Geotab Drive 4.0, now released

with DVIR Workflow & ELD Updates

August 5, 2016

Author: Mike Murkovic, Senior Software Developer, Geotab

Geotab is excited to announce a new update for DVIR and HOS. Geotab Drive 4.0, to be released soon, has many new features and improvements. Geotab has simplified the driver’s workflow and strengthened compliance with the new Electronic Logging Device (ELD) rules. Read this quick preview to learn all about the changes. Scroll down to see the YouTube video on the Geotab Drive 4.0 update as well.

New Server-Side Updates

In the new version, the Geotab Drive app is integrally tied with the MyGeotab fleet management software. This means that when your MyGeotab server updates, the Geotab Drive app on your phones or tablets will also automatically update. Regardless of whether you are using Geotab Drive on the Android and iOS platform, this change eliminates the need to manually update your devices.

Geotab can now deploy new features and fixes quickly without action required by IT administrators. The stability of the application will be greatly enhanced.

Previously, Geotab Drive and MyGeotab had independent release cycles. Fragmented versions were deployed across the user base, with some phones and tablets running older versions.

Upgrade Notes

We strongly urge users to upgrade their devices to Geotab Drive 4.0 to take advantage of the rapid releases. At some point older versions will no longer function.

Important Upgrading Notes:

• Use Wi-Fi for Faster Upgrading — The upgrade will be larger than previous versions of Geotab Drive (~22 MB), so we recommend using Wi-Fi for the upgrade.
• Drivers Must Log-out Before Upgrading — Please ensure that drivers have logged out of the application before upgrading. In the future, upgrades to the Play Store and Apple Store will be very infrequent.

User Interface Updates

DVIR Workflow: Faster and More User-Friendly

Geotab Drive 4.0 features a more user-friendly Driver Vehicle Inspection Reporting (DVIR) workflow. Users can integrate Geotab’s DVIR solution into an existing inspection process with minimal effort. New prompts and visual feedback allow users to quickly and easily certify and review an inspection or repair.

In the new Geotab Drive 4.0 DVIR Workflow, previous and new inspections are separated. This allows the driver to verify repairs and assess the safety of the vehicle prior to starting a new inspection. If one or more defects were not adequately repaired, the driver can mark the vehicle as unsafe, and the defect(s) will carry forward to the new inspection.

Click below to download the new Geotab Drive 4.0 DVIR Workflow document.
DOWNLOAD PDF

Additionally, there is a visual distinction between critical defects (red) and non-critical defects (yellow). When you certify, repair, or complete an inspection, a message appears on the screen to confirm the action is completed, e.g. Inspection complete icon. This provides extra assurance to the driver that the task was completed.

Enhanced ELD Compliance

Geotab continues to enhance features for Hours of Service (HOS) and DVIR compliancein MyGeotab and Geotab Drive for optimal functionality. Geotab Drive 4.0 includes the following ELD-related changes:

• FMCSA-compliant ELD Report
• Updated Location Changes
• Salesperson Exemption
• Oilfield Operations Exemption
• Yard Moves & Personal Conveyance

If you need to get up to speed on electronic logging devices (ELDs), read our Quick Guide to the FMCSA’s ELD Mandate.

FMCSA-Compliant ELD Report

As required by the ELD mandate, Geotab Drive 4.0 includes an FMCSA-compliant display report for Department of Transportation (DOT) Officers when doing a roadside inspection.

To display a report in Geotab Drive, click HOS, select Options, then scroll down to Printout report and click the Generate button. This will generate the ELD display report for the day. The driver can show this report to the DOT officer during a roadside inspection via smartphone or tablet.

ELD Compliant Display Report for Roadside Inspections

Location Changes

The location of a status change now conforms to the format defined in Section 7.29 of the final ELD ruling:

• If the vehicle is located inside a city/town/village with a population of 5,000 or more, the system will display the abbreviated state followed by the city name.
• If the vehicle is located outside a city/town/village with a population 5,000 or more, the system will display the distance from that nearest city/town/village, the direction the vehicle is from that location, and the abbreviated state and city name.

Examples:
2mi ESE IL Darien
1mi SE TX Dallas
11km NNW IN West Lafayette

HOS Rules Exemptions

Salesperson Exemption — Geotab has added exemption rules for salespeople (details below).

You do not have to comply with the 60/70 hour limit if:

• You are employed solely as a driver-salesperson by a private carrier of property
• You are engaged both in selling goods, services, or the use of goods, and in delivering (by CMV) the goods sold or provided or upon which the services are performed
• You stay entirely within a radius of 100 miles from the point at which you report for duty
• No more than half (50%) of your on-duty hours are spent driving on a weekly basis
• Your total driving time is 40 hour or less in any period of 7 consecutive days
• 14 hour limit, 11 hour driving limit, 30 minute rest break after 8 hours still applies

Note: Only applies to Geotab Drive and not Garmin.

Oilfields Operation Exemption — Geotab’s HOS now includes exemptions for drivers of commercial motor vehicles that service oil wells. All property-carrying rulesets can be used with these drivers, but not short haul (details below).

• Waiting Time shall not count towards the total On Duty time for a Driver’s day
• Such Waiting Time shall be recorded as Off Duty for purposes of §§395.8 and 395.15, with remarks or annotations to indicate the specific off-duty periods that are waiting time, or on a separate Waiting Time line on the record of duty status to show that off-duty time is also waiting time. Waiting time shall not be included in calculating the 14-hour period
• Logging Waiting Time extends a driver’s work day
• Eligible waiting time can be used to satisfy the requirement for a 30-minute rest break every 8 hours
• Cannot use Short Haul operation (100 air-mile radius driver). This Driver is not exempt from the requirements of § 395.8 — duty status records are required, including 30 minute break

Note: Only applies to Geotab Drive and not Garmin.

Yard Moves & Personal Conveyance

Drivers are now able to define if their trip is a yard move or personal trip. In order to use these options, an administrator must first allow them in the user’s Hours of Service Settings. To enable this feature in MyGeotab, the administrator can simply go to the user’s Hours of Service Settings and set the toggle button to On.

To use the Yard move and Personal conveyance features in Geotab Drive, navigate toHOS & Options and select Start beside the exemption you wish to use. When the exemption status changes, the driver must then select Stop.

Complete information on the ELD mandate can be found at www.fmcsa.dot.gov.

Texas Intrastate Rules

In the new version of Geotab Drive will also support Texas Intrastate HOS rules. Drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) in Texas have the following ruleset changes from interstate laws:

• Allowed to drive 12 hours after 8 consecutive off-duty time
• Duty limit 15 hours from start of day
• 70 hour cycle limit of on-duty time in 7 days

Learn More About Geotab Drive

Watch our YouTube video below for more info.
Visit Geotab Drive at the Geotab Marketplace for full product details.