Driving a truck involves a surprising amount of paperwork, as drivers are required to maintain documentation to record their hours of service. This documentation is meant to keep drivers safe by ensuring that they don’t exceed the maximum number of service hours between rest periods. Physical logbooks, however, can be easily falsified and require time and effort to accurately complete. As a result, many transportation companies have switched from paper to electronic logbook systems to help ensure compliant record keeping and improve fleet management.
An online logbook is a small device, mounted in the cab of a vehicle, which is connected to the vehicle’s engine. This device can then record information automatically, such as service hours and time spent idle. It can also use GPS and other information to store data related to vehicle movement, current location, speed, and distance traveled. By recording and storing this information automatically, trucking companies can not only keep better records for compliance purposes, but also improve fleet analytics.
Below, we will discuss the advantages of electronic logbooks for truck drivers and dispatchers. We will also examine some other tools that transportation companies can implement as a way of improving fleet management. To begin however, we should first explain how to use an electronic logbook.
Electronic logbooks (ELDs) may seem pretty complex at first glance. However, the process can be simplified to a few simple steps.
First your company must select a specific online logbook software product, and sign up for an account. After this step is complete, you can download and install the necessary software. Sometimes the logbook company will provide a specific device with the necessary software installed, in which case you simply need to mount the device into your fleet vehicles.
With the proper software installed, you then need to enter trip details, such as the start and end locations, date and time. You also need to select the vehicle being driven. After this, the electronic logbook will automatically record driving hours based on the start and end times entered. It will also calculate a driver’s available drive time, accounting for any breaks or rest periods they have taken.
After a trip is completed, the driver should review their electronic logbook to verify that it is accurate and up to date. When they are satisfied, the driver can submit the report to their company for approval. The company can then use the information received from the software to generate various reports such as a daily summary or a more detailed activity report. These reports can then be used for administrative tasks such as billing, payroll, or compliance checks.
Now that you know how to use an electronic logbook let us discuss some of the benefits it can provide for both drivers and dispatchers.
ELDs help ensure compliance with EU regulations regarding driving times, breaks and rest periods by logging a driver’s service hours. Because these hours are recorded automatically, ELDs reduce the risk of errors or fraudulent entries, which can result in costly penalties and fines.
Online logbooks for truck drivers can improve safety by preventing the driver from operating a vehicle while fatigued. By automatically and accurately tracking driving hours, ELDs can alert drivers and dispatchers when the driver is approaching a restricted driving time or the maximum amount of hours between required rest periods.
ELDs can streamline the entire logging process, which can save time and money for drivers and dispatchers alike. Keeping accurate logs electronically reduces tedious paperwork and eliminates the need for manual data entry.
The best electronic logbook for truckers is one that can provide enhanced telematics, such as those offered by Eurowag. This powerful fleet management software allows real-time visibility into both the location and status of every vehicle in a fleet, allowing trucking companies to optimize routes and manage their resources more efficiently. The data captured by elogbooks can even be used for maintenance tracking, or to identify areas for improvement in driver behavior.
Through reduced paperwork and improved compliance with European trucking regulations, online logbooks can help trucking companies save money on administrative costs and fines. In addition, the improved efficiency and fleet management offered by electronic logbooks can result in lower fuel consumption and increased productivity, both of which can lead to overall cost savings.
Eurowag offers solutions for many of the problems faced by trucking companies large and small. One such solution is our on board unit - Eurowag EETS OBU (EVA).
This unit is designed for fleets of all sizes, and provides powerful fleet management software with all of the benefits mentioned above. In addition, EVA is an EETS-certified toll box, which allows for simplified European toll payments, and anti-fraud protection all in one device. EVA reduces the burdens of toll invoicing by collecting all toll payments into our customer self care portal. It also uses Eurowag’s advanced proprietary technology to block fraudulent transactions before they occur, and alerts you when something looks wrong.
Contact us today and find out why more trucking companies throughout Europe are looking to Eurowag for all of their fleet management needs.
