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Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
How to Track Driver Hours Without Drowning in ELD Reports
Running a small fleet means you're stretched thin—dispatching loads, chasing payments, and keeping trucks rolling. Then ELD reports hit you like a brick wall, piling on data you barely have time to read, let alone understand. Hours of service rules aren't optional, but you don't need to drown in reports to stay compliant. If you're running one to five trucks, every minute spent decoding logs is a minute you're not booking better loads or building broker relationships. This is about tracking driver hours efficiently, staying FMCSA-compliant, and focusing on what keeps your business alive—hauling freight. Here's how small fleet owners and owner-operators can cut through the noise and keep their trucks where they belong: on the road. Why ELD Reports Are a Small Fleet's Nightmare ELDs were sold as a time-saver, but for small carriers, they're often a headache that eats your day. You're staring at dense logs, sifting through alerts for minor violations, and chasing drivers who log wrong—or don't log at all. FMCSA rules feel like they change every time you blink, and one slip can mean a fine that wipes out a week's profit. Here's what you're up against: Logs so complicated they take an hour to review Alerts flooding your inbox for every 5-minute overage Drivers forgetting to switch to 'off-duty' or logging yard moves wrong Rules that seem designed for big fleets with compliance teams If you're a five-truck operation, you're not staffed to play data analyst. Every hour spent untangling ELD reports is an hour you're not negotiating rates or planning lanes. A one-truck operator in Indiana lost $3,000 last year on a single HOS violation because he didn't catch a logging error. The goal isn't just staying legal—it's doing it without sacrificing your bottom line. Build Systems That Work for You You don't need a degree in tech to track hours right. It's about setting up lean, practical systems that save time and keep you compliant. You're a small fleet owner, not a corporate desk jockey—focus on what moves the needle. Here's how to make it happen. 1. Choose an ELD That Fits Your Fleet Not every ELD is built for small operations. Some are bloated with features for mega-carriers, not for you. Pick one that's simple, mobile-friendly, and doesn't bury you in menus. Look for: Real-time hours tracking, you can check from your phone Clean dashboards that show available hours at a glance Syncing with your TMS or load board for seamless planning Motive and Samsara are good bets—starting at $25-$40 per truck monthly, they give you what you need without the fluff. Avoid systems that cost $100 per truck or push features you'll never touch. A three-truck fleet in Oklahoma switched to a simpler ELD and cut their log review time from 2 hours to 20 minutes a day. Test the app yourself before signing up—make sure it's built for someone who's always on the move. 2. Train Drivers to Log Like Pros Your ELD is only as good as the driver behind it. Most violations come from simple mistakes—drivers logging drive time as on-duty, forgetting breaks, or messing up personal conveyance. Don't let bad habits tank your compliance. Set your drivers up to win: Spend 15 minutes (not an hour) walking them through the ELD app's key features Make a one-page cheat sheet for logging breaks, yard moves, and pre-trips Review logs daily for the first two weeks to catch errors early Real-world example: A two-truck operator in Ohio cut HOS violations by 80% after one afternoon training his drivers to log pre-trip inspections right. He printed a laminated checklist and stuck it in the cab—problem solved. That's less time fixing reports and more time hauling $3/mile loads. 3. Zero In on Metrics That Keep You Legal ELD reports spit out enough data to fill a book, but you don't need it all. Focus on the numbers that keep you out of trouble: Available drive time per driver 14-hour duty window status 70-hour weekly limit HOS violations (and what caused them) Set your ELD dashboard to highlight these upfront. Ignore the rest unless you're digging into a specific issue. Most ELDs let you tweak alerts—turn off the spam for minor 5-minute overages and focus on big risks, like 11-hour drive limit violations. A four-truck fleet in Virginia saved 6 hours a week by customizing their dashboard to show only critical metrics. That's time you can spend chasing direct shipper contracts. 