Trucking Alliance Supports “ELD” Rule for Commercial Trucks

Washington, D.C.
The Trucking Alliance for Driver Safety & Security, a leading proponent of safety reforms in the freight transportation industry, announced today its’ full support of the U. S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) just published rule that mandates the installation of electronic logging devices (ELDs) in all interstate commercial trucks by late 2017. ELDs are engaged to the truck engine and can verify the number of hours a truck driver has operated the commercial vehicle.

“Congress passed the ELD mandate in 2012, and this new rule will enable our industry to rationally build a safer and more compliant supply chain for the future,” said Steve Williams, president of the Trucking Alliance and chairman and CEO of Maverick USA in Little Rock, Arkansas. Williams said the Alliance is elated that all trucking companies must install ELDs in their trucks by the end of 2017.

“ELDs eliminate paper logbooks and the time consuming tasks that filling them out forced on the nation’s 3 million truck drivers,” said Williams. “These electronic logging devices are incredibly powerful tools to reduce truck driver fatigue, improve highway safety and assure the motoring public that truck drivers are obeying the law.”

Lane Kidd, the Alliance managing director, said the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration “was especially thorough in writing a rule that protects the privacy of truck drivers and has a framework of safeguards to make sure nobody burdens drivers to exceed their on-duty driving time.”

Williams believes these safeguards are critical to improve the truck drivers’ job and lifestyle. “Truck drivers are loyal Americans with an enviable work ethic, but all too often, their willingness to ‘go the extra mile’ is abused by companies that push them to exceed their normal working hours,” said Williams. “ELDs take away the confusion and give truck drivers an effective tool to no longer carry that burden.”

Williams thinks trucking company owners should view their business as a privilege, not an entitlement, and that the ELD mandate is one example. “Operating a trucking company carries with it a moral responsibility to assure the motoring public that our truck drivers are well trained, drug free and properly rested,” he said. “Requiring ELDs in all trucks will help achieve those goals and every business owner in our industry should embrace this new requirement.”

Maverick Transportation trucks are equipped with ELDs, as are all Alliance member companies. Williams said his company drivers and independent contractors know the positive benefit these electronic devices have made in their lives. “In fact, with ELDs in our trucks, we’ve put up the best safety performance in the 35 year history of the company,” Williams said. “Now, are ELDs changing the freight business from what my father and grandfather knew? Yes, and that’s a fortunate thing for everyone.”

The Trucking Alliance also reaffirmed its other truck safety goals for 2016. “Going forward, the Alliance supports safety reforms that can protect our workforce but also help us attract and retain the next generation of employees who can serve the Nation while enjoying the quality of life they’ve grown accustomed,” Williams explained.

In addition to the ELD rule, Williams said the Alliance supports a database to see if truck driver applicants previously failed drug exams, let trucking companies adopt hair testing rather than a urinalysis to clear pre-employment applicants, require speed limiters on all commercial vehicles, make sure truck accident victims are properly compensated, seek incentives to install safety technologies on trucks and implement technologies to help law enforcement officers inspect more commercial trucks each year.

“The Alliance will shift much of its focus from Congress to the federal agencies that must implement these safety reforms,” said Williams.

Kidd noted that much of the group’s progress must occur after the presidential election. “The next administration and its appointees will have the power to decide whether the federal agencies continue the progress we’ve made, so the trucking industry is a safer and more equitable place to work,” said Kidd.

“To that end, the Alliance will continue our collaborative relationships with all transportation stakeholders,” concluded Williams. “We must work together to find solutions, so we can deliver much more freight over much more congested highways, while reducing accidents, protecting the environment and improving our nation’s economy,” said Williams.

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The Trucking Alliance for Driver Safety & Security was organized in 2011 and is a Washington D.C. based coalition of U.S. freight transportation companies committed to a safer and more secure working environment for the nation’s commercial truck drivers and the motoring public.