Rand McNally introduces new plug-and-play E-Log device

Seeking to provide a simple, low-cost electronic logging option for professional drivers, Rand McNally recently unveiled its new ELD 50 device. When paired with a driver’s existing Android phone or tablet, the ELD 50 creates a secure compliance solution that will meet federal requirements – and meet drivers’ budgets.

The ELD 50 is the first E-Log device that: 1) installs in seconds under the dash, 2) allows drivers to use Android devices to view logs, and 3) provides access to Hours of Service and Driver Vehicle Inspection Report (DVIR) logs via the Rand McNally DriverConnect web portal.

“This is the answer to the ELD mandate for many professional drivers,” said Stephen Fletcher, CEO of Rand McNally.

“There are thousands of owner operators and small fleets who will now be required to implement electronic logs and face the prospect of investing in a completely new logging system. Just as we did with our truck-specific GPS devices, our goal was to provide drivers with a cost-efficient, easy-to-use option for complying with the law,” Fletcher explained.

According to the ELD mandate’s rules, published last December, drivers and fleets using paper logs and or a mix of paper logs and Automatic On-Board Recording Devices (AOBRDs) must be using compliant electronic logs by December 2017.

The ELD 50 is a sleek, 3 ¼-inch long device that plugs into a truck’s diagnostic port, right below the dash. Through a Bluetooth connection, the device sends Hours of Service data to the complimentary Rand McNally DriverConnect app, where drivers may view current HOS logs as well as DVIR documents.

Ravi Kodavarti, Rand McNally’s director of product management, says the ELD 50 creates a secure compliance solution that will meet federal ELD mandates, which take effect next year.

“You plug it in, you download the free app from the Play Store and you pair the devices,” he says. “We call it a 30 second installation, but people have done it in less than that.”

As a bonus, the app also provides access to 10 helpful engine-driven gauges, powered by information collected by the ELD 50. The gauges include: average fuel economy, coolant temperature, and boost pressure.

“We wanted to provide a nice extra for drivers – just as we provide extra tools on our GPS devices,” Fletcher explained.

Since the Android app is free, drivers can get a feel for the product by downloading the application and inputting their status manually. Those reports can be turned into PDFs and exported.

For a small subscription fee, drivers may access the Rand McNally DriverConnect web portal, where up to six months of HOS logs and DVIRs are stored. Using the web portal, drivers and fleet managers also may view vehicle locations on a map and administer functions such as adding drivers to a device.

The app automatically syncs with the web portal via Wi-Fi or cellular transmission, providing the most up-to-date reports.

The ELD 50 is priced at $149.99.

Rand McNally also recently rolled out a 7-inch version of its TND Tablet.

Dave Marsh, vice president, research and development, says the TND 70 contains all the same features as the original 8-inch GPS tablet, but in a 7-inch screen-size format. Both tablets can be paired with the ELD 50 device to create a compliant electronic logging system.

Rand McNally is the country’s most trusted source for maps, navigation, and travel content. Products and services include: OverDryve connected-car device; America’s #1 Road Atlas; IntelliRoute truck routing software; TND truck GPS; HD 100 E-Log devices; TND 765 mobile fleet management solutions; RVND GPS for RVers; and leading geography-based educational resources.