The electronic logging device (ELD) mandate in Canada is getting close to finalizing, which will require carriers across the nation to equip their trucks with the devices. The government plans to release final regulations in the Canadian Gazette in June and implement them as soon as next year, meaning approximately 64,000 commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) operating in Canada will need an upgrade.
To help alleviate industry growing pains, LiteLink Technologies Inc. (CSE:LLT) (OTC:LLNKF), a major player in developing world-class enterprise platforms, is looking to promote one of the top ELDs in the market to carriers across Canada.
LiteLink announced Wednesday that it has signed an agreement with J.J. Keller & Associates Inc. to gain access to its Encompass® Fleet Management System and promote ELDs to carriers in Canada. By gaining access to data from J. J. Keller’s Encompass® ELDs, the company will be able to provide its 1SHIFT Logistics clients with up-to-date information from carriers to augment the 1SHIFT mobile app.
LiteLink will also have the opportunity to refer new customers to Encompass® ELDs, giving the company a chance to reach the thousands of truckers in Canada and prepare them for the new mandate.
“As a Canadian publicly traded company, LiteLink has an opportunity to introduce J.J. Keller ELDs to carriers across the country. The first-to-market ELD aggregate providers in Canada will have a foot ahead in capturing a significant portion of the Canadian market,” says LiteLink CEO Ashik Karim in the press release.
“We’re in a very unique situation where ELD providers are lining up to provide their hardware for our Canadian-based logistics system to grow their market share in technology across Canada. This agreement with J.J. Keller gives LiteLink the ability to introduce one of the best ELDs to carriers in Canada in preparation for the upcoming mandate,” he added.
Moving forward, LiteLink plans to onboard 50 additional ELDs throughout 2019 in preparation for the Canadian ELD mandate.
What Are ELDs and Why Are They Necessary?
An ELD is a piece of hardware that plugs into a truck’s engine control module to track speed, location and a driver’s hours-of-service (HOS) and help streamline both communication and workflow. The primary reason ELDs are implemented is to boost compliance and safety in the industry. Not only does the use of ELDs keep both drivers and shipments safe, but it also simplifies the record-keeping process.
LiteLink Technologies is focused on developing end-to-end logistics management solutions that create a worry-free, transparent environment. The company’s 1SHIFT logistics platform enables brokers, shippers, and carriers to track shipments, settle payments and communicate in real-time via a mobile app.
Now, LiteLink is working to onboard ELD providers in Canada and the US to augment its 1SHIFT platform and ensure seamless connectivity along the supply chain. By forming these relationships with ELD companies like J.J. Keller and gaining access to information provided by ELD’s, even carriers who aren’t using the 1SHIFT mobile app will be easily trackable.
LiteLink Providing Compliant ELDs to Canadian Truckers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) introduced its ELD mandate in the US in 2017 and put forth a list of registered ELDs that meet its checklist of requirements. When the ELD mandate was enforced in April 2018, a number of drivers reported issues with the devices not tracking time and transferring data accurately.
The FMCSA discovered at the time that about 330 of the ELDs on the market didn’t meet technical specifications for things like data transfer, which highlights an issue with allowing US suppliers to self-certify that their ELDs meet federal regulations.
The issue faced by the FMCSA was a good lesson for the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators (CCMTA), who is taking cues from the US to aid in the development of the ELD regulations in Canada.
The faulty ELDs in the US also led the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) to push for third-party ELD certification to ensure the highest level of compliance in the trucking industry.
Since Canada has yet to implement its ELD mandate, there are no certified Canadian ELDs on the market as of yet. Luckily, companies like J.J. Keller, who are experts in compliance and safety, will likely have no problem meeting all of the requirements.
It will be interesting to see how the trucking industry will be affected by the new regulations and which ELD providers will secure their spot in the Canadian market. Do you think LiteLink has set itself up as the front runner is the burgeoning industry? Let us know in the comments.
Featured Image: Pixabay
