ELD compliant vehicle tracking system
Geotab ELD is certified in Canada and the U.S.
If you need a complete ELD solution, look no further than Northern BI. Our GPS tracking device and hardware partner, Geotab, is ranked number one worldwide for commercial telematics by ABI Research. Geotab’s telematics device works for vehicles of all sizes, including EVs and heavy-duty transport equipment. With Northern BI, you can rest assured your fleet has the best ELD product to meet compliance regulations. Don’t get caught with costly Hours of Service violations. Start your ELD implementation with us today!
Confused about ELD? Check out our comprehensive Canadian ELD mandate guidebook to learn all you need to know to ensure your fleet meets compliance. Northern BI is here to help you get started today!
Quick inspection time
Provide compliance officers with clean and up-to-date driving logs and summary reports in just a few simple clicks.
Boost driver safety
Avoid driver fatigue with in-app break notifications from Geotab Drive. Custom rules can give drivers warnings about their speed, seatbelt use and driving behaviour.
Enhance fleet management
Streamline tasks like IFTA and vehicle inspections (DVIR) with automated reporting. Save time and money by monitoring fuel consumption, vehicle maintenance and employee productivity.
What is an ELD (electronic logging device) and why do I need it?
An ELD is a tamper-proof device that connects to a vehicle’s electronic control module (OBD II). The electronic logging device records engine power and driving behaviour such as speeding, idling, and driver Hours of Service (HOS) – both on and off duty. The Geotab ELD is easy to install and programmable to comply with Canadian and American HOS rulesets, giving fleets the flexibility to meet cross-border Records of Duty (ROD) status and HOS regulations.
In June 2019, Transport Canada stated all federally regulated commercial vehicle operators must use ELDs to monitor their fleets beginning January 1, 2023. The new regulations aim to eliminate paper-logs that can be easily tampered with, leading to unsafe driving practices and tragic accidents. To prevent driver fatigue, Canada and the U.S. have strict Hours of Service (HOS) regulations for commercial fleet drivers. An ELD is programmed to track driving time and actively warn fleet operators and drivers when they’re approaching their Hours of Service limits. ELDs have been mandatory in the U.S. since Dec. 16, 2019, for commercial buses and trucks required to maintain Records of Duty status.
Another reason for commercial fleets to use ELDs is to ensure a level playing field amongst Canadian and US carriers. With e-logs, businesses are unable to alter their hours of service or engine specs to gain an unfair advantage.
Who needs an ELD in Canada?
If you’re a commercial truck driver or operate a trucking company in Canada, then you need to have ELDs installed in your vehicles. Transport Canada’s regulation states that all federally regulated carriers must have ELDs by January 1, 2023.
A commercial vehicle, specifically, refers to a vehicle that:
is operated by a motor carrier and is a truck, tractor, trailer or any combination that has a registered gross weight greater than 4,500 kg or a bus that holds more than 10 persons, including the driver
Like most technology, drivers and fleet operators can expect a learning curve when moving from paper to electronic logging. For some businesses, it may take months for drivers and personnel to feel comfortable using ELD drive apps and software. You don’t want to get caught playing catch up – avoid the panic and contact an expert at Northern BI to start your ELD implementation today!
ELD exemptions in Canada:
- When being operated under a permit
- Vehicles operating within 160km of their home terminal
- Being operated by a carrier to which an exemption has been issued under the Motor Vehicle Transport Act
- Short-term vehicle rentals; less than 30 days
- Commercial vehicles & engines manufactured before 2000
Added ELD functionalities:
An ELD can do a lot more than track your location and time spent driving. It’s a powerful little tool that can optimize your entire fleet, leading to significant savings on your bottom-line. The Geotab GO device goes above and beyond the ELD mandate with these added functionalities:
One ELD solution for all vehicle types
In any fleet, there could be many types of vehicles: Light-Duty, heavy-duty, service vans, box truck, bucket truck, or even tractor truck. The Geotab GO device can be used in hundreds of vehicle types including EVs.
Smartphone compatible
Compatibility with a smartphone or tablet adds convenience since mobile devices can be used for many different purposes. For drivers who are already comfortable with using a phone or tablet, this gives them a headstart on learning the technology.
Pre and post-trip inspection
Regulations state that a post-trip inspection must be completed after each trip, but many companies would also like their drivers to complete a pre-trip inspection. The Geotab ELD solution allows drivers to complete a DVIR directly from the Geotab Drive app and send alerts when inspections haven’t been completed.
Accident reconstruction
We can’t stress the importance of this feature enough and our customers would agree. When a fleet truck is in an accident, it’s typically assumed they’re at fault. Having a solution that can provide accident reconstruction with telematics data is extremely valuable in helping understand the events that occurred before, during, and after a collision.
Expandability
The sky’s the limit with Geotab’s ELD solution. A free Software Development Kit and open APIs allow our ELD to integrate with third-party platforms. If your business needs a custom ELD solution, Northern BI’s professional services have experience in API integrations, dash cameras, temperature sensors, asset trackers and Public Works applications.
Automated IFTA reporting
Simplify IFTA reporting with imported fuel card data and consumption instead of chasing receipts and doing manual calculations. It used to take our customers days to complete their IFTA reports – now they do it in minutes with our Geotab ELD solution. Fuel transactions will be added to the MyGeotab IFTA report.
Benefits of ELDs for your fleet
Commercial truck drivers across North America are more connected than ever with over 75 percent accessing the web every day. With the transport industry already using apps for routing, dispatching and shipping, it makes perfect sense to use the Geotab Drive app for electronic logging too.
- Drivers always have access to driving data with the Geotab Drive app
- ELD app accurately logs Hours of Service, both behind the wheel and outside the vehicle
- Fleet managers can monitor real-time Hours of Service to prevent violations
- Compliance managers can run ELD reports, analyze maps, instant message, and receive driving behaviour notifications
- Faster roadside inspections as compliance officers can easily access driving data
- Reduce Hours of Service paperwork time by up to 15 minutes a day
- Less time spent doing tedious administrative work leading to more earning power
- ELDs automate DVIRs and IFTA reports meaning fewer errors and less paper chasing
- ELDs notify drivers before they exceed their Hours of Service, giving them time to plan ahead
- ELDs track vehicle behaviour in the event of an accident or collision like a black box
- With automated HOS compliance, drivers are safer on the road
- Dispatchers can easily track drivers on the map and use GPS to optimize routes
- Reduce fleet costs by analyzing fuel consumption, idle time and harsh driving behaviour
Learn more about ELDs
ELD checklist: What do you need to succeed?
The Canadian ELD mandate began on January 1, 2023. With so many things to keep track of, we’ve created a checklist to help guide you through a successful telematics implementation!
Pro services: How Northern BI can take your data further
Northern BI’s professional services can help take your Geotab data further with custom reports, mobile app add-ins, and more!
Northern BI announces Geotab ELD Canadian Certification
Geotab ELD (Electronic Logging Device) is officially third-party certified in Canada!
