FMCSA’s Mandate and Assured Tracking ELD Solution on Wialon

By Sergei Leuchanka and David Seijo 

The enforcement of tachograph regulations in different regions has a great impact on the whole fleet management industry, while tachograph solutions still stay a trending topic globally. Having 950+ partners worldwide Gurtam couldn’t but deliver Tacho Manager and Tacho View applications to monitor driver activity based on the AETR, the EU, ITR and other major standards. But for one of the regions things are changing rapidly. 

In North America, ELD (Electronic Logging Devices) mandate implementation date is fast approaching. December 18th 2017 is when paper logs for HOS (Hours of Service) reporting will no longer suffice and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) will start enforcing the regulation. It is estimated that over 3 million commercial vehicle drivers in the US will be impacted. So let’s see why it’s urgent to start searching for the right solution and what Gurtam offers to stay instantly compliant.

Software requirements

ELD regulation requires that the compliant solution extracts five key data points directly from a vehicle CAN BUS (on-board computer) and incorporates them into electronic logs that the regulator mandates fleets to maintain. Those data points are:

• VIN of the vehicle
• Odometer readings
• Ignition state (on/off)
• Vehicle speed
• Engine hours

Depending on the vehicle make and model, there are different data protocols that the ELD solution should be able to read in order to accurately extract the data. Two of the most common ones are J1708 and J1939 in heavy duty Class 8 trucks. 

Even though there's half a year left, consider the amount of training the drivers and office staff need to start using the solution, and you'll understand it's not much time left to get ready for December 18.

The solution resulting from long-term partnership

Two years ago Gurtam partnered up with Florida-based software developer Assured Tracking to offer its customers a compliant and cost effective solution that is easy to implement. Since then Assured Tracking software engineers have released the solution that is seamlessly integrated with Wialon and ensures full compliance with the ELD mandate. 

One of the key advantages for telematics service providers is the highly competitive cost, extended hardware options, mobile platform and extra functionality for DVIR (Daily Vehicle Inspection Reports) and IFTA (International Fuel Tax Agreement) compliance – both incorporated into the solution at no extra cost. David Seijo from Assured Tracking has provided the detailed overview of how his solutions operate: 

“After more than 3 years developing Hours of Service solution, we have now certified a simple, user-friendly, affordable and customizable FMCSA-compliant solution that not only meets FMCSA’s ELD Final Rule but also incorporates US and Canadian Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) and captures state mileage along with fuel purchased for IFTA reporting.”

Here is how Assured Tracking ELD solution works together with Wialon

A GPS tracking device is connected to a vehicle diagnostics port. For ELD purposes ECM-Link Bluetooth dongle can also be used.

The tracker or the dongle reads the required data from the vehicle computer and relays it via Bluetooth or wired connection to a smartphone or tablet which is the main interaction point for the driver.

The mobile device runs Assured Tracking mobile application (available for iOS and Android) and incorporates vehicle data in Hours of Service records, per the ELD regulation. The app is designed with simplicity in mind to ensure easy adoption by the truck drivers. It allows to effectively communicate with drivers when they are compliant and timely warn them to help avoid violations. There are smart built-in features, such as an automatic change from On-duty to Driving status when movement is detected.

Electronic logs are transmitted to Assured Tracking cloud service for back-up purposes, as well as to enable Wialon-integrated back-office application. 

Below is the diagram on how different components of the solution interact: 

The web portal is integrated with Wialon platform and is designed to seamlessly interact with it. This is where back-office personnel can handle driver logs, while the portal has multiple additional options:

• see driver profiles;
• assign rule sets and logbooks;
• request logbooks edits;
• view live violation dashboard and reports.

Universally accessible services

The new ELD solution supports devices from several reputable manufacturers so that service providers can offer a complete telematics package to any end-user fleet. Below are some manufacturers we support:  It’s also important to note that just like Wialon, Assured Tracking web version and mobile apps can be white labeled to match the brand of a service provider. The interface can be supplemented with company logo, brand colors and copyright information. 

Going back to an earlier point of this article, time to have the right ELD solution in place is running out quickly. To help your end-customer fleets be compliant with the new FMCSA mandate you need to act now. Get in touch with either Gurtam or Assured Tracking representative to request a trial of the solution or ask any questions you may have.