who want advanced features, the RoadLog ELD Plus adds cellular connectivity for text-based messaging, driver monitoring and remote load and trip management, as well as enhanced fleet management capabilities, for a monthly fee per vehicle.

All VDO RoadLog ELDs work with the VDO RoadLog Office online compliance reporting and fleet management tool. The basic version of RoadLog Office also is available with no fees.

VDO RoadLog ELD also is the only ELD on the market with a built-in printer that can quickly produce a logbook-style print out during an inspection. This ensures drivers can get through inspections quickly and back on the road as soon as possible. RoadLog ELDs also can transfer log data by wireless and USB.

VDO RoadLog ELD allows owner operators and fleet managers to dramatically reduce the man-hours required for fleet management and compliance reporting. Logs are kept online and can be accessed anytime there is an internet connection. Fleet managers also can remotely monitor any violations that need to be addressed directly from their office and use the violation data in their corrective action reports.