What Are Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs)

The commercial trucking industry uses Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) and Event Data Records (EDRs) to record information about a truck driver’s activities and the movement of a truck in the minutes, hours, and days before a crash. These devices are similar to “black boxes” used in the airline industry that are analyzed to understand the causes of a plane crash. While truck black boxes are not as sophisticated as those used in airplanes, the concept is the same. When a trucking accident causes serious injuries, our lawyers can request and analyze the truck’s ELD and EDR to help prove the truck driver was negligent.

The truck accident injury lawyers at McKinney Vos are proud to represent people who were injured and the families of people killed in trucking accidents in and around Austin and throughout Texas. Contact us today to schedule an appointment to discuss your situation and how we can help.

Electronic Logging Devices Promote Safety

Driver fatigue is one of the most common causes of truck accidents. To promote safety and protect drivers on the highway, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) has enacted rules that limit the number of hours a commercial driver can be on the road. These “Hours of Service rules'' are intended to promote safety on American highways while allowing truck drivers to make a living without putting their lives and the lives of others at risk.

Since 2017, the FMCSA has required that truckers use electronic equipment to track information like hours of service, driver inspection reports, and information on vehicle speed, idling, and hard braking. Trucks generally have two kinds of data recording devices available. An Electronic Logging Device (ELD) tracks information about driving time and Hours of Service records, as well as data on the vehicle’s engine, movement, and miles driven. An Event Data Recorder (EDR) records technical information about the vehicle for a brief time before, during, and after a crash.

Why Is ELD and EDR Data Important in a Truck Accident Case?

The ELD records important information about the driver’s activities, such as the date, time, and location, as well as vehicle miles, driver identification information, and change of duty status. Our lawyers can use this information to determine whether the driver was complying with Hours of Service and Record of Duty Status rules.

Similarly, the EDR contains information about:

• The truck’s speed immediately before a crash;
• How often the truck was operated over or under a particular speed limit;
• Information about sudden acceleration or deceleration;
• Whether and when the brakes were applied;
• The number of hard stops the truck made;
• Rotations per minute (RPM) between stops;
• Whether the driver was using cruise control;
• Whether the driver was wearing a seatbelt;
• Airbag deployment;
• Tire pressure;
• Engine oil levels; and
• Whether the steering wheel was turned at a given time.

Some manufacturers program the EDR to record additional information such as communications between the truck driver and other parties, such as a loading facility. If you were injured in a trucking accident, information on the ELD and EDR can be critical to establishing the cause of the accident. Our lawyers often work with accident reconstruction experts to analyze the ELD and EDR to better understand the causes of the accident.

We can also use ELD information to prove the driver was out of compliance with Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation (FMCSR) requirements, such as whether the driver violated Hours of Service requirements or that the trucking company knew the driver was out of compliance. If the driver was not compliant, we can use this fact to show the truck driver or trucking company was negligent.

McKinney Vos Fights for People Injured in Texas Trucking Accidents

A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. A vehicle that size traveling at speeds of 60 mph or more generates substantial forces. When a truck collides with a smaller passenger vehicle, the results are often catastrophic. Because trucking accidents are almost always severe and result in life-changing injuries, the stakes are high, and obtaining the compensation you and your family deserve is paramount.

If you were injured or someone you love was killed in a truck accident, McKinney Vos can evaluate your claim, provide advice and legal guidance on how to move forward, and fight to obtain the compensation you and your family deserve. But you must act quickly. Trucking companies are generally only required to retain ELD and EDR data for six months. After a trucking accident, our lawyers can contact the trucking company to ask them to preserve this information, which can be crucial to establishing liability in a trucking accident. To put our expertise to work for you, contact us today to schedule an appointment to discuss your situation and how we can help.