Canadian Mandate for Electronic Logging Device: What are New ELD Rules and Exemptions?

The Canadian mandate for electronic logging devices was issued in 2021 and originally had a deadline of July 12th of 2022. But to give the trucking industry more time to adapt, it was extended to January 1, 2023. 

With the Canadian ELD mandate inching ever closer, many truckers wonder if they are going to be penalized for not having electronic logging devices. To clear up any confusion, the Canadian government has given clear guidelines that tell you everything. 

Those looking for a clear and concise guide to the Canadian ELD mandate might want to go through the blog. In this blog, we will go over what the Canadian ELD mandate is all about and whether or not you should be worried about it.

What is the Canadian ELD Mandate?

The electronic logging device mandate Canada requires all commercial motor vehicles to have an electronic logging device on board to keep track of on-duty time. The Canadian ELD mandate applies to all federally regulated motor carriers. 

The Canadian government announced the mandate for electronic logging devices on June 13, 2019, and it came into effect on June 12, 2021. They had a progressive enforcement period in place till June 12, 2022.

The Canadian Council of motor transport administrators (CCMTA), extended the progressive enforcement period till January 1, 2023, to give provinces time to adjust to the new changes. After January 1, 2023, drivers will be penalized for not having certified ELD devices. 

Why Has the Canadian Government Mandated ELD?

The Canada ELD mandate has mainly been put in place to increase road safety for truck drivers. Because the ELD records commercial vehicle driver hours, it discourages commercial drivers from driving in a fatigued state, greatly reducing the risks of an accident. 

Because an ELD solution can automatically record the hours of service in a commercial motor vehicle, it ensures that the system is tamper-free. The Canadian trucking alliance also mentions that such a mandate has already been in place in the US since 2017.

There are also other benefits of having an ELD on board for trucking companies. Though in order to understand them all, you might want a look at a detailed blog that tells you everything you need to know about ELD devices.

Who are Exempted?

The Canadian electronic logging device mandate does have a few exceptions much like any other federal regulation. For example, if you are operating a commercial vehicle under a rental agreement of fewer than 30 days, then you are under a statutory exemption. 

You are also exempt from meeting this requirement if the model year of your truck is older than 2000. This is to address all the compatibility issues faced by ELD manufacturers when installing the ELD device. Such motor carriers will be required to carry a paper log instead.

If you are a motor carrier with a specific permit then you will also not be required to have an ELD device on your truck. While most bus drivers are exempt, some are not. Ontario will require some of its bus drivers to also use ELD devices to monitor their work hours. 

How to Check if Your Electronic Logging Device is Certified?

Unlike the US where ELD providers can self-certify their devices, The Canadian ruleset requires ELD devices to undergo third-party certification. If an ELD provider does not have any certification from the third party then they will not be considered valid.

This is because ELD devices are in place to improve safety and thus, must meet all the underlying technical standards to be deemed safe. A valid ELD device has to record hours based on various factors. This is why, very few devices pass through service regulations.

Most ELD manufacturers will state if they are compliant with the Canada ELD mandate on their website. Most commercial carriers would be happy to hear that the ELD systems in the US are likely to clear Canadian regulations as they both have similar guidelines. 

Keep Track of Your Drivers and Monitor Their Performance Using Upper

Much like how an electronic logging device is essential to keep your driver’s duty status in check, Upper is essential to keep your delivery routes in order. Planning routes for your delivery stops is an unnecessarily long and arduous process that needs to be shortened.

This is where Upper comes in with features such as Excel import that allows you to import in hundreds of stops within seconds. Upper also allows you to set off-duty time for your drivers so that their routes are planned to perfection to give you highly accurate estimated times of arrival.

Upper takes your delivery routes to the next level of efficiency. It saves any delivery company so much time and money that it might as well be mandated. Quit wasting hours on a task that can be completed in minutes with Upper.

Wrapping Up

The ELD mandate has been affecting every single motor carrier and ELD provider equally as it requires a new wave of additional costs. Everything from the installation costs to the cost of the device itself is going to cost truckers a small fortune.

The Private Motor Truck Council of Canada recognizes the struggles caused by a lack of certified electronic logging devices. Though, there is little that can be done about it as the government cannot control the development of more ELD devices by private companies.  

While you can’t fix government regulations, You can indeed do a lot to fix your delivery routes. Delivery route planning is best left to software like Upper which can single-handedly shorten route planning times in half. Try Upper’s 7-day free trial to see its full potential for yourself.