Questions and Answers on Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs)
Q1: Who is responsible for electronic logging devices, are they a federal regulated entity? If so, what role does TC have with its regulation and does TC have the power to change regulations on them?
A1: Transport Canada published amendments on June 12, 2019, in Canada Gazette Part II to the Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service Regulations (the Regulations) to mandate certified electronic logging devices (ELDs) for federally regulated truck and bus motor carriers and drivers who were required to maintain a paper daily log. Enforcement of the ELD mandate started in January 2023.
An ELD connects to the electronic control module of a vehicle. They make it easier and faster to track, manage, share and improve the accuracy of a driver's hours of service record. This helps drivers stay within legally allowed driving hours and reduce fatigue.
All FPT jurisdictions worked through the CCMTA to establish the Technical Standard for Electronic Logging Devices (the Standard). The CCMTA Technical Standard for ELDs establishes minimum performance and design specifications for ELDs and is closely aligned with the technical specifications set out in the U.S. ELD Final Rule. The CCMTA Technical Standard for ELDs been incorporated by reference, as amended from time to time, into the Regulations (http://www.gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2019/2019-06-12/html/sor-dors165-eng.html).
While in the U.S. ELDs are self-certified to comply with the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) ELD rules, in Canada, ELDs are certified to be compliant with the Regulations through a third-party certification regime. Transport Canada partnered with Standards Council of Canada (SCC), Canada's national accreditation body, to develop and implement the accreditation scheme for electronic logging device certification bodies. Through a robust process, SCC has accredited two certification bodies (FP Innovations and ComDriver Technologies) who are responsible for certifying ELDs. These two certification bodies test the ELDs to ensure compliance with the Regulations including the Technical Standard for ELD. Only certified ELDs listed on the Transport Canada website meet the requirement of the Regulations.
For more info: 11. Fatigue Management in the Trucking Industry
Q2: What is TC doing about the tampering of electronic logging devices ?
A2:
•Electronic Logging Devices are tamper-resistant equipment that automatically record driving time in commercial motor vehicles. This helps make sure that drivers are compliant with the Hours of Service Regulations resulting in reduced fatigue for drivers, improved administrative efficiency and safer roads in Canada.
•Mandatory use of these devices helps ensure that federally-regulated commercial drivers operating in Canada, including those that cross the border into Canada, drive within their limit and accurately log their working hours as established in the Regulations.
•This assists in the compliance of already exiting working hours rules.
More information can be found here : https://tc.canada.ca/en/road-transportation/electronic-logging-devices
Under the Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service Regulations (the Regulations), tampering with an ELD is covered by section 86
Tampering
- 86 (1) No motor carrier shall request, require or allow a driver to keep and no driver shall keep more than one record of duty status in respect of any day.
- (2) No motor carrier shall request, require or allow any person to enter, and no person shall enter, inaccurate information in a record of duty status or falsify, mutilate, obscure, alter, delete, destroy or deface the records or supporting documents.
- (3) No motor carrier shall request, require or allow any person to, and no person shall, disable, deactivate, disengage, jam or otherwise block or degrade a signal transmission or reception, or re-engineer, reprogram or otherwise tamper with an ELD so that the device does not accurately record and retain the data that is required to be recorded and retained.
Further, Transport Canada also introduced fines to support the enforcement of the ELD mandate (https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/regulations/sor-96-313/page-26.html). As such, for tampering with an ELD, a driver can be fined $1,000 and a motor carrier can be fine $2,000.
|
Item |
Provision of Commercial Vehicle Drivers Hours of Service Regulations |
Short-Form Description |
Fine ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
50 |
86(1) |
|
1000 |
|
2000 |
||
|
51 |
86(2) |
|
1000 |
|
2000 |
||
|
52 |
86(3) |
|
1000 |
|
2000 |
Provinces and Territories are responsible for enforcement and therefore investigation and enforcement when an ELD is tampered with.
Q3: Are we looking to improve the technology to fix the tampering issue and other software issues? What is the timeline for software updates?
A3: While no system is entirely immune to misuse, it is important to emphasize that Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) are significantly more secure and less susceptible to manipulation than traditional paper logs. That said, as with any digital technology, there may be attempts by bad actors to circumvent safeguards. Updates and improvements are rolled out regularly, the most recent CCMTA Technical Standard for ELDs version 1.3 was made public on September 29, 2025. It replaces the version 1.2 previously posted on October 27, 2020. Please consult the CCMTA ELD Technical Standard page to access version 1.3 and the summary of amendments.
Following CCMTA approval of the ELD Technical Standard version 1.3, Transport Canada is now leading the process for the implementation and coming into force of the Technical Standard version 1.3, recognizing that ELD Providers and Certification Bodies will need a period of transition before the full implementation of Technical Standard version 1.3.
ELDs are installed in commercial vehicles that may be operated by multiple drivers. However, each driver is required to log in using a unique account that is linked to their personal information, such as name and driver’s licence number. This ensures that the ELD generates an accurate and individualized record of duty status for each driver. Tampering may occur if a driver shares their login credentials with another individual, allowing that person to operate the vehicle under a false identity. While this constitutes a form of fraud, it is important to note that the ELD system automatically tracks driving time which then facilitates enforcement of hours-of-service limits.
Q4: Are electronic logging devices used internationally in the trucking industry? If they are, are they known to aid in reducing driver fatigue, if so can we please have some stats that are available?
A4: While there is no data available for Canada at this time, the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) data demonstrate the importance of ELD in the enforcement of HOS rules.
Key Statistics and Findings
- Reduction in Hours of Service (HOS) Violations: After the ELD mandate was fully enforced in the U.S., carriers using ELDs saw a 50% decrease in HOS violations. This indicates better compliance with mandatory rest periods, directly addressing fatigue.
- Decrease in Crash Rates: The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reported an 11.7% reduction in crash rates among carriers using ELDs. Fatigue-related crashes are a major concern, and this drop suggests ELDs are helping mitigate that risk.
- Improved Safety Outcomes: ELDs ensure drivers take required rest breaks by automatically tracking driving time. This has led to a significant reduction in fatigue-related accidents, which were previously linked to falsified paper logs.
- Enhanced Driver Health: By enforcing rest periods, ELDs contribute to better sleep hygiene and reduced stress for drivers, improving overall health and alertness on the road.
- Accident Investigation Support: ELDs provide detailed logs that help reconstruct events leading up to accidents, offering insights into whether fatigue was a factor.
For further info, please consult https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/2023-04/ELD%20Oversight%20Report%20-%20April%20…