4. Automate Compliance to Save Your Sanity You're not a machine, so stop doing machine work. Your ELD can handle the heavy lifting if you set it up right. Use automation to catch issues before they cost you: Set alerts for when drivers hit 90% of their drive time or duty window Schedule weekly summary reports instead of daily email floods Use geofencing to auto-log yard moves at docks you hit often This cuts your review time to 10-15 minutes a day. A five-truck fleet in Texas went from 8 hours a week on compliance to under 2 by automating HOS alerts and only checking flagged logs. That's a full day back for dispatching or negotiating better rates with brokers. 5. Plan Loads Around Hours, Not Hopes Tracking hours isn't just about staying legal—it's about making money. Smart hours management lets you maximize freight without pushing drivers past their limits. Use load boards like DAT or Truckstop to match loads to your drivers' clocks: Filter for loads that fit the remaining drive time Save short-haul runs for drivers low on hours Reserve high-mileage loads for drivers with fresh clocks Check lane history to find shippers with quick turnarounds. Avoid docks known for detention unless the rate covers the wait—$100/hour minimum. A two-truck fleet in Illinois boosted revenue by 15% by picking loads that matched their hours instead of chasing tight deadlines. Keep your trucks moving and your drivers legal. 6. Build a Routine That Sticks Consistency is your edge. Set up a daily and weekly routine to stay on top of hours without losing your mind: Daily: Spend 10 minutes checking ELD alerts and driver logs Weekly: Run a 70-hour report to plan loads for the next week Monthly: Audit one driver's logs to spot patterns (wrong status, missed breaks) A one-truck operator in Nevada caught a recurring logging error by spending 20 minutes a month reviewing logs. That saved him $1,500 in potential fines. Routines don't have to be complicated—just consistent. The Load Board Trap Load boards are a lifeline, but they can make hours tracking harder if you're not careful. Brokers post loads with sometimes tight deadlines, tempting you to stretch driver hours to grab them. Don't bite. A $2,000 load isn't worth a fine or a sidelined OOS driver. Always check available hours before bidding. Build a 1-2 hour buffer into every load for delays—detention, traffic, or breakdowns. Use load boards to: Find lanes that fit your drivers' clocks Spot shippers with consistent freight for direct outreach Avoid brokers with a history of unrealistic schedules (check Carrier Assure for reviews) A three-truck fleet in Florida stopped taking last-minute spot loads with tight windows and saw violations drop to zero. Focus on freight that fits your operation, not the other way around. Tech That Doesn't Break the Bank You don't need a high-dollar setup to track hours like a pro. Stick to tools that save time and money: ELD with a mobile app for real-time updates ($25-$40/truck/month) TMS integration to tie hours to load planning ($50-$75/month) Free spreadsheet or app (like Trucker Tools) to track weekly hours across drivers Spend $100-$150/month total for a two-truck fleet. That's less than one HOS fine or one missed load. A four-truck operator in Michigan switched to a $120/month ELD-TMS combo and saved $6,000 a year by avoiding compliance penalties and picking better lanes. Double-Check Your Drivers' Habits Drivers aren't perfect, and neither are you. Even with a great ELD, human error can creep in. Common mistakes: Logging 'on-duty' instead of 'off-duty' during breaks Forgetting to log pre-trip or post-trip inspections Misusing personal conveyance for non-personal trips Spot-check logs weekly to catch these early. A two-truck fleet in Georgia found one driver was logging 30 minutes of drive time daily as on-duty by mistake. Fixing it saved 10 hours of drive time a month—enough for an extra $1,500 load. Final Word Tracking driver hours doesn't have to bury you in ELD reports. Pick a simple ELD, train your drivers to log right, focus on the metrics that keep you legal, and automate the grunt work. Tie your hours tracking to load planning so you're not just dodging fines—you're making money. Small fleets don't win by working harder; they win by working smarter. Get your systems tight, train your drivers, and keep your trucks hauling freight where they belong. The post How to Track Driver Hours Without Drowning in ELD Reports appeared first on FreightWaves. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
U.S. slaps 20.56% anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood lumber
