Most people in Florida have likely heard or read news reports that provide details about accidents involving large commercial vehicles. While any type of motor vehicle accident can result in serious injuries or fatalities, a crash involving the large and heavy trucks can be even worse in large part due to the size and weight of the trucks. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration owns the responsibility for developing and implementing laws and rules that truckers must adhere to. These rules focus on safety and accident prevention or reduction.
One such rule, the Hours of Service rule, mandates the number of hours each trucker can drive on a daily and a weekly basis. The FMCSA created another rule to help force compliance with the HOS rule that requires trucks to be equipped with special devices called electronic logging devices. As explained by Transport Topics, when the electronic logging device rule was launched, the FMCSA provided a grace period for its full enforcement. Full enforcement began in mid-December of this year.
The ELDs collect and report engine on, drive and idle time data along with mileage information. These devices prevent truckers from driving more than the allowed number of hours each day and each week.
Drivers or trucking companies found in violation of the ELD rule may be cited or forced out of service for some time depending on the circumstances. Older versions of ELDs, called automatic on-board recording devices, offered more opportunities to falsify or adjust driving record data, but those options have been eliminated now with the use of electronic logging devices. The FMCSA believes the change will improve safety.
