Ask the right questions: ELDs are designed to ensure compliance with HOS, not for use as life-saving devices

The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) is evaluating the effectiveness of electronic logging devices (ELDs) in achieving the intended safety outcomes. While initial statistics suggest that ELDs have not reduced highway fatalities, some experts argue that the focus should be on making hours of service (HOS) regulations more flexible to address factors like detention time and traffic congestion that affect drivers’ ability to comply with driving limits.