Canadian ELD Mandate—How Fleets Can Quickly Adapt

Nov 10, 2022

Canada’s carriers face new ELD rules on January 1, 2023

Fleets face new Canadian rules for electronic logging devices (ELDs) that start in less than three months. After delays in 2021 and 2022, Canada’s ELD mandate appears to be on track for enforcement on January 1, 2023. Previous reasons for postponement, such as the pandemic and a lack of certified ELDs, aren’t likely to be roadblocks again.

Fleets can check to see if their ELDs are certified by Transport Canada. Carriers that don’t have certified ELDs should begin the transition as soon as possible. Companies must consider the impact that ELDs will create across their fleet to plan enough time for effective change management. This helps to reduce friction that drivers and fleet workers experience towards new systems and industry rules.

Getting your entire fleet on board is a crucial part of rolling out efficient compliance measures for the Canadian ELD mandate.

Get the Guide – Canadian ELD Compliance

Is my ELD certified?

Transport Canada offers a website for carriers to verify their ELD device as compliant with the mandate. This list includes all certified ELD products in Canada. Use the list to confirm that the product model name and number are certified. The software name and version can also be confirmed on the ELD certification list.

If you can’t find your device on the list, contact your vendor. Since time is running short, it’s important to know where your vendor stands in the process of becoming certified. Don’t hesitate to ask questions, such as:

  • What steps are being taken to become compliant?
  • Will I need new hardware?
  • Will there be a major software update?
  • Can we achieve compliance with an over-the-air update?

The answers you get to these questions will directly impact how quickly you’ll be able to deploy an ELD solution that complies with the mandate. An over-the-air software update can be fast. If you need new hardware or a new vendor, you will require a lot more time to make the transition.

Following best practices for ELD implementation will shave time off the project. Getting started with the process sooner than later will allow for enough time to smoothly transition before the mandate starts in January.

How fleets manage the change to ELDs

Transitioning to a certified ELD requires a change management plan, starting with an evaluation of the impact the change creates across your fleet. Understanding the impact helps to clarify the project scope before deployment. The changes that drivers experience with the new system will be different from those experienced by dispatchers and managers, so a change management plan must account for each group.

The upcoming Canadian ELD mandate does not alter hours of service (HOS) regulations, but using an ELD will change the way drivers and fleet workers go about their day. Drivers will need to know how to use ELDs for HOS and DVIRs and to show compliance during roadside inspections. Office personnel will need to get familiar with the new technology and understand how to support drivers using the solution.

The current state of your fleet systems will determine your starting point in the transition process. If your drivers are using paper logs, the amount of change experienced will be much greater than for a fleet already using ELDs. Fleets switching from paper logbooks to ELDs must factor in time for drivers and office personnel to get familiar with the new technology. Fleets familiar with ELDs will need less time to get people up to speed.

Managing change is challenging for many fleets. Understanding the extent of the changes and the impact of new systems on individuals will make it easier to equip your fleet and complete the transition for full compliance.

Transparent communication and engaging training

Fleets with a solid change management plan understand that ELD installation is part of a larger transition process. Drivers and fleet workers must adopt the new system and learn to use it before the final steps of deployment.

A transparent, engaging communication plan helps to reduce resistance to change. Let people know about incoming ELDs well in advance. People who react with more resistance will benefit from a bit more time to accept the new technology. Many will accept the transition to a new system when you take the time to explain the new regulations and time-saving features.

A robust training program helps to reduce the stress of change and quicken the transition to certified ELDs for your fleet. Make training and development resources readily available, including online and in-person activities. Designate mentors and create a support system that everyone can rely on when they have questions or want to become more proficient with the system.

It’s tempting to turn on the ELD compliance setting for all drivers when you finally become compliant. However, if time allows, it’s best to roll out in smaller groups to validate that the deployment is working as intended. You can start with the most tech-savvy drivers or roll out the system one terminal at a time—whatever works best. If issues arise, adopt fixes before the next deployment phase.

Who needs ELDs in Canada?

Canada’s ELD mandate is scheduled to become enforceable in January 2023. Carriers with intra-provincial operations (except Alberta, P.E.I., Saskatchewan), federally regulated fleets, and U.S. fleets that cross over to Canada will need to be compliant with new ELD regulations.

If your fleet hasn’t made the transition, find out more about the road to ELD compliance in Canada.

Get the Guide – Canadian ELD Compliance

About the author

Melanie Simard

Vice President, Safety, Compliance & Technical Support

Melanie Simard is the Vice President of Safety, Compliance, and Technical Support at ISAAC. With over 20 years in the trucking industry, her field experience as a driver, dispatcher, compliance manager—not to mention an ISAAC user—gives her a unique perspective on clients' problems and the urgency of those problems. The trucking DNA she brings to the table is a valuable asset to both ISAAC and its clients.

Her mission? Melanie lives to share her decades of trucking knowledge and her passion for the industry with the people around her, to empower them to excel and exceed expectations.

Time to move forward with managed technology

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