DOT will start auditing GPS data
Posted on January 15, 2009
Filed Under HORROR STORIES, HOURS OF SERVICE, IN THE NEWS
In November, 2008, in a very brief notice in the Federal Register, FMCSA notified the world that it was rescinding its policy on GPS data. In 1997, FMCSA issued a policy to its auditors, stating that they were only to use GPS data as a last resort in auditing logs for accuracy. This was done largely to keep the playing field level. An auditor checking GPS data against a driver’s logs will obviously find a much higher percentage of falsifications, than one who is just using paper documents like fuel statements and toll receipts. The policy was also done to encourage trucking companies to buy the GPS technology.
Now, by eliminating that policy, the FMCSA has signaled very clearly they will start using the GPS data to audit your logs. Any carrier who has GPS satellites could be in jeopardy during an audit. I imagine what will happen is many auditors will just do it the way they’ve always done it, and use the traditional EZPass statements, toll receipts, fuel statements, and scale tickets. However, I’m sure there will be some aggressive field agents who are going to use that mountain of GPS data as a hammer. And guess who is the nail?
This will probably lead to multiple levels of expectations during an audit. If you do not have GPS data, or if you’re lucky enough to get an auditor who is going to leave sleeping dogs lie, nothing will change. BUT, if you get a guy who wants that GPS data, for no reason other than he wants it, you and your drivers will be held to a much stricter compliance standard. In other words, your drivers’ logs will have to be precisely accurate and legal. No fudging an hour here, or an hour there.
If FMCSA wanted everyone to run strictly legal, they would have mandated that all new trucks are equipped with the on-board recorders a few years ago, but they didn’t do that. With the on-board recorders, everyone would have been held to the same standard. Now, a carrier without the GPS can cheat more than carriers with the GPS.
Stay tuned, and be forewarned. If do have GPS, you might investigate how far off your drivers’ logs are compared to your satellite data, especially if you are on FMCSA’s Safestat list.
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