TT_021518_AllPages
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
THETRUCKER.COM<br />
Nation February 15-28, 2018 • 3<br />
Old Dominion wants time to get its<br />
AOBRDs in line with ELD mandate<br />
Lyndon Finney<br />
editor@thetrucker.com<br />
WASHINGTON — The Federal Motor<br />
Carrier Safety Administration may well be<br />
caught between a rock and a hard spot.<br />
Old Dominion Freight Line Inc. has requested<br />
an exemption from the electronic logging device<br />
requirement in order to give the carrier time<br />
to install ELD devices running on automatic onboard<br />
recording device (AOBRD) software in<br />
commercial motor vehicles added to the company’s<br />
fleet for up to one year from the December<br />
18, 2017, ELD mandate compliance date.<br />
If granted, this modified ELD phase-in period<br />
will allow Old Dominion’s AOBRD/ELD<br />
provider, PeopleNet, to complete the development<br />
of the software necessary to integrate ELD<br />
data with the company’s fleet management and<br />
safety systems to fully meet the ELD mandate.<br />
“Our top priority at PeopleNet is and always<br />
will be to ensure that enabling safer, more<br />
efficient fleets should be as simple as possible.<br />
We stand behind our customers, and the limited<br />
three-month waiver allows a more flexible,<br />
seamless transition from AOBRD to ELD software.<br />
We are confident that any current challenges<br />
will be short-lived as we continue to<br />
look ahead past the ELD mandate and build out<br />
the PeopleNet platform to meet our customers’<br />
larger long-term needs.”<br />
FMCSA considers the request to be on behalf<br />
of all motor carriers in similar situations<br />
concerning the integration of PeopleNet’s ELD<br />
software into fleet management systems.<br />
The agency will accept comments on Old<br />
Dominion’s request through March 2.<br />
The carrier said it began equipping its vehicles<br />
with PeopleNet AOBRDs in 2010, and by<br />
2011 the entire fleet was equipped with devices<br />
which meet the necessary requirements.<br />
Data from the AOBRDs feed directly into<br />
the company’s fleet management and safety<br />
systems, enabling its dispatchers to know precisely<br />
where each of its drivers is at any given<br />
time and how many hours he/she has available<br />
under the federal Hours of Service rule.<br />
This functionality is not required by the AO-<br />
BRD rules under 49 CFR 395.15 or the ELD requirements<br />
under Subpart B of 49 CFR art 395.<br />
The application says that currently, the<br />
PeopleNet AOBRD software allows carriers to<br />
configure certain specifications.<br />
If the settings were not adjustable, the People-<br />
Net AOBRD would be similar, but not identical,<br />
to the FMCSA’s ELD technical specifications.<br />
Old Dominion said it has configured its settings<br />
in the PeopleNet AOBRDs it uses.<br />
However, certain AOBRD software changes<br />
must be made by PeopleNet, including:<br />
• Disabling the “skip feature”<br />
• Limiting the auto-duty status change<br />
threshold to 5 miles, and<br />
• Limiting geo-fencing of yard time to 0.5<br />
miles.<br />
Sources told The Trucker there are as many as<br />
250,000 similar units in use in the industry today.<br />
The eyes of the industry will be on the<br />
FMCSA as it considers this request because it<br />
is also considering a request from the Owner-<br />
Operator Independent Drivers Association<br />
(OOIDA) for a five-year exemption for smaller<br />
carriers with “exemplary safety records.”<br />
OOIDA wants at least a five-year exemption<br />
for motor carriers classified as small businesses<br />
by the Small Business Administration<br />
(SBA) and which have a proven safety history<br />
with no attributable at-fault crashes and no unsatisfactory<br />
carrier safety rating. The SBA defines<br />
a small business as one having less than<br />
$27.5 million annual revenue.<br />
Last week OOIDA said that U.S. Reps. Brian<br />
Babin, R-Texas, and Steve King, R-Iowa — along<br />
with 23 other members of Congress — have sent<br />
a letter to FMCSA asking the agency to support<br />
OOIDA’s pending application for an exemption<br />
from the ELD mandate. 8<br />
SMALL ENOUGH TO FOCUS<br />
ON YOUR SUCCESS. BIG ENOUGH<br />
TO HELP YOU MAKE IT HAPPEN.<br />
ASSETS | LOGISTICS (U.S.) | LOGÍSTICA (MEXICO)<br />
At CFI, we pride ourselves on offering the consistent miles<br />
and individualized attention our owner operators need to<br />
meet their goals. That’s why we offer 24/7 support staff.<br />
Plus, a $2,000 sign-on bonus for new owner operators.<br />
When our drivers are happy, we’re happy.<br />
Visit CFIDrive.com to learn more or<br />
call (877) 592-3642 to speak with a recruiter.<br />
CFI.21062.IndependentContractorAd.HalfPgVertical.FR.indd 1<br />
7/27/17 10:10 AM