Transport Canada, the national transportation regulator for Canada, is delaying the enforcement of electronic logging devices (ELDs) until Jan. 1, 2023. The extension from the June 12, 2022 enforcement date announced earlier follows a yearlong “progressive enforcement period” that began in June 2021.
According to the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators, provincial regulators and the trucking industry need more time to comply. In Canada, the ten provinces and three territories must legislatively adopt national trucking regulations before enforcement can occur within their borders. Four of those provinces, Quebec, British Columbia, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland, plus the Northwest Territories, have yet to pass the required legislation.
Division remains in Canada as to whether the trucking industry “needs more time.” Major trucking trade associations there support ELD enforcement while acknowledging that Canada still has relatively few ELDs approved for installation and use.
Canada placed itself in a difficult position by requiring all ELDs first to be certified by an accredited independent body as meeting the Canadian standards. In May 2021, immediately before the June 2021 “progressive enforcement period,” the only accredited certifying body had yet to certify any ELDs for use.
As of April 1, 2022, there are more than 20 approved Canadian devices and at least three accredited certification bodies. By comparison, in the United States, where the government allows self-certification by manufacturers, over 700 approved ELD devices are available.
Whether ELD enforcement actually begins in January 2023, motor carriers operating into Canada from the U.S. should acquaint themselves with the regulatory differences between the two countries. For example, Canadian regulations require the ELD to be capable of emailing a PDF file of the hours of service (HOS) data to the roadside officer. While Bluetooth and USB transfer are optional, Canadian ELD regulations do not require them, so truck drivers should receive training on their devices’ email protocols.
HOS rules and other safety regulations also differ between Canada and the U.S.
The purchase, installation, and training on Canadian ELDs and safety regulations take time – regardless of the ultimate enforcement start date. Motor carriers who begin that work now will be prepared when enforcement begins.
