The only thing that an Elog really needs is some form of GPS to determine motion. I have been using Elogs for 4 years this coming December, and I have yet to see what any Elog would need from the ECM. Just because you start the vehicle doesn't mean you are on duty. Just because you shut it off doesn't mean you are off duty. Elogs can be edited as needed for sleeper, off duty, on duty with no problems. Only driving is basically written into stone, and that depends on motion. Any GPS in the Elog itself could do that. Just like the GPS in a cell phone. And it can measure distance via GPS. A app on my cell phone shows mph and distance travelled whenever I want. A simple app in a cell phone could do the very same thing as it pertains to Elogs. Now granted, the qualcomm set up in my truck is hooked up to the ECM, but except for a lot of other information like mpg, mph data, idle time, etc not really sure it actually needs anything from the ECM when it comes to the Elog.
And I think this is how it will be done what mandatory Elogs finally show up. For those older trucks that don't even have an ECM will probably use this method.
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