New ELD Mandate Expected to Pressure Shippers Along With Truckers in Minneapolis

Slow shippers could be the early losers as the new Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate takes effect in Minneapolis and the rest of the country.

Truckers are being forced to comply with the existing hours-of-service rule, which limits driving to no more than 11 hours per day within a 14-hour workday. Drivers must then be off duty for at least10 hours in a row.

It is putting a premium on productive hours. Carriers like Bay & Bay Transportation and its drivers are concerned about delays at loading docks, which pushes their hours beyond federal work limits.

In some cases, it could create serious fallout for shippers whose practices force drivers to spend more hours at their dock waiting to load or unload. Any time beyond a two-hour grace period is considered detention time and could lead to more fees.

While some are predicting that bad shippers will be dropped, ELD maker, KeepTruckin, is leading a petition drive. It wants to encourage the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to extend the maximum allowed hours of service from 14 to 16 if drivers are detained for more than two hours.

The online survey already has nearly 40,000 signatures and cites data gathered from drivers who use its product. A third of the drivers who answered the survey said they were experiencing regular delays that went past 6 hours.

Whether the survey or other efforts result in change, Bay & Bay Transportation will continuously analyze the impact of the ELD mandate on its operations and drivers. We’re a Minnesota-based trucking company that prides itself on safety and reliability in the Minneapolis area and on the many short and long-haul routes we handle across North America.

It’s why Bay & Bay is known as a quality driven tradition on roads around Minneapolis and on many miles of highway across the U.S. and into parts of Canada. Watch your service hours, drive safely, and call (888) 801-3026, or visit our web page for more details and information about how you can join our growing team in Minneapolis.