Choosing the Best ELD For Older Trucks

Electronic logging devices have become nearly essential for fleet operations for various companies. These devices help both truck drivers and fleet managers to carry out all necessary operations efficiently. Whether you have a small fleet management system or an extensive infrastructure, your company can significantly benefit from a top-notch ELD device.

If you’re searching for an ELD for older trucks, we’ve put together a useful guide for choosing the best ELD for your company. If you have an older fleet system, you’ll be glad to know that some FMSCA requirements do not apply to your vehicles. However, it is advisable to purchase an FMSCA compliant high-tech device for keeping your business up to date.

The following guide will help you through the entire process of picking the best ELD by presenting the top three contenders in the market today, complete with their distinctive features and pros and cons. 

Next, there’s a comprehensive buying guide that will walk you through the essential factors to consider before making your decision. It includes necessary facts that you should know, such as FMSCA compliance and ELD exemption for older trucks.

Let’s get started!

ELD Logo ELD Name Initial Fee Monthly Fee Best Feature
motive logo Motive (formerly KeepTruckin) ELD $150 $20 – $35  Amazing customer support
Transflo ELD T7 $99.99 $28 – $31 Easily installable device
CarrierWeb CarrierMate $700 $30 Easy-to-use device

Top 3 ELD For Older Truck Reviews

1. Motive (formerly KeepTruckin) ELD

The Motive ELD for older trucks is on the top of the list due to a variety of factors. The device has been built concentrating on drivers to ensure they have an ELD that’s easy to operate.

Motive is dedicated to making the driver experience better, but the brand also focuses on making the ELD convenient and reliable for fleet managers. The device follows all the ELD mandate requirements set by the FMCSA so that your company knows they have a fully compliant ELD on their hands.

There are many reasons that Motive (formerly KeepTruckin) ELD is one of the highest-rated solutions for fleet management. Some key features include DOT audits and preventing HOS violations. With the Motive ELD, you will receive violation alerts on time, so DOT auditing is made easy. Automatic log auditing will allow you to achieve the most desirable CSA scores.

The Motive ELD lets drivers and fleet managers to remain alert by sending HOS violation alerts even before they happen.

This ELD device does not only offer the best standard in technology, but it also lets you stay connected anywhere. The device features a bunch of cable options such as 9-pin, 6-pin, DUAL CAM, mac, OBDII, Volvo to make it easy to connect with nearly any type of vehicle.

Motive presents training options for ELD users such as webinars and documentation. They also provide 24/7 live representative customer support and offer a free trial so companies can get a feel of the device.

>>Read Full Review

PROS:
  • Affordable cost
  • User-friendly device
  • Great customer service
  • Wide range of fleet management features
CONS:
  • Can use real-time tracking
  • Occasional glitches while using the website

2. Transflo T7

Registered with the FMCSA, this easy-to-use ELD by Transflo has also made our list for top ELD for older trucks. This ELD lets your company manage fundamental aspects such as HOS and DVIR and obtain accurate IFTA reporting data. 

Transflo lets you opt for a standard plan with basic features or a Fleet Telematics plan which includes a comprehensive set of fleet management solutions such as GPS-mapping, engine diagnostics, accident reconstruction, violation notifications, and a lot more. 

The Transflo ELD T7 is supported by both Google Android and Apple iOS platforms. The device is easily installable with a harness that you can attach with a 6-pin, 9-pin, or 16-pin configuration depending on your requirements. 

The device comes with a cellular chip for automatically transmitting data and removing issues commonly faced during pairing devices or Bluetooth bridging.

Transflo ELD T7 also features two-way messaging, shows engine information such as MPGs or faults, and offers document scanning.

The Transflo Mobile application simplifies managing loads, scanning documents, and accessing payroll statements. On top of that, you can easily include HOS functionality in the menu after registration. 

Translfo Mobile is one of the top Mobile apps for ELDs, and it makes life on the road a whole lot easier for drivers. A single app lets you manage nearly all work schedules.

>>Read Full Review

PROS:
  • Very straightforward registration
  • Useful training material
  • A huge variety of features
CONS:
  • Takes some time to learn
  • Issues with timely customer support
  • High price range

3. CarrierWeb CarrierMate

The CarrierWeb ELD, known as the CarrierMate, is a safe, efficient solution for drivers and fleet managers. The device offers a long list of useful features including unlimited data communication, electronic logs, driver performance, fuel consumption, truck attribute navigation, and more.

The CarrierMate offers driver-friendly workflow, and the installation process is reasonably quick and easy. CarrierMate makes fuel-saving highly efficient since it tracks engine working hours and idle hours. This allows drivers to be able to manage their driving better and overall reduce losses and maximize profits for the company.

With easy access to fleet statistics, you’ll know the location of your trucks at any time to eliminate unnecessary driving. This ELD also allows you to consistently track engine hours so you can effectively manage the fleet and reduce overall maintenance costs. 

CarrierWeb provides the ability to reduce HOS hurdles by precisely timing all driver activities. The brand also takes customer service very seriously, and with an added “landmarks” feature, the device sends accurate arrival and departure notifications within selected zones. 

