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I often like to look at tons of sites to see if I can find a deal on both new and used truck parts, if it is not something critical that I will need right away.  I am always cautious about making sure the items I am purchasing are coming from reputable sellers and that I am not going to get taken for my money on a fraudulent item.  I enlist the help of things like PayPal’s satisfaction guarantee and Amazon’s Prime membership to help alleviate some of the woes.  This weekend while scoring a trailer door hinge replacement for $10, I was curious and decided to see if there were any ELD’s on EBay.  Much to my surprise there were several units and a pretty decent selection of different ELD’s up for auction.

Although I found an assortment of different brands including the one I am considering, the VDO RoadLog, what was lacking were details of different system requirements and descriptions of extra parts that might be needed to actually operate each system.  When looking at many of the manufacturer websites, they often help explain what cables and add-ons might be needed to make it work as desired, as well as specs for each different model.  A nightmare scenario that could arise from not having all the details for instance would be for someone to buy a nice PeopleNet system, only to find out upon arrival that it had to have a data box of some sort added and/or that no wiring was included to tap into the truck power or transmit data through the truck’s J1939 connector.  I would be terribly disappointed if I ordered an ELD and found out through my not reading the small print or asking questions exactly why it was that I actually got such a great deal on it!

Not that I am arguing to not shop around through all channels to get the best deal you can to meet the ELD mandate since let’s face it, it’s not the cheapest thing in comparison to the old method of a $2.00 logbook every month.  Just like any other cost of doing business though, it must be accounted for and met to comply with regulations allowing us as truckers to continue hauling and making money.  Shop around and look at all the cost comparison models, manufacturer’s websites, and even auction and used parts sites to get the best deal you can on the “entire” system you will need to comply.  I am no stranger to researching to find a killer deal, but I am savvy on making sure all the fine print has been read and that all my questions have been answered before buying something, especially something of this magnitude.  Shop smart, think smart, be “Truck Smart”!

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Jimmy Nevarez

Jimmy Nevarez is the Owner/President of Angus Transportation, Inc., based in Chino, California.  Jimmy pulls a 53' dry van hauling general dry freight for his own small fleet, operating on its own authority throughout all of Southern California and Southern Nevada.

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