Using KeepTruckin ELD? Are your IFTA reports accurate? Ours are always wrong

Perhaps your accountant is right. I have not been through any IFTA or IRP audit yet.
I spoke with a KT rep and he told me that the reports are satisfactory but I must say that KT representatives are not very reassuring when it comes to different aspect of regulations.
As you probably know, Keep Truckin has the ability to generate the trip reports showing mileages of the states and dates at which they were traveled, also coordinates showing entry and exit points. I must admit that it is different from the reports that I used to write on paper in the pre ELD times which were showing more consolidated trip data such as Origin Location and Destination, BOL number and routes taken (that's the missing piece of data on KT reports) fuel purchases and mileages on one sheet, but I don't do those any more as I find them redundant and very time consuming - all that information is located on other automatically generated reports and logs. I would not be surprised, however, if there is the "old fashioned" format required indeed, as you accountant stated. If a push comes to shove and I receive an IFTA/IRP notice and if it turns out that the KT reports do not have a satisfactory format, at that point, I guess, I'll resign to a mundane task of recreating them for the period of time for which I would be audited. It should not be difficult to do based on the KT data but surely doing it manually is not something on which I'd like to waste my time. For now, however, I dare to assume that Keep Truckin reports with conjunction of fuel purchases reports and log books have enough information to satisfy the IFTA audit.

 

I think I'm going to have to agree with you on every single point you mentioned. Although KT does not fulfill IFTA's every request in the form that they are asking for, I'm hoping that, if and when audited, it would be easier to "create" with the data from KT and Comdata, than to keep track of everything twice, meaning hand written and electronic. Not to mention, my driver almost quit when I told him that the KT log did not meet IFTA requirements and that I thought we were going to have to keep trip sheets/logs as well. LOL Thanks for taking the time to respond.

 

I am currently doing my IFTA reports on paper. Your state should have an IFTA handbook on PDF file that should have samples for IVDR (Individual Vehicle Distance Record) and monthly/quarterly/yearly summaries for fuel and mileage. I use one IVDR sheet per load. I have customized my IVDR sheet so I am able to fit just about any long distance load in one sheet.

The samples in the handbook are just “samples.” You can customize the format of the IVDR and summaries in the computer, but you want to make sure you are providing the information they need for an audit.

These state handbooks are updated every few years, so their sample sheets have changed a bit. Most of the sample sheets ask for the same information with additional pieces of information.

By the way, this same IVDR is sufficient to satisfy record keeping for NY, KY, NM, and OR. I must admit that the IVDR may be a bit redundant as our ELD logs may already have most, if not, all the information required. It’s just scattered all over the place. The IVDR and the fuel/mileage summaries keep it all in one place. Maybe in the future I will figure out a quicker way for IFTA/Mileage record keeping.

 

I don’t like products like KeepTrucking or BigRoad that use Bluetooth to connect to your phone or tablet. There are accuracy and connectivity problems with that setup. I recommend products that have their own stand alone hardware equipped with their software. I use Coretex after dropping BigRoad. The Coretex system can do anything a Qualcomm or Peoplenet can, and its much less expensive.

 

Qualcomm/Omnitracs is $31 per month. Their newest device (IVG) is $865. Those devices are probably good for 5-10 years. Some big fleets put older devices on new trucks.

 

I just cannot stand that ELD providers can make a living out of something that used to be so simple. If I were to give up on Keep Truckin or would indeed have to go through a hassle of correcting their reports all the time and keep track of miles the old way, I'd rather go with something cheap like Garmin - no monthly fee just ELD so that the mandate requirement is satisfied only.

Unfortunately, I think that safest way is to adhere to the handbook format and not to give them any kind of opportunity to fine you. So maybe what you are doing is the only proper way. I also have these templates ready in excel, just in case. I figure that data entering for one truck with a quarter worth of trip sheets should not take more than one afternoon of clerical workload, in a worst case scenario. Even though, I was not audited I know people who were and they were given some time to prepare and told for what period they were to be inspected. Maybe, it it best to call them (IFTA) and find out what their take is on the matter, knowing life though, they would give a vague answer and most likely refer me to the handbook.

 

Omnitracs is more than just an ELD. They actually offer online classes to teach customers how to fully use the service. I think I only know half of what it can do. Omnitracs is also mostly intended for fleet owners, and to my knowledge it is at the top of the chain for the most solid and trustworthy ELD device in the market today.

 

Maybe if you are using their ivg in cab device, but if you are using their tablet version - holy poop balls is it bad.

 

One of the reasons I went with Omnitracs is because I don’t trust new businesses with new devices. When Rand McNally got into the GPS device business, I bought one of their devices (their 3rd generation device I think), and I couldn’t believe all the technical issues it had. Years later I bought their next newest device thinking they had finally perfected their device, and I was wrong again. I don’t blame Rand McNally. They have no expertise in making GPS devices. Right now I have a Garmin and the difference is very, very noticeable. I wasted hundreds of dollars on Rand McNally stupid devices. No more nonsense for me.

 

So far out of 4439 Miles I am missing 7 miles. Is this worth going back trying to find those 7 miles on IFTA report?