Recently, the International Registration Plan (IRP) and International Fuel Tax Agreement (IFTA) groups came together to agree on a very important, far reaching new ruling regarding IRP cab cards and IFTA licenses. The new agreement is known as the “Electronic Credentialing Program.”.
Motor carriers, state associations, and law enforcement should have received notifications from the IRP and IFTA groups already. These communications can be seen here:
Motor Carrier Notification
Law Enforcement Notification
To summarize – starting on Jan 1st, 2019, drivers for commercial motor carriers will have the ability to produce digital images of their cab cards / licenses to law enforcement using a range of electronic devices such as mobile phones, computers, and tablets. That said, paper forms will still be acceptable as well.
Click here to view the full implementation timeline of this change.
There is specific language in the new allowance that limits the content that is viewable on those devices by law enforcement. That said, it is recommended to advise drivers that these devices may be temporarily taken by law enforcement to verify those credentials.
This ruling applies to all US states and Canadian provinces. The key to the new electronic formats is that the documents be accurate, accessible, and readable.
IRP states that a best practice is to save the file as a PDF format and save it onto the device itself, instead of in the cloud. This ensures a greater chance at viewability and accessibility. They recommend this as a work around in areas with no wifi or poor or no cell service.
It is recommended that drivers carry both paper and electronic versions for the first year to work out any issues that may arise with law enforcement.
For many, this new method of proving credentials may take time to get used to. We suggest working with your local and state authorities to develop compliance and operational best practices. Further, a training and education program for your drivers would be a great idea to implement.
Feel free to reach out to Fleetworthy Solutions if you would like help in making sure your fleet and drivers are ready for this change.
Thanks for reading and be safe out there!
