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ELD (Electronic Logging Device) In Commercial Truck Industry

ELD(Electronic Logging Device) In Commercial Truck Industry

Are you looking for the best ELD Trucking solutions? Or Do you wonder about the significance of ELD in commercial truck companies? Whether you own a truck company, owner-operator, belong to the truck industry, transportation, or casual reader. We can guide you from scratch about ELD’s prominence in the Trucking industry. Thus, you can avoid all your small or major confusion by getting crystal-clear information on Electronic Logging Devices.

What Is ELD?

ELD (Electronic Logging Device) is the equipment that implements automatic location & driving record tracking under FMCSA compliance for all the driving trucks along with their running trailers. It works on tracking the driving status of a trucker which shouldn’t exceed legal working hours. Thus, It monitors the driving engine to get the exact tracking details. Therefore, many ELD regulating device companies enroll under FMCSA to provide the on-duty,off-duty, and break-hours status of a driver.
ELD System tracks location after every sixty minutes during duty hours while changing the driving status, and during power up & shut down of the engine. 

Why ELD Is Mandatory?

It’s very easy to understand the mandatory requirement of Electronic Logging Devices in every truck & trailer. That is to
  • To keep a truck company & owner operator disciplined with driving rules
  • Avoid any mishappening on roads due to poor driving of a trucker
  • To keep a truck driver/owner-operator internally stable with driving routine
  • To avoid complex and non-transparent records through paperwork records.
  • To access real-time operations in the truck enterprise.
In short implementing ELD Device is a kind of proof for the transportation authority(FMCSA) that the concerned truck company works on driving rules to maintain the safe transportation system on the road.

How ELD Works In A Truck Or Trailer?

ELD equipment is attached to the truck that is enrolled with the concerned driver for their daily operations. Here, the driver’s location gets automatically tracked for On-Duty, Off-Duty, Break, or sleep time. The interface in the ELD presents the interface to the driver showing its available hours which get deducted with consumption regularly. The backend process track automatically as per the driver’s action. Therefore, the designed system presents the components like messaging, hours of service, Driver login, and other duty status requirements. Thus, ELD Systems For Trucks are designed in a compatible framework where the driving standard of all truck companies remains transparent to the Department Of Transparent.
Here are the data elements which covers while synchronizing with Commercial Motor Vehicle
  • What is the Engine Power Status of The vehicle?
  • What Is The Motion Status of the Truck?
  • How many miles does the concerned vehicle drive?
  • How many Engine hours does the concerned truck has made?
  • Identification of driver/authorized user, vehicle, and motor carrier
  • What’s The Duty status (On Duty, Off Duty, Break Time) of the driver?

Which Truck Enterprises Gets ELD Exemption?

However, Electronic Logging Device is compulsory for the maximum commercial truck enterprises. Still, there are truck enterprises that get fmcsa eld exemptions in the following conditions.
  • Drivers serving not more than eight hours of duty within a month doesn’t require to fulfill RODS and satisfy ELD criteria.
  • Drivers operating within a one-fifty air miles radius in not less than 14 hours consecutive duty hours.
  • Drivers who are not supposed to keep RODS records.
  • Driver-making towaway operation where a motor vehicle is driven or transported as a part of the shipment.
  • Drivers using before the 2000-year modal vehicle are exempted from ELD.

What ELD Documentation A Commercial Truck Driver Must Have?

A driver riding a truck with an ELD device doesn’t become 100% eligible without carrying proper ELD documentation. Thus, here are a few things that a trucking driver must have while managing trucking with an ELD device. It proves the truck company’s ELD compliance fulfillment to the inspection authorities.
  • The document defines the ELD Operating Rules which cover the overall process and used components.
  • The data transfer mechanism for ELD system components along with the driver’s duty hour records is presented in a detailed instruction sheet.
  • ELD Malfunction tracking and reporting procedure by the driver must be available while driving during inspection with concerned authority officials.

How ELD Providers Become Acceptable For Truck Enterprises?

