Starting this summer, provincially regulated commercial vehicle operators will be required to use electronic logging devices (ELDs) to track drivers' time behind the wheel, reducing the likelihood of driving while tired.

ELDs automatically record driving time, helping to ensure commercial drivers do not drive longer each day than regulations allow. They accurately track hours of service and reduce the risk of incidents due to driver fatigue.

The requirement will take effect on Aug. 1, 2023, giving B.C. carriers six months to install ELDs across their fleets and to complete driver and dispatcher training.

Dave Earle, president and CEO of the BC Trucking Association, has long supported a provincial ELD mandate.

He says, "While there is no single fix for improved safety performance, a widespread requirement for technology that automates compliance and helps to promote effective safety programs will transform the industry for the better."

The move follows federal ELD regulations, which Transport Canada established for the inter-provincial trucking sector in 2021 and has been committed to by all provinces and territories. Enforcement of the federal regulations began on Jan. 1, 2023.