Technology is great for a lot of things, but as well all know, it can break down from time to time. This is even true for your ELD, which you need to stay compliant out on the road. Here’s what you need to do if and when your ELD goes down.
FMCSA Procedure for ELD Malfunction
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration offers a clear set of instructions for what to do if your ELD goes down for any amount of time.
- Make a note of the problem or malfunction.
- Submit written notification to your carrier of the problem within 24 hours. For owner-operators, write up the malfunction and keep a copy with your files.
- Re-construct your record of duty status (RODS) for the current 24 hours and the preceding 7 consecutive days (basically, make sure you have eight days of records including the day of the malfunction).
- Keep a manual RODS until your ELD works again.
For the manual RODS, here are a few things you can do:
- Use a graph-grid log that’s compliant with FMCSA rules or an electronic logging app that compiles the information with the rules.
- Use RODS records you already have or can access in your ELD system.
You can’t use manual RODS for longer than eight days of a malfunction. The moment you know or suspect the malfunction may last longer than eight days, the carrier or owner-operator must file an extension request with the FMCSA. This must happen within five days of being made aware of the malfunction or problem.
Choose an ELD System that’s Reliable
In a perfect world, your first ELD will be your last because it’ll be so reliable and affordable you never want to use anything else. We don’t live in a perfect world, so there’s a chance you might go with an unreliable ELD provider, defeating the “ease” of an ELD and causing you nothing but headaches. Why are you paying all that money each month for something that keeps going down?
Replace your unreliable ELD with Clutch ELD. Not only are we the most affordable option around, we’re one of the most reliable. We keep things simple.
- Simple to install.
- Simple to use.
- Easy-to-understand pricing.
If your ELD does go down for any reason, use one of the RODS sheets located in the Clutch ELD user manual. It’s compliant with FMCSA rules so you don’t have to worry you’ve got the wrong one. The moment something goes wrong, reach out to us for support so we can help you out. But we’re known for being an ELD you can count on.
Ready to make the switch? Sign up for Clutch ELD today!