FMCSA: E-Logs Significantly Improve Safety

Phil Cohen

E-logs are effective, according to the FMCSA.

The administration released a report this week studying the impact of electronic hours-of-service recorders (EHSRs/e-logs) on driver safety and compliance. Data were mined from 11 carriers’ compliance records and represent nearly 70,000 average miles driven in a year.

Results of the study are an unmistakable endorsement of EHSR devices, with across-the-board reductions in negative events involving EHSR-equipped trucks versus their non-equipped counterparts:

  • Total crashes dropped by 11.7 percent
  • Preventable crashed fell by 5.1 percent
  • Hours-of-service violations (driving-related) reduced by 53 percent
  • Hours-of-service violations (non-driving-related) fell by 49 percent

FMCSA’s report echoes other recent studies on the effectiveness of using on-board technology to monitor and prevent driver events – last week we reported Virginia Tech’s completed study on the benefits of on-board video monitoring.

For the sake of accuracy, certain elements had different effects on the information presented:

  • There were a higher number of large carriers represented in the data set, which could skew the information away from the “overall U.S. trucking population”.
  • The study is controlled for the calendar year.
  • Average annual mileage was calculated using the total annual mileage of every truck included at the beginning of the study, even those removed from service midway through the year. Actual average miles driven may be higher.
  • The sample size was insufficient to “detect a significant difference between…DOT-recordable and fatigue-related crashes”.

Despite these minor considerations, however, the data are overwhelmingly supportive of EHSR’s ability to improve driver safety for the greater benefit of everyone on American roads.

Investing in on-board monitoring technology is a great way for your trucking company to improve the quality of your service and save on costs related to driver crashes and violations. If you need the working capital to upgrade your unit or fleet, consider additional investment in trucking factoring with Factor Finders. Learn about the many benefits of truck factoring for your company then contact us for a same-day competitive service proposal!

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Phil Cohen

Phil is the owner of PRN Funding and sister company Factor Finders. He has been an authority in the factoring industry for over 20 years, serving on the board of directors for several factoring associations.

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