An Open Discussion
It is October 2014 and the term “Electronic Logs” has long been a part of our lives in the flatbed transportation industry. The industry at large has slowly been transitioning towards Electronic Logs for several years. Some transportation companies are switching faster than others, but all are actively talking about it. Truck Drivers are beginning to acclimate to them, Dispatchers and Load Planners are better able to assign loads, and even some Customers are beginning to preload trailers in an effort to minimize the drivers’ time spent loading their trucks.
In our own experience at P&S Transportation, there have been many challenges along the way, as well as many pleasant surprises. While opinions are still mixed on the subject, overall, there have been many notably positive changes to our company throughout this transition.
By way of necessity, truck drivers on Electronic Logs tend to plan their trips more efficiently. They also get a full 10 hour rest break, which promotes a better eating and sleep schedule. For Operations, there is real-time visibility on the driver’s available hours of service, which allows us to schedule attainable appointment times. And perhaps one of the most exciting changes we have noticed is that we receive considerably less scrutiny on log books during roadside inspections if the truck driver is utilizing Electronic Logs.
There have likewise been some challenges along the way. A few of the biggest have been the struggles we encounter when the devices malfunction, and preserving the truck drivers’ home time, which is already a challenge to an OTR company with irregular routes. Here at P&S Transportation, we take ownership of every challenge we are met with, and we collectively work towards solutions in an effort to promote company growth and truck driver retention.
So we would like to hear your thoughts on Electronic Logs. Please contribute your experience with Electronic Logs to the discussion below.