For the most part rule is in alignment with the U.S. ELD requirements and will affect 157,424 of the federally regulated commercial drivers in Canada. This includes the 20-30% of U.S. based fleets that cross the border regularly. (Just because you are ELD certified in U.S. doesn’t mean you will be in Canada)
The technical parts of the new standard may be found on the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA) site.
But the key take aways are:
Third party certification – Transport Canada will require that each ELD be certified by an accredited certification body. Make sure thisd is on your preferred ELD vendor’s roadmap. If your ELD provider claims to already meet these requirements, they are wrong and you should run not just walk away before you find your fleet without a pathway to compliance.
Compliance – Fleets will need to comply with the mandate by June 12, 2021. The 24 month timeline allows time for Canadian ELDs to be tested and certified and for fleets to select and properly install them in their commercial motor vehicles (CMV). Unlike the U.S. there is no grandfather clause for AOBRD.
- Important note – once the development of certification process by the CCMTA is complete (estimate12 months), ELDs can be tested and certified.
- Fleets are encouraged to work with ELD vendors who are working with CCMTA on the certification process.
Canadian ELD Exemptions – There are four main exemptions to this mandatory requirement to use an ELD:
1. CMV that are operated under an hours of service permit issued pursuant to the Regulations by a director under the Regulations,
2. CMV that are operated under a statutory exemption, (similar to U.S. Short Haul)
3. CMV that are subject to rental agreements for a term of 30 days or less, this is different than U.S. rules which is 8 days.
4. CMV that were manufactured before the year 2000.
What if the ELD Malfunctions? – In the case of an ELD malfunction, the driver may use the paper daily logs for a maximum of 14 days, U.S. rules is 8 days. The ELD must be repaired or replaced and fully functional before the commercial motor vehicle and its ELD are dispatched on another trip.
Roadside Enforcement – Unlike the U.S. Canada does not have the technology infrastructure to support a data transfer. Therefore, the driver’s record of duty status must be available to roadside enforcement through a display or printout from the ELD. Upon request by an inspector, the ELD record will be emailed to an address provided by the inspector. The requirements for the display and printout are in the technical standards – similar to the U.S. rule.
Other Key differences:
Engine Synchronization Compliance Monitoring – The ELD must monitor the data it receives from the engine ECM or alternative sources, the establish a link to the engine ECM…within 60 seconds of the need, this is different than the U.S. rule which was 5 seconds of the need.
Driver’s Indication of Situations Impacting Driving Time Recording – An ELD must provide the means for a driver to indicate the beginning and end of a period when the driver may use the CMV for authorized personal use or for performing yard moves.
Driver’s Indication of Situations Impacting Off-Duty Time Requirements – An ELD must provide the means for a driver to indicate deferral of daily Off-duty time to the following 24-hour period.
Indication of Situations Impacting duty-/driving-hour limitations – An ELD must provide the means to indicate a cycle change.
Driver notifications for HOS limitations
- If the driver has indicated authorized personal use of the CMV, the ELD must notify the driver when the cumulative distance driven for personal use throughout the 24-hour period exceeds the maximum distance allowed under current HOS regulations.
- An ELD must be capable of notifying the driver at least 30 minutes in advance of reaching any duty-/driving-hour limitation prescribed in the HOS regulations.
- An ELD must also clearly indicate which limit the driver is about to reach for the current 24-hour period, work shift or cycle being used.
Learn more tips on how to prepare for the Canadian ELD mandate here and here for other FAQs.
