DOT poised to publish e-log mandate, driver coercion protections

Nov. 18, 2015

The White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has completed its review of the electronic logging device (ELD) final rule, meaning the mandate is now in the hands of Department of Transportation. With the review of the driver coercion final rule also recently having been completed, the complementary regulations are available for publication at the DOT’s discretion.

Kevin Jones

The most recent update of the department’s significant rulemakings has the ELD rule set to be published Nov. 30, but that’s based on a Nov. 20 clearance by OMB. The anti-coercion rule is scheduled for Nov. 23.

The impending publications should come as no surprise: The ELD rule has been under review at OMB since July 30, and previously had been scheduled for publication in September.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Acting Administrator Scott Darling in October told attendees at the American Trucking Assns. (ATA) annual Management Conference & Exhibition that the rule was in the “final stages” and would be out “in the next few months.”

But ATA Senior VP of Policy and Regulatory Affairs Dave Osiecki was even more specific.

“We’re pretty confident that November is still the publication date,” Osiecki said at a recent ATA safety conference. “If you’re really hot to get this rule out because your competition doesn’t have ELDs, trust us, it’s going to happen—just be patient for few more weeks.

“We really do think that this administration is committed to getting this out.”

ATA, which has long advocated for e-logs, anticipates a two-year window to comply with the regulation, along with a four-year “grandfather” period to allow current electronic logging systems to be brought up to the new specification.

About the Author

Kevin Jones | Editor

Kevin has served as editor-in-chief of Trailer/Body Builders magazine since 2017—just the third editor in the magazine’s 60 years. He is also editorial director for Endeavor Business Media’s Commercial Vehicle group, which includes FleetOwner, Bulk Transporter, Refrigerated Transporter, American Trucker, and Fleet Maintenance magazines and websites.

Working from Beaufort, S.C., Kevin has covered trucking and manufacturing for nearly 20 years. His writing and commentary about the trucking industry and, previously, business and government, has been recognized with numerous state, regional, and national journalism awards.