Why An ELD-Only Solution Will Cost You

By Daren Lauda, Teletrac Navman

From facing a serious driver shortage to complying with new regulations, the past few years have been challenging - to put it mildly - for fleet owners. So when it came to choosing an ELD solution, it’s not surprising many put budget over features, selecting basic plug-and-play devices with the minimum functionality needed to meet Hours of Service (HOS) requirements over integrated ELD solutions with more sophisticated performance. Trouble is, in the long run these bare bones options will cost you in the form of diminished profits and higher-than-necessary business expenses. Here’s why ELDs integrated with fleet management software are better for your bottom line.

Curbing fuel costs
While fuel prices are beyond your control, there are actions you can take to reduce fuel usage. However, per the FMSCA, ELDs are “not required to collect data on vehicle speed, braking action, steering function or any other vehicle performance parameters,” which are all essential to track if you want to minimize fuel-wasting behavior. Unlike basic devices, integrated ELDs do track those metrics, plus identify common issues like engine idling, vehicle maintenance problems and incorporate real-time traffic conditions to plan more efficient routing, which can all add up to major fuel savings. Fleet management software also detects unsafe driving habits that indicate fuel waste, including harsh  acceleration, speeding and harsh braking, and notify fleet managers in real-time so they can provide targeted coaching.