FMCSA’s pre-defined ELD rules make it necessary for every truck enterprise to implement the same at their commercial place. Therefore, a truck company or owner-operators follows ELD rules while maintaining the RODS(Record Of Duty Status) and HOS(Hours Of Service) record. Therefore, here are a few parameters depending on which truck company can choose Trucking ELD Solution service.

  • Check the FMCSA & DOT certification with ELD Providers.
  • The Device should meet IFTA compliance(miles tracking requirement) and be properly tested by the ELD provider.
  • Experience of ELD providers with different truckers, Word to mouth goodwill, and better reviews and portfolios.
  • An experienced & reputed company offers different plans for their costumes. A truck company can check the pricing and offers compatibility with different service plans.
  • Choose the compatible format with a company device offer or install ELD service in the existing hardware(smartphone or tablet).
  • Check the device compatibility with different types of truck vehicle categories to get optimized ELD solution devices available in the market.
  • Check the dynamic approach of ELD service providers which stays active & up-to-date with changes in FMCSA regulations.
  • The device or ELD system must be 100% secure & portable to use in the long term in any system device.

Best ELD Devices A Truck Company Can Consider For Use!

As we know, FMCSA has set the mandatory requirement in past years for every truck company while meeting RODS compliance. Infact, FMCSA removes/declines the ELD provider service when it doesn’t stay up-to-date with market features or does not provide transparent automatic tracking.. (the way FMCSA recently removed ‘All Ways Track’, as it didn’t meet requirements as per 49 CFR part 395,). Therefore, a truck company must look for the Best ELD Devices for Trucks to not suffer from unnecessary interruptions in long-term transportation services.

What Best Features Of ELD Devices Can Be Helpful For Truck Drivers & Owner Operators?

A truck company couldn’t enroll in an ELD service as per word-to-mouth suggestion until it does not set compatible with a specific purpose. The process of ELD for Trucks goes from package or device installation plan to subscription term. Here a truck company while researching ELD compliance with DOT & FMCSA must also check for the working & recording features like
  • Easy To Install & Operate
  • Synchronization With Truck Engine
  • Accurate Location Tracking
  • Convenient Interface For A Common Person
  • Compatible With Fleet Type/Size
  • 100% Accurate Tracking
  • Secure & Easy Account Management
  • Worth With Cost
  • 24/7 Hours Support
  • Audio Control Integration
Here is a list of devices that can suit the best truck enterprise or an owner-operator’s choice. Thus, A truck company can choose the same depending on its truck enterprise business requirement.
  • Matrack ELD Device
  • GPS Trackit ELD Device
  • Gorilla Safety ELD Device
  • Garmin eLog
  • Motive ELD
  • Samsara Device
  • Omnitracs ELD Device
  • EROAD Ehubo ELD Device
  • BigRoad’s Dashlink ELD Device
  • Verizon Connect Reveal ELD Device

Final Words

We hope the above article information is fruitful to engage you with ELD providers. The prominence of the ELD service gets very much clear from the recent amendments which FMCSA applies for absolute Driver records. Therefore, a truck company must look for the best available option for documents, paperwork, official enrollments, Insurance coverage, and ELD function.
Categories
insurance

How To Choose The Best Commercial Truck Insurance In 2023?

How To Choose The Best Commercial Truck Insurance In 2023? 

Do you know choosing the best commercial truck insurance is an essential decision in your trucking business? You might be a truck driver or a business, or you have just started the business; having truck insurance is one of the best decisions in your life. Whenever you claim the insurance, you should have the trust that it will help you get the best reimbursements which not only reduces your liabilities but also lower the amount you have to spend during the season. It means you need to vet the company which will be providing the easiest and fastest insurance claims, and the agent will be available to make the whole process quick.

Categories
insurance trucking

What Is Motor Truck Cargo Insurance? How Much Is It?

What Is Motor Truck Cargo Insurance? How Much Is It?