>>Read Full Review

PROS:
  • Affordable price range
  • The device is easily installable
  • Offers basic and advanced features
CONS:
  • Difficult to carry out log edits
  • Outdated design

Buying Guide

Before deciding what type of ELD is best for your company, there are a few critical factors to consider. This pertains to you, especially if you are searching for manual ELD devices for older trucks since rules and regulations are always being upgraded.

Here are the following aspects that will help you down the line:

ELD requirements for older trucks

manual eld devices for older trucksIf you’re looking for an ELD for older vehicles, it’s essential to know what the basic needs are. Recently, FMCSA has established that the ELD mandate does not apply to the engine models older than the year 2000. The truck’s model year, registration date, etc., doesn’t matter in this situation. 

Therefore, if you own a truck with an engine older than 2000, that’s great news for you because of FMSCA’s ELD exemption for older trucks. You don’t necessarily have to comply with the ELD mandate.

The Highway Traffic Safety Administration, or NHTSA, is responsible for forming the principles for setting the model year for vehicles. The ELD mandate also does not apply to towaway drivers or drivers that are not maintaining RODS.

That doesn’t mean you cannot make use of an ELD. These devices provide a wide range of benefits and can considerably improve fleet management and operations. ELDs have been known to improve dispatch and driving efficiency and reducing overall costs and risks.

Plans for older trucks for ELD mandate 2019

Older vehicles commonly use the AOBRDs operating under the ELD mandate from December 2017. ELDs must replace these devices before December 16th of this year. 

This means that truck owners and fleet managers will have to replace every single device on each vehicle. FMSCA-approved ELDs must replace all older recording devices. The software also must be up to date.

Approval by FMCSA

You will need to ensure that the device is registered with the FMSCA. With the rise in ELD solutions and increase in ELD providers across the globe, many ELDs on the market are not compliant or even certified products. 

You must remain clear of any unfamiliar companies to avoid a negative buying experience. It’ll save you and your company the hassle of spending unnecessary time and resources on a low-quality device. 

It is best to opt for self-certified ELDs from well-renown providers that have registered their product with the FMSCA.

Simple Operation and Ease of Use

Your ELD must be easy to use, and its operation is simple and straightforward. Some devices have features that you can understand quickly, while others take time to learn and get used to.

You also need to pay attention to the user interface and overall design of the unit. Drivers should be able to navigate through the device easily, and it should be well-designed to fit nicely in the vehicle.

The company should also provide ample training resources to equip drivers with proper knowledge about the device. This will allow them to use the ELD smoothly and without any hurdles.  

Important ELD Features

There is a multitude of features that you might come across when searching for an ELD solution for your fleet. It’s necessary that you know exactly what type of features will be most suitable for the fleet. If you go for extra features without actually needing them, you will only end up paying a higher cost than recommended. 

If you’re targeting only a small-sized fleet system, you won’t exactly need the most advanced features. Only the basic tools and features will do. On the other hand, companies with an extensive fleet infrastructure will need to purchase a more enhanced, extensive solution. It will also be useful to invest in top-notch back-office features.

Here are some of the most vital features to consider before deciding on an ELD solution:

  • Fuel tracking
  • Real-time GPS
  • HOS logs
  • Navigation
  • Messaging
  • Geofences
  • Maintenance and diagnostic reports
  • Dashboard for fleet managers
  • Document scanning
  • Tire pressure tracking

Is it within your budget?

Last but not least, you need to come up with a suitable budget. Then check to see if the plans and packages offered by the ELD company are providing the most cost-effective solution. 

The device you choose will have to be installed in every vehicle in operation, which means you will require a highly affordable solution, and at the same time, it must have proper functionality.

Here are the following key points to keep in mind before opting for an ELD solution:

  • Upfront, single-time hardware cost
  • Monthly service fees
  • Installation fee
  • Training costs

Make sure you know all the costs before deciding to purchase the ELD. The cost of the device should coincide with the number of features you’re getting and the quality of the hardware. Some providers will offer monthly plans that come at a very affordable, business-friendly price.

There might also be extra costs for service providers and additional back-office systems. 

Conclusion

This resourceful buyer’s guide will considerably aid your decision for selecting an innovative ELD for older trucks. To sum it all up, our best ELD option is the Motive solution since it offers the most reliable device with exceptional customer support, all within a highly affordable price range.

On the other hand, the Transflo T7 comes at a lower cost; however, it doesn’t offer high reliability and trustworthy customer support as the Motive ELD. The Transflo does, however, possess some neat range of features with easy set-up and effective training processes. 

The CarrierWeb CarrierMate ELD is also a good option, though not as robust as the previous two. This device has a high initial fee, but you can opt for a lease option if you don’t want to pay the lump sum amount. CarrierWeb also provides ELD users with great advanced features, which are a bargain if you consider other ELD solution within the same price range.

Concludingly, you must know the crucial aspects of installing and maintaining an ELD, along with necessary FMSCA requirements. Once you know the basics of an ELD device and how to buy the correct one, you will be able to choose the best ELD for older trucks.

 

ELD Logo ELD Name Initial Fee Monthly Fee Best Feature
motive logo Motive (formerly KeepTruckin) ELD $150 $20 – $35  Amazing customer support
Transflo ELD T7 $99.99 $28 – $31 Easily installable device
CarrierWeb CarrierMate $700 $30 Easy-to-use device

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