Switchboard ELD is a low cost Canadian ELD service provided by FQ Wireless, an industry leader in telematics solutions for over 23 years. The company’s roots in telematics systems pre-date the ability of cellular telephone systems to handle wireless data.
Since day one, FQ Wireless has strived to lower the entry barriers so that business owners could take advantage of the efficiencies that these solutions provide. We achieved that in several ways:
- Commencing in 2002, we eliminated the need for long term contracts.
- We pioneered no-cost lifetime hardware warranties.
- We simplified our products by including most features as standard
- We introduced industry leading value pricing
- All systems included 24×7 emergency help desk support
Fast forward to today and this philosophy is still in place. Consequently, we are pleased to announce industry leading, value-based pricing on Switchboard ELD, our Canadian ELD solution.
Switchboard ELD is an easy-to-use, full featured and certified HoS system that is available in 3 versions:
- Switchboard ELD
- Switchboard ELD + GPS
- Switchboard ELD + GPS + Dashcam
All versions include full Canadian, US and Mexico ELD compliance. Each solution consists of an ECMLink device and a subscription to the Switchbaord ELD service. All include the ECMLink plug and play device that is plugged directly into the vehicle’s ECM engine interface. The ECMLink interprets the data coming from the vehicle and communicate key information wirelessly via BlueTooth to the Switchboard ELD app that is running on the driver’s phone or tablet. The Switchboard ELD app communicates with the Switchboard cloud-based platform, which provides fleet managers with real-time and historical Hours of Service information, charts and reports, etc.
One ECMLink device is purchased outright for each vehicle from FQ Wireless on a one-time basis. Switchboard ELD service is then subscribed on a monthly basis, for as low as $19.95 per vehicle.
Big Road ELD
Some ELD solution companies, such as Big Road, provide the ELD device without any up-front cost. Instead, they charge on an ongoing monthly fee. In Big Road’s case, they typically charge $25.00 per month for their basic ELD service. Some may trumpet the fact that the ELD device is free, yet you’re actually paying a great deal more for the device over time and you may never actually own it. (We call this the never-never plan) Let’s look at this math. At $25.00 per month, you’re paying $1500.00 over 5 years.
We could compare Big Road with Switchboard ELD this way: We sell the ECMLink hardware device for a single payment of $199.95 and $19.95 per month for Switchboard ELD. For Canadian customers, Big Road is charging USD dollars, so over 5 years, it would be approximately $1920.00 CAD for service versus $1297.00 CAD for Switchboard ELD. Thats a savings of over $600.00.
Keep Truckin ELD
Other ELD providers, such as Keep Truckin, charge an up-front fee for the ELD hardware, plus a monthly for the ELD service. In the case of Keep Truckin, this is typically $150.00 for the hardware, plus $35.00 per month for the plan that includes IFTA reporting, This adds up to $2250.00 USD over 5 years. Switchboard ELD for USA customers would be $953.00 less over 5 years. For Canadian customers, Switchboard would be $1660.00 less or a savings of over 60%.
Samsara ELD
With Samsara ELD, you’re paying $129.00 USD for the ECM devive, plus $30.00 per month for service. Over the course of 5 years, this adds up to $1929.00 USD or $2469.00 Canadian. That’s over $600 more for US customers and $1172.00 more for Canadian customers.
Contract Terms -House & Kids Excluded
With Switchboard, there is no contract. You can cancel at any time without penalty and you can keep the ECMLink, which will work with multiple other systems out there. Compare these terms to other ELD providers. You’ll find that most of them will require a contract with stiff early exit penalties. Think that free ELD hardware is enticing? Think again because you may be paying for the hardware 3 times over and the divorce could cost you the house and kids.
Canadian ELD Service
As mentioned, all versions of Switchboard ELD include full featured ELD capability:
- Zero install -no wires, no messy installs
- Automatic connection to ELD on Log-In
- Automatic ECM diagnostic scan
- Realtime shift status display
- Violation countdown warning
- One touch duty status updates
- Integrated DVIR vehicle inspections
- Log and DVIR signature capture
- Support for Co-driver Log-In
- One-touch display, print or export logs
- Over-the-air ELD updating
Product Differences
The primary difference in the Switchboard ELD versions relates to their respective GPS tracking and camera capabilities. Switchboard ELD provides full ELD compliance and includes location reporting each time the driver logs on or off, changes duty status and then every 60 minutes while driving, per ELD rules. Switchboard ELD is the appropriate choice for fleets that are not really concerned about vehicle tracking. They just want to be 100% ELD compliant. This applies to a lot of fleets that utilize owner operators.
For fleets that own their trucks and utilize employee drivers, they may prefer a system with always-on, reliable real-time GPS tracking. For this, we recommend Switchboard ELD + GPS, which includes 4G cellular connectivity. This integrated modem allows the ECMLink Pro to provide real-time GPS tracking, regardless of whether the driver’s tablet or phone is on.
Summary
Canadian ELD compliance is now mandated and although enforcement has been delayed until June 2022, most fleets will want to get ready now for full North American compliance. Implementing a Canadian ELD Hours of Service solution does not need to be a scary or costly exercize. The reality is that all of the certified Canadian ELD solutions on the market meet 100% of the ELD requirements. They all have to meet the same criteria in order to become Transport Canada compliant and they are all tested by a certified third party unbiased lab. Switchboard ELD is fully certified by Transport Canada, thereby meeting 100% of Transport Canada regulations.
Switchboard ELD offers the full breadth of ELD features.Switchboard ELD, our most cost-effective solution, has an advanced set of capabilities, many of which require upgrading to the higher tiers of our competitors systems, such as:
- Full web dashboard included
- Full DVIR inspections
- Signature capture for DVIR sign-off
- Automatic ECM connectivity diagnostics
- Over-the-air updating
- Co-drivers
- Automatic driving status changes
- IFTA mileage reports
If you’re looking for low cost Canadian ELD service, Switchboard ELD has you covered. We’re making it as easy as possible to be fully compliant, with the industry’s lowest total cost of ownership. If you’re looking for more advanced GPS tracking capabilities, then choose Switchboard ELD + GPS, which includes ELD functionality plus the most advanced fleet management platform in the business, accompanied by the same simple terms. Or, choose Switchboard ELD + GPS + Dash Cam for a complete solution that includes an Ai powered dash cam.
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