Smallest carriers report surging ELD compliance as December deadline looms

Nationwide carriers continue to report stronger compliance than super-regional and regional carriers, with a full 99% reporting ELD readiness. Super-regional carriers are working to close the gap, with 97% reporting compliance. These numbers have stayed basically the same over the last two weeks. 

Regional carriers are still lagging behind their peers in compliance, but they have gained ground. These carriers, which tend to operate the fewest trucks, reported 95% compliance on a three-week moving basis. 

With carriers across all lanes reporting 95% or higher compliance, it appears some of the earlier ELD hold-outs have begun making the transition away from their old devices. This aligns with survey results, which suggests many small carriers would wait to switch until the fourth quarter. 

For the purpose of the survey, regional carriers are defined as fleets that run in a 150- to 1,000-mile radius. Super-regional carriers run routes over 1,000 miles but not nationwide.

Of the carriers that have not yet started running ELDs, the majority are expected to do so in October or November. There will inevitably be a small minority of carriers that wait until December to become compliant, but this is not expected to have a significant impact on the overall freight market. 

Still, waiting until the last possible moment to start running ELDs could cost individual carriers when it comes to lost time and highway fines. The carriers with the fewest trucks are also the least compliance, meaning the carriers with the most to lose are the same carriers that cannot afford to lose it. 

EROAD’s guide “Planning your move from AOBRD to ELD” gives eight key considerations and six critical questions to help select the right solution and make to achieve the easiest transition possible. 

Visit the AOBRD to ELD resource center to download the guide.