File Photo (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Adel Ahmed

TRUCK RULING

Electronic logging devices now required for commercial drivers in B.C.

Aug 1, 2023 | 5:28 PM

KAMLOOPS — In an effort to improve highway safety across B.C., the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure is requiring commercial drivers to use electronic logging devices (ELDs) in their trucks beginning August 1. The reason behind the rule is to track how many hours truck drivers are driving in a day. The maximum number of hours is 13.

“It’s connected to the [Engine Control Module] of the vehicle,” Manager of Operations for LOTS Group Canada Trish Kohorst told CFJC Today. “They log in, do their inspection on the ELD and as soon as that vehicle starts to move, it then reports that they’re driving what we call ‘on duty status driving.’ If they stop somewhere, they do a brake check or they have to load, it will show that they are on duty but not driving. If they drive again, it will pick up that they’re driving.”

Kohorst says LOTS Group is no stranger to using ELDs. The transport company has been using the devices for nearly a decade.

“We’ve always been an early adopter of safety, so this really puts the commercial industry across all sectors on a level playing field when it comes to managing safety, number of hours that drivers are operating. We’re interacting with the public and we have a responsibility to the public, to our employees,” said Kohorst. “It gives us a tool to implement and utilize, monitor what our trucks are doing.”

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Mayor of Clearwater Merlin Blackwell says while the ruling is a good step forward, more needs to be done to improve highway safety.

“Teaching people how to drive ginormous trucks on our roads needs to be looked into,” Blackwell said. “There’s definitely a need still for major highway improvements along Highway 5 and other highways. Going 130 kilometers per hour up the North Thompson without having a single passing lane with single lane roads in both directions, that’s not good.”

Blackwell also states centre line rumble strips and variable speeds is something he’s calling for in order to improve highways in the province.