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A Smooth Transition to E-Logs for Dynamic Transit Truck Drivers

If you’ve been around the trucking industry for any amount of time, you’ve heard the discussion of e-logs or electronic logs circulating through the truck stops. The rules regarding electronic logs have been years in the making with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The devices themselves have changed names from EOBR (electronic on-board recording) devices in the CSA 2010 to ELD (electronic logging device) with MAP21 in 2012. All of these changes make it hard to keep up with the details.

We recently talked with Michele Khani, one of the owners, about Dynamic Transit’s ELD equipment and what it means for their drivers.

What exactly are e-logs?

E-logs are electronic logs, whether you know them by EOBR or ELD. It is a device that connects to a truck’s ECM and is automatically activated when the truck is started to record a trucker’s driving time, stops, etc. The FMCSA has required that every commercial truck, with few exceptions, be fitted with an ELD by December 18, 2017.

Dynamic Transit is a company that prides itself on staying one-step ahead with technological advancements in the trucking industry. Rather than waiting for all of the political arguments to be sorted out in Washington, Dynamic initiated outfitting their fleet of trucks and training their drivers to be prepared for an upcoming legislation changes. It was a smart move. All of the company’s trucks were updated well ahead of the upcoming deadline.

The Dynamic difference helps drivers adjust

Initially, there was some resistance to ELDs from office personnel and drivers. Michele readily admits that changing over to e-logs is a little bit harder for drivers in the beginning, because most people don’t like change. That’s a part of our human nature. To help drivers make the adjustment, each driver was brought in for training one to one. Dynamic managers sat at a desk with each individual and a practice module. They ran through real-life scenarios as many times as a driver needed to feel comfortable with the device.

Once drivers are on the road, they have the comfort of knowing that someone is always available by phone to help them when needed. We have found that there is an added comfort in being required to keep a manual log book in case of equipment failure, which is also an FMCSA requirement.

The positives of e-logs

It can be hard to find the good of regulatory changes when they seem to push so many restrictions. Dynamic Transit has chosen to focus on the positives. Drivers are getting more rest, more consistently in their schedules and are able to manage their time better.

Second, and maybe the most impactful, e-logs have created another way for the drivers and the company to partner together for their mutual success by creating a more managed responsibility. The driver initiates their hours and use while the company has the responsibility of finding loads that fit a trucker’s availability. That relationship keeps everyone running at maximum efficiency.

If you’re interested in a truck driving job that maximizes your potential and partners with a cooperative company, contact our recruiters for more information.

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