Before December 2017, trucking companies could allow truckers to keep track of the hours they drove and the hours they rested in paper logbooks. The paper logbooks would determine whether an individual trucker was driving more than the federal hours of service regulations allowed a trucker to drive. However, there was concern that paper logbooks could be easily changed and manipulated to make it appear as if a driver complied with hours of service regulations when his working hours exceeded the regulations.
By December 2017, trucking companies were required to use electronic logging devices (ELDs). ELDs electronically record a trucker’s hours of service and eliminate the need for paper logbooks.
Results of Study Evaluating Effectiveness of Electronic Logging Devices
In January 2019, researchers from Northeastern University and the University of Arkansas released the results of a new study. The researchers were looking at whether the ELD mandate reduced accidents. They concluded the following:
The ELD Mandate Led to Increased Compliance With Hours of Service Regulations
Hours of service violations fell from about 6 percent to 2.9 percent.
The ELD Mandate Did Not Reduce the Number of Truck Accidents
Prior to enforcement, there was an average of 1,717 truck accidents a week. Once the government began to fully enforce the ELD mandate in April 2018, there was an average of 1,703 truck accidents each week.
The ELD Mandate Has Increased the Number of Speeding Violations for Truckers
Truckers may be under increased pressure to travel farther in less time. The researchers looked at data from truck inspections and federally reported accidents between January 1, 2017, and September 1, 2018, in reaching the study’s conclusions.
ELDs Provide Important Evidence After a Truck Crash
If you have been hurt in a Kentucky truck crash, the electronic logging device on the truck could provide important evidence for your case. Your attorney can get the information you need about how many hours the trucker had been driving and whether any federal violations were recorded by the ELD.
Have You Been Injured in a Truck Accident?
If you’ve been injured in a truck accident you need to speak with an experienced truck accident attorney as soon as possible. Please contact us online or call our Louisville office directly at 888.450.4456 to schedule a free consultation.