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Read moreFull enforcement for electronic logging devices (ELDs) for commercial trucking fleets operating in Canada began on January 1, 2023. For any companies operating Canadian trucking fleets, or U.S. fleets that may travel to and from Canada, it’s important to understand how hours of service (HOS) regulations differ in the U.S. and Canada as the industry transitions to the final rule.
Hours of service are the maximum allowable working hours for commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers within a given period of time. Hours of service regulations define the number of hours a driver must rest between shifts, as well as when breaks and cycles occur. Limits pertaining to HOS differ for property and passenger-carrying drivers, and also differ slightly between the U.S. and Canada.
The ELD mandate in Canada will require truck drivers who follow HOS regulations to switch from paper logbooks to ELDs. Previously, Canada had no specific requirements governing the use of electronic recording devices for monitoring drivers' HOS. Drivers were able to use electronic recording devices (ERDs), e-logs, or automatic onboard recording devices (AOBRDs), as alternatives to daily logs on paper. The ELD mandate did not change the HOS regulations already in place, but help to monitor and bolster driver compliance with the HOS rules.
While the HOS rules in Canada and the U.S. are similar, Canadian HOS regulations are slightly more flexible than in the U.S. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has outlined a number of helpful differences for companies and truck drivers to understand when driving between the United States and Canada.1
The guidelines regarding 30-minute breaks also differ slightly for truckers in Canada. In the U.S., driving isn’t permitted if more than 8 hours have passed “the end of the driver’s last off-duty or sleeper-berth period or 30-minute break after 8 cumulative—not consecutive—hours of CMV driving.” The 30-minute break can be satisfied by using 30 minutes of a combination of consecutive on-duty/off-duty/sleeper berth time. In Canada, drivers must use off-duty time (other than the mandatory 8 consecutive hours) in blocks no shorter than 30 minutes.1
You can find a full rundown of the differences between Canadian and U.S. HOS rules here.
The use of ELDs automates record keeping and reporting so that any audits and roadside inspections can be managed quickly and efficiently. For trucking companies in the U.S. and Canada alike, a commercial vehicle ELD can help give drivers peace of mind during inspections, reducing downtime and the chance of fines, which can cost your business thousands of dollars and even require you to cease operations.
1https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/international-programs/hours-service-requirements-cross-border-drivers
2https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/Drivers_Guide_to_HOS_2016.pdf
3https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/SOR-2005-313/page-1.html#h-719527
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