MiX Telematics announced the results of a comprehensive study conducted with Bobit Research Services on mandatory electronic logging device compliance and use by U.S. trucking fleets.

The main objective of this research was to better understand aspects of ELD compliance within U.S. fleets and how the data collected by ELD solutions is being used. Topics covered in the survey include ELD implementation, progress on meeting the ELD mandate deadline, the types of data being collected through ELD solutions, how that data is being used, and potential return on investment on ELD investments. Bobit conducted the survey in April 2019; 194 individuals responded.

MiX shared the highlights from this study:

• Three-fourths of companies surveyed have already implemented an ELD solution in compliance with the ELD mandate. Among those who have implemented:

  • Four-fifths consider their ELD solution to be full-featured, offering compliance alongside many other features. The balance consider their ELDs to be entry-level, compliance-only tools.

  • One-fourth of companies surveyed have not implemented an ELD solution. About half of those (13%) are not subject to the ELD mandate.

  • Among the 12% (1 in 8) that are subject to the mandate but have not yet implemented ELDs, three-fourths plan to do so by the December 2019 deadline.

• As expected, nearly all fleet professionals who were collecting data were using their ELD solution to collect hours-of-service data. Fewer focused on data relating to vehicle location, vehicle mileage and vehicle speed statistics that could be valuable to fleets focused on safety and efficiency gains.

• When asked if they expected to achieve positive return on investment on their ELD purchases this year, 59% of those using full-featured ELDs said yes, while only 37% of those using entry-level tools said yes.

“We are encouraged that most fleets have implemented an ELD solution and many are using the data they are collecting for things other than HOS compliance,” said Adam Bruttell, vice president of sales and marketing, North America, MiX Telematics. “However, the fact that one in eight fleets are still not ELD compliant and many are not collecting and leveraging ELD data on aspects such as safe driving and fuel economy tells us there is still a lot of work to do. Improved driver safety and fuel economy are significant benefits of using ELDs. Done right, close to 100% of full-featured solutions should achieve ROI. The relatively low expectations seen in the survey demonstrate that fleets can and should do more to leverage the data they are collecting. That’s why MiX works closely with its customers to ensure they are getting the most out of their ELD investments.”

Previous research conducted by MiX Telematics has found that the ROI for a typical 100-vehicle fleet can be $134 per vehicle, per month. The gains are from compliance, safety, and efficiency (for instance, savings on fuel, maintenance, insurance, crash avoidance and fine avoidance).

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MiX Telematics and Bobit Research Services will share more detail on the survey findings in a webinar taking place July 23 at 2 p.m. ET. Click here to register for this free event, “Beyond ELD Compliance: Making the Most of Your ELD Data.” A white paper with more details on the survey findings is available for download here.