{"id":3493,"date":"2015-12-10T22:20:29","date_gmt":"2015-12-10T22:20:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.theswitch.us\/blog\/?p=3493"},"modified":"2015-12-14T19:51:50","modified_gmt":"2015-12-14T19:51:50","slug":"dot-compliance-in-an-ever-changing-regulations-landscape","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/switch.us\/blog\/dot-compliance-in-an-ever-changing-regulations-landscape\/","title":{"rendered":"DOT Compliance in an Ever-Changing Regulations Landscape"},"content":{"rendered":"
DOT Compliance is a huge undertaking. From adhering to existing legal documentation, to adapting to updated processes, a lot can slip through the cracks. Luckily for us, we have a seasoned DOT Compliance Coordinator\/Safety Officer, Thaddeus. Among his many contributions to Switch\u2019s DOT needs, Thad operates our in-house driver-training program, manages Hours of Service (HOS) logs \u2026 and keeps up-to-date on the ever-changing regulations landscape.<\/address>\n

 
\nThe ultimate goal of mobile (or field) marketing is to deliver a highly immersive experience, one that is rarely recreated or duplicated by other media platforms. Paired with trained field staff that emulates brand values and mission, mobile programs allow consumers to touch, feel, taste and ultimately experience the product. Switch is constantly hiring and managing marketing folks for various client programs that reach hundreds of cities, so we also manage all vehicles used in the field. Because we often purchase, lease and rent semi-trucks and tractor-trailers to transport equipment and branding assets across states, Switch is classified as a Motor Carrier. This means we\u2019re subject to the myriad of regulations and processes outlined and enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.<\/p>\n

Rigid Rules in HOS Logs<\/h1>\n

From proper exterior labeling to thorough documentation of work hours, DOT Compliance laws are vast and rigid. Strict regulations known as Hours of Service (HOS) are in place to control the maximum number of consecutive hours and days an employee is allowed to operate a vehicle. To enforce these policies, Motor Carriers are obligated to log hours and reserve the data for six months. The stacks of binders at my workspace containing years of logged work hours are a testament to the importance of maintaining\u00a0proof of adherence to DOT laws.<\/p>\n

But the current systems are soon to be replaced with modern efficiency. Though legislation is not yet finalized<\/a>, Congress is moving toward introducing a law that requires all motor carriers to transition to completely a paperless HOS\u00a0logging process within two years. This means the end to all log books and the mandatory implementation of E-Logs (Electronic Logs). For the traditional Motor Carrier, it means the purchase and installation of satellite tracking equipment and the software that supports it.<\/p>\n

The Cost of Transitioning to E-Logs<\/h1>\n

If you\u2019re thinking, \u201cMan, that sounds like quite the undertaking,\u201d you\u2019re right. While most Motor Carriers have the advantage of a defined number and style of vehicles, Switch\u2019s situation is a little different. The vehicles we purchase, rent, and lease are specifically selected based on the brand we\u2019re marketing and the program we\u2019re activating. These vehicles can range from a compact sedan to a tractor\/semi-trailer combination \u2026 and the ability to provide each of these vehicles with E-Log equipment can get complicated. Some vehicles are only leased or rented for short periods (months) whereas others are leased\/rented annually and all are subject to different DOT Compliance requirements.<\/p>\n

Though many folks in the industry are resistant to change, a lot of organizations are already making to move to E-Logging. So let\u2019s take a look at how we would make the switch (pun intended). As an example, let\u2019s say we want to deploy a 3500 series pickup truck that will pull a trailer for a 6-month mobile marketing operation. To tap into the require E-logging capabilities, we\u2019ll have to check a few boxes off:<\/p>\n

1. Install the \u201cblack box\u201d<\/h2>\n

A quick search on Google will lead you to countless options of a device\u00a0known as the \u201cblack box,\u201d which plugs into a truck\u2019s on-board diagnostic (OBD) port. Similarly to how service technicians can tap into your vehicle\u2019s system to read fault codes, the black box communicates the whereabouts and health status of a truck to your electric logging device.<\/p>\n

2. Purchase the \u201cElectric Logging Device\u201d (ELD)<\/h2>\n

The black box relays vehicle info to the ELD, a digital logbook that records HOS in real time and communicating activity to E-Log system provider. Most providers offer this device for purchase, but Apple or Android mobile phones and tablets purchased from any authorized point of sale are also accepted.<\/p>\n

3. Earn training certification and service fee from the E-Log service provider<\/h2>\n

I would suggest having your DOT Compliance Officer receive the certification so he or she can then train field staff. This will save on costs, as the fee for individual driver training by service providers can be as high as $350 per driver.<\/p>\n

DOT Compliance may not be as exciting as some of the other services we offer\u00a0here at Switch, but it\u2019s a significant part of mobile operations. And with our in-house driver-training program<\/a>, mobile marketing specialists can earn Class A and Class B Commercial Driving Licenses. This certification empowers field staff to take control of event logistics, ultimately maximizing the efficiency of a program.<\/p>\n

Without a firm handle on interstate logistics, we\u2019d be putting clients and ourselves in jeopardy. Switch represents a teeny segment of the trucking industry \u2013 yet we\u2019ve already experienced three federal DOT audits (all passed with positive comments, of course!) So if CMVs are part of your marketing plans for 2016 and beyond, don\u2019t be burned by a surprise audit. Keep an eye on the official FMCSA site for updates<\/a>\u00a0to the E-logging legislation. Or just give us a call.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Stay up to date on the latest developments in DOT Compliance. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":3505,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,1,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3493","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-featured-home","category-how-to"],"yoast_head":"\nDOT Compliance in an Ever-Changing Regulations Landscape - sw:tch blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/switch.us\/blog\/dot-compliance-in-an-ever-changing-regulations-landscape\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"DOT Compliance in an Ever-Changing Regulations Landscape - sw:tch blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Stay up to date on the latest developments in DOT Compliance.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/switch.us\/blog\/dot-compliance-in-an-ever-changing-regulations-landscape\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"sw:tch blog\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2015-12-10T22:20:29+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2015-12-14T19:51:50+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/switch.us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/DOT-compliance-HOS.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"575\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Switch Marketing Team\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Switch Marketing Team\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/switch.us\\\/blog\\\/dot-compliance-in-an-ever-changing-regulations-landscape\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/switch.us\\\/blog\\\/dot-compliance-in-an-ever-changing-regulations-landscape\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Switch Marketing Team\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/switch.us\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/3faa6a5ff850b9c26f73be6015a7367c\"},\"headline\":\"DOT Compliance in an Ever-Changing Regulations Landscape\",\"datePublished\":\"2015-12-10T22:20:29+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2015-12-14T19:51:50+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/switch.us\\\/blog\\\/dot-compliance-in-an-ever-changing-regulations-landscape\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":889,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/switch.us\\\/blog\\\/dot-compliance-in-an-ever-changing-regulations-landscape\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/switch.us\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2015\\\/12\\\/DOT-compliance-HOS.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Featured\",\"Featured Home\",\"How To\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/switch.us\\\/blog\\\/dot-compliance-in-an-ever-changing-regulations-landscape\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/switch.us\\\/blog\\\/dot-compliance-in-an-ever-changing-regulations-landscape\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/switch.us\\\/blog\\\/dot-compliance-in-an-ever-changing-regulations-landscape\\\/\",\"name\":\"DOT Compliance in an Ever-Changing Regulations Landscape - 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