Before discussing Electronic logbook for truck drivers, let’s discuss a simple question. What is the maximum duration a person can drive with full concentration? 2, 5 or maybe 8 hrs. But it definitely keeps on getting more stressful with increasing number of driving hours. On an average, the truck drivers are consistently delivering consignments with the shift of 14 hrs. That means a driver is on the road for 14 hrs every day. It certainly includes the breaks and resting periods but they are only there to make an already stressful job a little more bearable. It doesn’t negate or avoids the impacts which can lead to reduced efficiency and in worse case ability to drive being fully alert.

But how can a trucker ensure that his fleet drivers are not stretching the limits risking their safety? There can be ways to check the health condition of the drivers at the time of logging in but they are neither feasible nor very accurate. That’s why a process is devised to keep a check on the working state of the drivers with key inputs such as driving hours, stoppages, rest points, resting durations, breaks, and other details being logged in the logbooks by the drivers. But the paper logs system comes with its own limitations.

Since the drivers are paid by miles, there are instances when the miles are inflated by drivers resulting in an increase in trip cost. Also, when records the trip logs are submitted weeks after the trip is finished there is not much which can be done for the violations happened during the trip. The records created manually can easily be of no use for the simple reasons of illegible handwriting, misplaced records or the driver failing to update the sheet. The process of scrutinizing or verifying the paper logs submitted is a cumbersome yet expensive process for follow up. Often these practices are either avoided by the companies or don’t get proper resources to carry forward. No matter how flawed the manual process of keeping logs is, its importance and relevance can’t be denied. But the inabilities to detect any false entry or tampering with the logbook in order to project an inaccurate statement of the trip is diluting the cause of maintaining a logbook for truck drivers. Gradually, truckers are adapting to the electronic logbooks for truck drivers after sensing the need to implement a more advanced medium by which the irregularities can be detected.

What exactly an electronic logbook for truck drivers is?

An electronic logbook is the digital transformation of the manual logbook with some exceptionally useful advantages. Though the end result of monitoring the daily work hours and resting period of the driver is same, electronic logbooks contributes in a great deal in ensuring that the information provided is authentic and real-time. When an electronic logbook is implemented the driver can update his location and other stats in real-time. This means that the trucker need not wait until the completion of the trip after which the driver is going to submit the logs. The trucker gets the access to the data fed to the driver in real time and can take immediate actions for hauling or aborting the trip in case he find some irregularity or concerns in the report. This cuts down the risk of any mishap as the counteraction can be taken in the fastest possible way.  

There are various additional benefits of using electronic logbook for truck drivers other than the accurate records. The maintenance and review become easier. It is far better than the traditional systems if you are searching for the logbook of a particular trip. Misplacement of records or data loss is not a thing to worry with the cloud based fully digitized electronic logbooks these days.

FMCSA has published its ELD mandate making it compulsory for the truckers and other logistics…
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If you are looking for the voices which are supporting the acceptance of the electronic logbooks as a benchmark industry-wide practice you will be facing strong push by the government. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has published its Electronic Logging device (ELD) mandate in December 2015. This mandate makes it compulsory for the truckers and other logistics companies to install ELD by December 2017 in all of their carriers to monitor Hours of service (HOS) for their fleet. DreamOrbit is helping out it’s USA clientele to adapt to this transition  in a seamless way with less time to maintain logs and more time to carry out journeys. With the help of electronic logbook for truck drivers, we are striving to make trucking less stressful and more accurate.

About DreamOrbit:

DreamOrbit is a Logistics and Supply Chain Technology Development company. We have been creating meaningful and reliable software products for the industry which is “Always on the go” for the past half decade. We are highly motivated team aimed at innovation. Our philosophy is to “keep challenging the potential within”.  With the support of our happy customers and dedicated team, we strive to provide best possible solutions to industry problems. Visit our website to know more about DreamOrbit.

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