Cupcake Momma

Most truck drivers will say paperwork is burdensome, and for good reason. Not only is it tedious, the handwritten logbooks have been the subject of lost and misplaced pages, smudged ink and frustrated inspectors trying to read a driver’s log under a roadhouse light. The NHVR Electronic Work Diary, or simply EWD, has been shifting that perception. It is a digital version of the old system, and is designed to help drivers stay compliant while not having to waste precious time to do it.

With the NHVR Electronic Work Diary, drivers are able to track their work and rest hours on a digital device instead of a logbook. It is a simple concept that produces great results. Drivers need only log their hours, take their breaks and the system will give them feedback as to whether or not the time is compliant. Drivers will no longer need to remember the tedious calculations to determine the compliance of their time as the app will do it for them. It is a long overdue step.

Transitioning to this new workflow has been described as a mental shift for the better. One person noted that he would dedicate fifteen minutes each night to catch up on log entries, and now this task is complete before he finishes his morning coffee. Another described how he used to panic during roadside inspections, but now everything is organized, cleaned, and timestamped. This difference digitizing tasks clears and relieves a mental burden.

The EWD is designed to protect the driver and prevent unintentional violations of the law. It is designed to protect the driver and prevent unintentional violations of the law. The failure to capture and record data is problematic, and data cannot be lost or “fudged”, which may seem overly strict. Think of the EWD as a seatbelt for your logbook. It saves you hassle and legal trouble.

Yes, technology has its own problems. It is frustrating when a device runs out of battery, there is a loss of signal, and screens freeze. But, these problems are minimal when compared to the disorganization that is caused by paper logs. The digital version of logs and records is far more organized. It is easy to access, highly synchronized, and readily available for inspection.

The EWD also gives drivers a sense of control. However, more importantly, they are able to analyze their driving hours in a far more effective way, plan their breaks, identify patterns concerning their driving hours that they were previously unaware of, and improve their sleep by eliminating logbook uncertainty at the end of the day. Overall, the EWD greatly improves a driver’s control over their driving hours and patterns and greatly streamlines their logbook management.

Shifting from paper to digital will always have its challenges, especially on the road, where the digital habits have been in use for years. Yet, the value of the NHVR Electronic Work Diary increases over time. It is quicker, neater, and is less prone to getting coffee-stained. For drivers working against time and early sunsets, that is a significant advantage.