Two major trucking technology vendors joined the shortlist of third-party certified electronic logging device solutions required by Transport Canada’s ELD mandate, which began earlier this year.
Isaac Instruments and Trimble, which made separate announcements on Oct. 13, joined four other ELD providers formally certified by an accredited third party to comply with the technical standards required in Canada.
Like the mandate that began in 2018 in the U.S., the Canadian regulation requires ELDs to automatically track hours-of-service requirements. It aims to reduce fatigue-related collisions. In the U.S., ELD manufacturers can self-certify their devices with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA); however, fleets are responsible if an ELD malfunctions.
Any ELD used north of the border, including U.S.-based fleets crossing into Canada, must have third-party certification. If a device malfunctions in Canada, it is the vendor’s responsibility to take action. This approach aims to protect carriers by ensuring that an independent authority has validated that ELDs comply with technical requirements and cannot be falsified.
Canada’s ELD mandate went into effect on June 12. Still, provinces and territories are not yet enforcing the rules due to the challenges related to the COVID-19 pandemic and because no ELD was certified by a third party until recently. Instead, progressive enforcement is being phased into law over 12 months. The rule applies to nearly all truck drivers operating in Canada.
“I can tell you the process is very challenging for Canadian third-party certification,” Sebastien Bouchard, Isaac Instruments co-founder and EVP of sales, told FleetOwner in September. “We are weeks or days away from getting certified. Ask any ELD vendor that’s going through it. It’s very rigorous.”
FPInnovations, one of Transport Canada’s nonprofit, accredited certification bodies, approved Isaac’s InMetrics Series 2 telematics data recorder and wireless router and Trimble’s eDriver Logs ELD software when paired with PeopleNet Mobile Gateway (PMG) hardware.
“We are dedicated to providing carriers throughout North America with an ELD that not only complies with both the Canadian and U.S. mandates but enhances all aspects of their operations,” said Elwyn McLachlan, sector VP of mobility at Trimble. “Fleets are empowered by eDriver Logs’ extensive hours-of-service data to make informed decisions that improve safety and compliance while also maximizing driver productivity and asset utilization.”
Trimble’s eDriver Logs platform automates a fleet's hours of service, allowing drivers to manage their hours in the cab through an Android-powered display. Comprehensive reporting capabilities enable back-office users to review driver logs and integrate driver and vehicle information with key transportation management, maintenance, and safety systems.
“We have worked diligently with the certification body to ensure our eDriver Logs ELD meets all of the technical requirements of the Canadian mandate,” said McLachlan. “By achieving certification, fleets can be confident in selecting our platform to maintain regulatory compliance for their business and their drivers.”
According to Isaac, the official certification puts a quarter of all Candian fleets in compliance with the ELD rules. That includes 40% of the nation’s largest carriers, which already use Isaac’s ELD solution. “We serve an essential service industry and recognize that ISAAC’s technology is mission-critical for carrier operations,” said Jacques DeLarochelliere, Isaac CEO, chairman, and co-founder.
He added that the comprehensive automation and single-screen contextual workflow across the Isaac solution needed a higher degree of difficulty in achieving certification. “We knew it was going to be difficult to gain certification because we offer the most automation on the market,” DeLarochelliere said. “Our product revolves around the driver, and their lives are made easier through automation, even though it made the one-size-fits-all certification process far more difficult for us.”
The other ELD providers with official Transport Canada certification, as of Oct. 8, include: Hutch Systems’ Hutch Connect ELD, Diesel Tech Industries’ Guardian ELOG, Pedigree Technologies’ Cab-Mate One, and Assured Tracking’s Apollo ELD.
