LOUISVILLE, KY. Continental Commercial Vehicles & Aftermarket debuted its new VDO RoadLog electronic onboard recorder (EOBR) for the commercial vehicle market here this week at the Mid-America Trucking Show. Continental described VDO RoadLog as a “simple, all-in-one solution” for daily log book and other compliance reporting—noting that it is designed to allow drivers and fleets to record and report hours of service (HOS) and other key compliance data quickly, easily and without monthly fees.
“With CSA, the new enforcement and compliance process for the trucking industry, in place, EOBRs will be playing a key role in helping fleets and independent operators to protect and improve their CSA scores,” said Alexis Capelle, segment leader- Tachograph, Telematics and Services for Continental Commercial Vehicles & Aftermarket Business Unit NAFTA. “Our new VDO RoadLog electronic onboard recorder will set the standard for cost-effectiveness and overall simplicity.”
VDO RoadLog can automatically track the driver’s time in one of four categories: on-duty, driving, sleeper berth and off-duty, and provide a warning if allowable limits will be exceeded. The driver’s data can be transferred in seconds from a USB without the need for a smartphone, said Capelle.
RoadLog features a built-in printer, which provides an instant paper report of daily log book data at roadside inspection so drivers can get back on the road quickly. RoadLog’s printout delivers all the information provided by a handwritten log, but does so faster, easier and more accurately, according to Capelle.
VDO RoadLog can also record data for a variety of reports, including Vehicle Maintenance and Inspection (DVIR), International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) and International Registration Plan (IRP).
The VDO RoadLog Fleet Management software provides all the key data needed to manage an unlimited number of drivers and vehicles. As a one-time purchase, it represents an excellent value compared to software charged monthly for each user, pointed out Capelle, who noted that fleet managers can download drivers’ data in seconds from the RoadLog Driver Key USB. In addition, an optional wireless download feature will be available in 2013 to allow data collection via cellular networks.
Another key feature of the EOBR is that permission to access data from the RoadLog EOBR is possible only with the driver key or fleet key USBs, so that drivers and enforcement officials access only data that they need to see.
Capelle added that the unit “offers plug-and-play installation, so it can be operational on any heavy-duty rig in a matter of minutes” and that it is FMCSA-compliant and also meets Canadian rules. In addition, it is also designed to be easily upgradeable to future U. S. and Canadian EOBR regulations.
