On June 24, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced it had removed the ArionT electronic logging device (ELD) from the agency’s list of registered ELDs. The FMCSA placed the ArionT ELD on its list of revoked devices because the company failed to meet the minimum requirements of the agency’s regulations.
The FMCSA will send an industry e-mail to motor carriers informing all carriers that use the ArionT ELD that they must take the following steps:
- Discontinue using the revoked device, and revert to paper logs or logging software to record required hours-of-service data.
- Replace the revoked devices with a compliant ELD from the Registered Devices list before August 24.
If the device’s maker corrects all identified deficiencies, the FMCSA will place the device back on the list of registered devices and inform the industry. The agency’s 60-day grace period (June 24 to August 24) will give motor carriers time to replace the revoked devices with a compliant ELD.
During the grace period, officials will be encouraged not to cite drivers using the ArionT ELD for “No ELD” or “Failed to use a registered ELD” violations. Officials should request the driver’s paper logs or logging software or use the ArionT ELD display as a backup method to review the hours-of-service data, according to the agency.
As of August 24, motor carriers that continue to use the revoked device will be considered to be operating without an ELD. Officials encountering a driver using a revoked ArionT ELD on or after August 24 should cite the ELD violation and place the driver out of service (OOS) in accordance with Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) OOS Criteria.
The FMCSA encouraged motor carriers to take steps now—discontinuing use of the ArionT ELD, reverting to paper logs or logging software, and replacing the revoked device with a registered ELD—to avoid compliance issues in the event that the device’s maker does not address the device’s deficiencies in time.
3G sunsetting
The FMCSA also has alerted motor carriers that mobile carriers are in the process of shutting down 3G cellular networks to make room for more advanced network services like 5G. Some mobile devices, including some ELDs, rely on 3G networks.
After a mobile carrier shuts down its 3G network, any ELD that requires 3G cellular connectivity to perform its functionality will no longer be in compliance with the technical specifications in the agency’s ELD rule. AT&T’s 3G network shut down February 22, and T-Mobile’s Sprint 3G shut down March 31. Other 3G networks are scheduled for sunsetting on the following dates:
- Sprint LTE (T-Mobile): June 30,
- T-Mobile 3G: July 1, and
- Verizon 3G: December 31.
Motor carriers should confirm whether their ELDs rely on a 3G network, the agency says. They also should contact their ELD provider if they are unsure of whether their devices rely on 3G connectivity, as well as ask their ELD provider about upgrade or replacement plans.
Additionally, carriers should take immediate steps to prepare for the 3G sunset to avoid service disruptions or compliance issues, the agency adds.