On June 24, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) released a statement regarding the Arion Tech Model AT5000 electronic logging device (ELD). FMCSA has placed Arion Tech’s ELD on the revoked list for violating guidelines.
The company’s website (ariontech.ca), which is what they registered on FMCSA.gov, is no longer functional and is being withheld by GoDaddy.
While the exact reason for FMCSA’s action is unknown, the agency stated that the ELD is violating 49 CFR part 395, subpart B, appendix A. That is known as the “viewable from a reasonable distance” clause. That is the rule that allows drivers to simply hand the tablet or mobile device to an inspector outside the cab. That way, the inspector does not have to enter the cab.
ELD replacement countdown begins
As of June 24, drivers now are under a 60-day countdown to get a new ELD solution in place. Drivers are allowed to use paper logs until then. But some rather bothersome wording in the FMCSA notice has some skeptical of whether enforcement officers will accept paper logs.
August 24, 2022 is the deadline to get an approved ELD installed and functioning. Drivers must use paper logs until the full 24 hours after installation. You can only stop using a log sheet at midnight.
Encourage versus directing
I don’t know if this is some “shock and awe” viewership scheme, but many of the “YouTube Truckers” have been putting out content over the weekend about this. In my opinion, that was a bad selection of words for the FMCSA to use. “Encourage” could be seen as a passive word meaning to simply ask inspectors to follow the recommendation. “Directing,” on the other hand, would have been a better choice of words telling the inspectors to follow the FMCSA guidance.
This choice of words leaves open the possibility that some inspectors might still stick to the guidelines and use the 8-day ELD malfunction repair rule. That means, Friday, July 1, could be the day to have a certified ELD installed and operating. I would not recommend waiting until the last second to change ELD providers. The lack of a functioning website does not make Arion Tech appear to be in any hurry to fix the product’s flaw.
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