Trucking companies are often required to provide motor truck cargo insurance to their customers. You can be responsible if the property you carry is not in a good condition when you provide cargo transportation services. Vehicle collisions, overturns, fires, and theft are just some of the common risks that can destroy your cargo.

Motor Truck Cargo Insurance

 

There are a number of ways you can protect yourself against these perils:

  • Use a trucking insurance policy that covers damages from accidents and cargo loss in case of theft.
  • Ensure your liability coverage is high enough for any losses incurred through the use of your company’s trucks.
  • Purchase collision coverage if your vehicles are involved in accidents while transporting loads.
  • Make sure that all shipments have valid insurance policies in place before they leave your facility, as well as after they arrive at their destination.
  • Register with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), so it can be investigated properly when an accident occurs.

Cargo insurance is a type of insurance that protects your business from the financial costs associated with transporting cargo. It covers the loss or damage to your cargo during transit, including theft and accidents. While most cargo insurance policies cover all types of goods — including perishable items — there are also policies available for specific types of cargo, such as heavy equipment or automotive parts.

What is Motor Truck Cargo Insurance?

A motor truck cargo insurance policy protects your goods and property while a motor carrier is transporting them. Freight carriers are responsible for protecting the value of client property. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) requires Motor Truck Cargo Coverage for vehicles and companies involved in household goods transportation (e.g., moving companies). There is a good chance that your company will require you to have it. Depending on the type, amount, and distance of the cargo which you will transport and how long it takes for the transport to complete, premium costs and limits may vary. For your business, you should consult with your insurer to ensure that you have the right coverage.

Motor Truck Liability Coverage protects you against losses arising from damages or injuries sustained by third parties while they are in your possession or control, but not while they are traveling with you. Suppose a vehicle carrying your goods is involved in an accident. In that case, this coverage can help pay for medical expenses or other losses incurred by drivers or passengers injured because of an accident involving your vehicle. If you get to know that there is some injury on your property while they are working on it, they will get the insurance money as the insurance will also cover it.

What property you will cover by Motor Truck Cargo Insurance?

When your clients’ cargo is in your custody, Motor Truck Cargo Coverage protects it. Your insurer will pay for damages that can happen by a covered peril if your company is responsible for loss. Among the common perils covered are fire, collisions, water damage, refrigeration failure, and theft. Regardless of whether a covered peril causes damage to your vehicle, other vehicles, or any other property, any damage to your own vehicle, other vehicles, or cargo in transit will not be able to get a refund.

Standard commercial auto policy or as an add-on endorsement will also increase if we add the above. It only applies to items transported via motor truck at the time of loss. If your vehicle gets in an accident without transporting cargo at the time of loss (for example, if you are driving home from work), this coverage does not apply — you can add it as an additional endorsement or policy modification.

Risks in Motor Truck Cargo Insurance

Cargo Coverage for Motor Trucks provides coverage for the transportation of goods by motor trucks. Motor vehicle insurance covers the transportation of cargo, as well as the shipping or delivery of the cargo. And if the cargo is not in the condition like the way in the starting company will need to pay.

It is possible to offer Motor Truck Cargo Coverage on an all-risks or named peril basis. Policies that cover all risks will cover all causes of loss, with the exception of those that are specifically unintentional. Policy names only cover the risks that will be there in the document. Due to their comprehensive coverage, all-risks policies usually have higher premiums.