The U.S. Commerce Department has decided to hike anti-dumping duties on Canadian softwood to 20.56 per cent, with B.C. lumber organizations calling them unjustified, punitive and protectionist. The hiked softwood lumber duties come amid the growing trade war between Canada and the U.S., and represent the latest blow to B.C.'s beleaguered forestry industry. B.C. Forests Minister Ravi Parmar described the long-awaited rate hike as a "gut punch" for B.C.'s forestry industry which has seen thousands of workers laid off over the last few years. "U.S. President Donald Trump has made it his mission to destroy Canada's economy, and there is no sector that has faced more of that than the forestry sector," he told CBC News. "This is a big deal for our workers. This is going to have a significant impact. It will lead to curtailments," he added. The B.C. government has been urging the federal government to prioritize the softwood lumber industry in trade discussions with the U.S., and Parmar said the hiked duties would also impact U.S. homeowners needing lumber to rebuild or renovate their homes. "This is going to mean that Americans, in particular middle-class Americans, are going to be paying more to the tune of $15,000 to $20,000 more USD to purchase or to build a home." The B.C. Lumber Trade Council says in a statement that if the U.S. department's pending review on countervailing duties is in line with its preliminary results, the combined rate against Canadian softwood shipped to the United States will be well over 30 per cent. In April, the preliminary combined rate on Canadian softwood lumber was reported to be 34.45 per cent, up from the previous 14.54 per cent. Friday's decision is a final determination, with Parmar saying it would go into effect in the U.S. Federal Register shortly.U.S. lumber producers have long maintained that Canadian stumpage fees, for harvesting on Crown land, are an unfair government subsidy. B.C.'s Independent Wood Processors Association says in a statement that the U.S. Commerce Department's decision this week to raise duties also includes a requirement for Canadian companies to retroactively remit duties for products shipped to the United States since Jan.1, 2023. WATCH | B.C. premier urges feds to prioritze lumber deal: Association chair Andy Rielly says in a statement that the requirement to pay duties on products shipped in the last 31 months could not only force small B.C. producers to shut down, but may also threaten operators' personal assets as they may have to risk using their homes as collateral to secure bonds to pay. Prime Minister Mark Carney said earlier this month that a future trade agreement with the United States could include quotas on softwood lumber, an area that has caused friction between the two countries for years before the latest trade war. Producer urges province to change conditions The United States has long been the single largest market for B.C. lumber exports, representing over half the market for the approximately $10-billion industry. But amid a series of challenges for the province's forestry industry — including a mountain pine beetle infestation that has killed hundreds of thousands of trees — mills have been closing around the province in recent years, and major forestry companies are opening up new mills in the United States. In 2023, numbers from Statistics Canada showed B.C. had lost more than 40,000 forest-sector jobs since the early 1990s. Kim Haakstad, the CEO of the B.C. Council of Forest Industries, said the B.C. government should work to improve the production environment in the province to prevent future mill closures. In a statement, the council said that by activating timber sales, fast-tracking permits and cutting through regulatory gridlock, the province could send a signal that it is serious about rebuilding a sustainable forest argued that if the industry could get production levels back to historic levels, it could help keep forestry-dependent communities vibrant into the future. "That will bring more than $300 million to the provincial government, as well, to help address the deficit situation we're in," Haakstad said. Kurt Niquidet, the president of the B.C. Lumber Trade Council, highlighted that Trump also has initiated a federal investigation into the U.S. imports of lumber and timber citing "national security," which could further impact B.C.'s forestry industry when combined with the tariffs. "Softwood lumber is quite important for the United States. They can only supply about 70 per cent of their softwood lumber demand, and they're importing 30 per cent from elsewhere," he told CBC News. "25 per cent of that's really coming from Canada, and British Columbia is the largest softwood lumber producer within Canada."
Fox News
10 minutes ago
- Fox News
Expert touts Trump's AI push: 'Best step this country could have taken'
Rhombus Power Inc. founder and CEO Anshuman Roy joins 'Fox News Live' to weigh in the U.S. push to accelerate AI development.
