3G gone forever: FMCSA asks truckers to check their ELDs

Starting next week, the mobile operator will stop providing 3G services in the states. This can lead to disruptions of the electronic recorder (ELD) for truckers.

Since February 22, 2022, AT&T 3G will come to an end. It`s the first major mobile operator that ends 3G services, other operators` shutdown dates are approaching throughout 2022.

In November 2021, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) posted a warning that drivers who didn`t update their 3G-compatible ELDs may experience failures.

The agency states “any ELD that requires a 3G cellular network connection to perform its functions will no longer comply with the technical specifications of the ELD rule.”

Carriers have 8 days to fix the problem.

Planned 3G shutdown dates are listed below:

• AT&T 3G: February 22, 2022

• 3G Sprint (T-Mobile): March 31, 2022.

• LTE Sprint (T-Mobile): June 30, 2022

• T-Mobile 3G: July 1, 2022

• Verizon 3G: December 31, 2022

FMCSA offered to check all truckers` devices and in case it depends on the 3G network, suggests asking the ELD supplier about its plan to upgrade or replace the device with another one that supports 4G or 5G.

Click here for more information on ELD compliance.