OTA Dispatch Issue 3, 2020

24 Oregon Trucking Associations, Inc. Oregon Truck Dispatch The Pros and Cons of Using Paper Timecards vs ELDs with a Mixed Fleet Article Provided by EROAD DO YOU HAVE a mix of drivers that are required to use ELDs to capture their HOS, as well as drivers that fall under the 100 air- mile (soon to be 150 air-mile) short-haul exemption? For short haul drivers, you have the option to use either paper timecards or ELDs. Managing both timecards and ELD data in a mixed fleet has its benefits, as well as challenges. With FMCSA updating a few of the HOS rules later this year, 100 air-mile exemption being one of them, it may be the best time to decide if switching your entire fleet over to ELDs is the right choice for you. So, should you switch or not? Are timecards easier and more cost-efficient, or are ELDs more efficient and effective in maintaining compliance and reducing costs? Let’s break down the options: PAPER TIMECARDS PROS CONS Easier for older and less 'tech-savvy' drivers Only allows for visibility and review at the time when drivers physically turn in documents No more info than is needed showing on the timecard: driver’s start time, end time and total on-duty time No ability to track driver compliance: if driver ends up over time or miles and needs logs, must recreate manually and keep paper logs on file ELDS FOR A SHORT HAUL DRIVER PROS CONS Automatically captures all the required information for the driver Captures more info than is needed on a timecard Keeps drivers compliant in case the driver does not meet short haul exemption for the day by automatically creating logs Drivers need to learn how to use ELDs Ability to see which drivers exceed short haul requirements on which days Provides other information that can support more effective business operations