Factors that affect the Motor Truck Cargo Insurance Cost

  • The types of insurance protections that you and your business requirements will determine the type of insurance policy that is appropriate for you and your business. Each type of insurance policy will have a different cost.
  • Operational factors, including your business’s unique circumstances and the risks you face on a daily basis, will influence the price.
  • A new truck tends to be more expensive to insure due to its high cost of replacement or repair. The cost of insuring heavy vehicles is higher because they pose a greater risk of causing greater damage in the event of an accident. Of course, the more you insure, the higher your insurance premium.
  • A larger operating radius will result in a higher cost. It is more likely that you will get into an accident if you have a large operating radius since there is less familiarity with the routes.
  • Depending on where your business operates, your rates will vary.
  • You will be able to save on your insurance premiums if you store your trucks in a secure area. The cost of parking a truck in an open lot or in a public area will be higher. The cost of parking the truck in a garage or in a closed yard will be less.
  • There are certain types of cargo that are more hazardous to transport due to their weight, cost, or potential danger in the event of an accident. The type of insurance can justify the cost you have to paywhile buying the insurance. Truck accidents involving heavy construction equipment, for instance, are likely to cause more damage than accidents involving dump trucks transporting sand.
  • A driver with a history of traffic violations will have to pay a higher premium for their insurance. The best thing you can do is to ensure all drivers have clean driving records, as even a minor traffic violation can result in a significant increase in insurance premiums. Many insurance carriers provide safety guides and resources for drivers; it is a good idea to consider investing in driver safety training. When working under your own authority, any violations in your USDOT operating history. They can also look there for any past cases.
  • An individual’s deductible is the amount of money that they are responsible for paying before their insurance coverage kicks in. As a result, your insurance premium will be less expensive if your deductible is higher.
  • Your policy limits are the maximum amount that your insurance company will cover in case of a claim. It will play an important role in determining how much your monthly premiums will be. Currently, the FMCSA requires truckers with a federal filing to have at least a $750,000 commercial standard liability limit or a $1,000,000 commercial standard liability limit. CSL stands for a combined single limit – this is the maximum amount an insurance company will pay per incident.

FAQs

Q1. What is covered under cargo insurance?

Ans. Basically, it provides protection to the cargo in case it gets stolen or destroyed during transportation.

Q2. What is the difference between cargo and freight insurance?

Ans. Freight insurance is the add-on service to the cargo insurance, an extra set of protection for the truck’s freight or cargo.

 Q3. What is a motor truck cargo policy?

Ans. It acts as a safeguard to the cargo in transit or while loading and unloading the goods from the truck.

Q4. What are the two kinds of cargo insurance policy?

Ans. All risk and named perils are the two things that are covered under the cargo insurance policy.

Q5. What is Motor cargo liability?

Ans. This type of insurance protects the owner and the freight while transporting.

Categories
insurance trucking

Why Truckers Need Cargo Insurance?

Why Truckers Need Cargo Insurance?

We always need commercial truckers to have general liability insurance before they drive the truck. The law requires that they need insurance to be cared for if an accident happens. This liability insurance provides essential protection to the truck. You must have known that the cargo can be destroyed/ stolen in many ways, which is why you must have cargo insurance in Indiana for your trucks. Per the FMCSA, one must have insurance to help one get their truck running on the roads. There should be minimum insurance so that some losses can be covered if a mishap happens.

Why Truckers Need Cargo Insurance?

What Is Trucking Cargo Insurance In USA?

This insurance is the insurance that is needed for the protection of heavy and expensive cargo which is carried by your trucks. It can be carried by trucks in all weather, especially in cold weather when the roads become very dangerous due to slippery surfaces. We have seen that insurance provides protection during times of fire, wind, hail, and theft, and it may cause the cargo to be destroyed during the time of the collision. As per the federal government, the insurance should be maximum to be around $5000, but it depends upon the cargo you are taking in the truck. It is seen that there are many truckers and companies, and agents who buy insurance of $100000 to secure the cargo of the trucks while they make their way all over the states in the USA.

