Author: Vitaliy Dadalyan

Q. What information will ELDs be required to collect?

A. ELDs are required to record the following data elements at regular intervals:

DateTimeLocation informationEngine hoursVehicle milesIdentification information for the driver, authenticated user, vehicle, and motor carrier.

An ELD must automatically switch to driving mode once the vehicle is moving up to a set speed threshold of five miles per hour. The in-motion status cannot be configured for greater than five miles per hour. The vehicle will be considered stopped once the speed falls to zero and stays there for three consecutive seconds.

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Q. Are there any vehicle exemptions under the ELD Mandate?

A. Vehicles with an engine model year before 2000 are exempt from the ELD Mandate. Earlier engines typically do not have an engine control module installed. Because of this, there is no way for an ELD to pull odometer, vehicle speed, and other parameters required by the ELD technical specifications.

However, fleets can equip an ELD on a vehicle with engines older than 2000, but it must comply with the ELD mandate's technical specifications. In this case, the ELD may use alternative sources to obtain or estimate the required parameter, in accordance with Section 4.3.1 of the ELD mandate (https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/FR-2015-12-16/pdf/2015-31336.pdf).

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More Details Emerge on Tesla Electric Big Rig

<img width="150" src="http://www.automotive-fleet.com/fc_images/news/m-tesla-semi-teaser-1.jpeg" border="0" alt="

The Reuters News Agency is reporting that Tesla's electric truck will be a day cab model without a sleeper. Photo: Tesla

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The Reuters News Agency is reporting that Tesla's electric truck will be a day cab model without a sleeper. Photo: Tesla

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New details concerning the introduction of Tesla's all-electric truck, slated for public unveiling at the North American Commercial Vehicle (NACV) Show in Atlanta next month, are emerging. The new truck will have a working range of 200 to 300 miles, Reuters has learned, a sign that the electric car maker is targeting regional hauling for its entry into the commercial freight market.

Scott Perry, chief technology and procurement officer at Ryder System, told Reuters he has met with Tesla and that the new truck will be a day cab model. “I'm not going to count them out for having a strategy for longer distances or ranges, but right out of the gate I think that's where they'll start,” Perry said.

The article noted that Tesla's plan is “consistent with what battery researchers say is possible with current technology,” and said that the company has not said publicly how far its electric truck could travel, what it would cost or how much cargo it could carry.

An about the latest advancements in electric truck technology in the September issue of Heavy Duty Trucking.

Related: Tesla Electric Truck Will Feature Autonomous Driving Technology

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Product Standards for Heavy-Duty Aftermarket in Development

The Heavy Duty Distribution Association (HDDA: Heavy Duty), a community of the Auto Care Association, announced that it will begin the formal creation of product data standards for the heavy duty (HD) aftermarket. Preliminary development of these standards, which will improve product data communication across the entire HD market, is already underway.

HDDA: Heavy Duty has contracted Pricedex Software Inc. to continue as its partner on this project. Additionally, the association will bring together volunteer product data experts from across 20 top parts categories to participate on subject matter expert subcommittees for the standards' creation.

This project was initiated to help independent HD distributors and their supplier community to communicate product and system attributes more effectively to provide a faster, more accurate experience for the end customer.

In 2016, HDDA: Heavy Duty conducted a feasibility study for the standards' creation. At AAPEX 2016 in Las Vegas, Nev., Bill Hanvey, president and CEO, Auto Care Association, announced the study produced a positive result for the ability to create HD standards. Since that announcement, several industry organizations, including the Technology & Maintenance Council of the American Trucking Associations, and multiple industry publications, featured the data standards project in articles and conferences.

“Product data standards mean the heavy duty aftermarket, from manufacturer, to distributor, professional installer, and fleet maintenance managers will get the right part, at the right place, at the right time,” said Hanvey. “We want to reiterate to the HD marketplace that these will be HD standards based upon the way the marketplace looks up and presents its parts. We will seek the input and insight from distributors and data system providers, but particularly manufacturers wanting to communicate product data in a more efficient and consistent manner for all of their customers.”

Related: Auto Care Association Releases Heavy Duty Product Study

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Travel Advisories in Affect as Hurricane Harvey Nears Texas

<img width="150" src="http://www.automotive-fleet.com/fc_images/news/m-harvey.jpeg" border="0" alt="

The National Hurricane Center is advising against all but essential local travel on roadways affected by Hurricane Harvey. Photo: National Hurricane Center

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The National Hurricane Center is advising against all but essential local travel on roadways affected by Hurricane Harvey. Photo: National Hurricane Center

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A dangerous hurricane has prompted both state and federal authorities to issue a variety of travel warnings and advisories that will definitely impact and disrupt trucking operations along with Louisiana and Texas coast for the next several days.

Latest reports say Hurricane Harvey is a Category 2 storm, with the potential to reach Category 3 by the time it makes landfall. According to the National Hurricane Center, Category 3 hurricanes have great potential for structural damage as far away as 25 miles from the eye of the storm. Meteorologists say the storm could dump as much as 30 inches of rain on affected areas. Sustained winds of 111 mph are also possible.

Drivers in the storm's footprint should also be aware of the potential for severe flooding, says the Texas Department of Transportation. The agency says that the heavy rainfall, combined with storm surges up to 5 feet, will cause dangerous flood situations on roadways along the coast and is urging drivers to exercise caution and simply turn around when confronted with submerged roadways.

Currently, Texas DOT says the state is prepared and storm response rescue and maintenance crews are positioned and ready to go once the full brunt of the storm hits the coastline. As of 10 a.m. Central time Friday morning, the agency was advising drivers to suspend all non-essential local travel in areas affected by the storm.

For up-to-date information on conditions and travel advisories in areas affected by Hurricane Harvey, follow the TxDOT Ferry Twitter feeds, @GalvestonFerry and @PortA_Ferry, as well as @TxDOT_CRP.

Additional updates can be found on DriveTexas.org and on Facebook, www.facebook.com/txdot and Twitter, www.twitter.com/txdot.

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