Types of Cargo Insurance Policies

There are not many types of truck insurance, and we will discuss them in detail to get you an idea about each. There are mainly three kinds of insurance that can be done by an insurance company:

  • Open Cover Trucking Cargo Insurance – It will cover all the insurance cases listed in the policy and leave behind the ones that come in the exceptions. Open insurance is good for large to medium businesses that ship goods and products frequently. If you are shipping multiple shipments to and fro, then it is needed to have open-cover insurance. It is always affordable and cost-effective to cover large volumes as per the load they take every day.
  • Contingency Trucking Cargo Insurance – This type of insurance is carried out by the client rather than the seller, and it is done to take place when all other insurances are not working as they intend to. In this case, the insurer tries to give it to the beneficiary in an attempt to get back from the seller. It takes care of the loss, which could happen if things do not go as they should have been. Our agents understand this insurance coverage and are ready to give you the best of that whenever the need arises.
  • Specialized Cargo Insurance – It covers a certain batch of cargo with the trucker, which needs special care and insurance. For example, a client is carrying freshly caught fish from one place to another. Then the client gives specific instructions under which, if they are ignored, the insurance company will pay for the loss of the shipment.

Every client has different needs which need to be followed while you transfer the shipment with that trucker or the company. 

Why Do You Need Cargo Insurance In Trucking?

This insurance is needed for your business because of the following reasons:

  • It is the law that has been created by the Federal government which is needed to be followed
  • Accidents can happen anytime, and that is why before they happen, it is good to keep a hand in the insurance such that it can help you take the expenses from your hands
  • It protects the property of the client when they are getting transported by the trucks
  • It gives protection to the truck from physical damage as, with time, most things get destroyed with time, and thus it is needed to have this insurance
  • One should always have bobtail insurance such that when the trucks are not carrying the cargo, they are protected

Now let us discuss what it will exclude when the cargo is being transported, and something like this happens because then the insurance company will not be liable to pay to the beneficiary:

  • If the personal items of the drivers are lost/ stolen/ destroyed.
  • If there is a loss of the shipping containers like they get destroyed or something happens like regular wear and tear.
  • If the cargo is explosive or it is a radioactive material, then the insurance won’t cover the expenses; that is why the government does most of the transportation of these types of cargo.
  • If art or jewelry is being transported and they are prone to thefts which makes them very much liable to be stolen on the way, and that is why personal guards are hired to protect the goods while they are being transported.
  • Money or money paper is being transported, and that is when you need to take care of the transportation because, like jewelry, they are highly contagious and can be stolen on their way to the banks. It is one of these reasons when they are transported; the information is needed to know only..
  • Live animals are getting transported, so it is good that they should be transported in the best conditions because the insurance companies do not give insurance protection to them.
  • If the goods getting transported are illegal, like contraband, medicines then it is something that the client needs to take care of and not the insurance company, or the truckers are liable to pay if they are lost or destroyed on the way.
  • Imagine some of your cargo is kept for over 3 days waiting to be picked up by you, and in the process, the cargo or the goods are lost to the weather or any other calamity. Then, the insurance company or the trucker will not be liable to pay for any of the damage which has happened to the cargo.

Thus, it only pressurizes that truckers need cargo insurance in Indiana as they can help when you do not have the money or the funds, and they pay for almost most situations. For this insurance, you can contact mayflower Insurance Services by filling out this form.


FAQs

Q1. What are the best motor truck cargo insurance companies?

Ans. There are many companies, but if you need the ones which are good for you, you can contact us and get the best insurance solutions.

Q2. What does motor truck cargo insurance cover?

Ans. Motor truck cargo insurance covers everything except the situations which are exceptions.

Q3.  How do I get cargo insurance for a short-term box truck rental?

Ans. You can get them directly, but you can contact Mayflower Insurance company to get the most affordable policies.

Q4. Is it possible for U-Haul to rent cargo trucks with no insurance coverage in accidents?

Ans. It depends upon the type of insurance services you have opted for.

Q5. What kind of insurance do I need as an owner-operator trucker?

Ans. You need to have general liability insurance, at least as it is my federal law.

 

Categories
insurance trucking

How Can Cargo Insurance Reduce The Risk Of Theft?

How Can Cargo Insurance Reduce The Risk Of Theft?

Cargo theft has been around us for ages. It has always been disheartening when you or your customer know that the cargo being transported has been stolen from unidentified looters. It is seen that many transportation companies have started taking cargo insurance a must either from the customer whose goods are getting transferred or some big companies like FedEx have their insurance providers, which help in mitigating cargo theft. Due to advancements in technology, the ways and methods used by the thieves have also been updated and upgraded as per the market, and they have found new methods to sneak off with the transportation goods of the trucker.

Nowadays, there are many Information Technology companies that have come up with smart artificial intelligence products which are fitted in trucks and trailers, and sometimes inside high-value goods to prevent or to get back the goods once thieves have stolen them. As per the report by CargoNet, it has been seen that there is a 73% rise in cargo theft cases in USA and Canada, which is close to $19 million, and it is an alarming figure as the results have been compared with the year 2021.

How Can Cargo Insurance Reduce The Risk Of Theft?

Let us discuss the five usual ways which lead to thefts of cargo:

  1. Direct Theft: It is the way in which the theft is done directly straight from the trucks/ trailers, and it is difficult to point out who stole the goods. It is like your cargo is at the pumping station by the time the driver comes to check. There may have been scenarios when the whole trailer was stolen and also hurt the drivers and other staff who were present at the time. The thieves usually go for high-value goods or for which they have the ability to steal less and earn huge profits.
  2. Strategically Cargo Theft: Cargo theft is done after a lot of planning, and usually, there is a mole in the company who shares all the routes and emergency plans if there is some issue in the usual routes and ways. It is noticed that the thieves usually do that on the weekends or at the start of the weekends when the company has fewer resources to look into it. Like Fridays or Saturdays are the most usual days since everyone is working for n reserve staff, and no anyone can do it until the start of next week.
  3. Technology Advanced Thefts: As discussed above, the thieves have started hiring computer staff and hackers who hack into the company database and steal a lot of client information which might include credit card, social security numbers, and other bank details, which is not only harmful for the company reputation but also led to many thefts which they have led the authorities to some other place while they were at a differentplace. They also have the skills to change/ hack/ jam the GPS to the point of taking control of all the websites and the company’s total digital footprint.
  4. Cyber Attacks: They have been attacking the whole grid of attacks on trucks since these days they have been fitted with computers inside, which can be easily hacked. These thieves use high-end systems, and they direct the truck directly to them by re-routing their signals and GPS on board. These days they have been using public wifi since it is directly linked to the transportation office, and they have less security than private contractors.
  5. Cargo Lifting: There have been times when you will find that half of the cargo has been gone, per your documentation. It has been seen that when the truckers go and wait for frequent breaks, that is the best time for the thieves to steal the goods and products. You must have noticed that these types of pilferage are done while the trucks are in the areas where by the time there is a response from the authorities, it would have been so late for them.

 

How Can You Save Your Cargo?

Here are the few steps the drivers and the company staff should follow:
  • Keep the knowledge of the transportation inside the office and do not let it leak to the outside people. There should be proper communication and documents, and everyone should sign non-disclosure documents. These will help to curb the thefts.
  • The drivers should not keep the cargo unattended, especially in high theft areas.
  • The use of high-security checks and locks, and machinery to keep the cargo intact might reduce the amount paid for the cargo insurance.
  • Always do an internal audit as and when between the business year so that you can get to know the intricacies before and might prevent things from happening.
  • Always have an overview and keep updating in real-time the location of the trucks and the drivers because it not only helps in getting the correct location of the truck, but the security team can reach on time and the correct location if required.
  • Dispose of the staff you are dishonest with or the management because, in the end, you have to be there to take care of the fallings that could have been mitigated at the beginning.
  • Make partnerships with the security and other cargo insurance providers so that you don’t need to worry about the things that could have been unseen by you.
  • Drivers should be cautious of the way they drive. It is said the driver should take care of the cargo and truck and drive at least 200 miles before a stop, as it reduces the risk of cargo loss.

About Us

Mayflower Insurance services help you get truck, home, house, and auto insurance. They are in over 30 states and help in getting you the best rates for any of the insurance you need. It was the year 2003 when it was established, and after nearly two decades of consistent work and efforts, we have been working on getting you the best policies at the best prices. Contact us Today!