Driver activity and vehicle operation logging and reporting
A method for logging and reporting driver activity and vehicle operation includes identifying a driver of a vehicle, recording operating data with an on-board recorder that is hard-wired to an engine control module, coupled to a mileage sensing system, and linked to a global navigation satellite system, and recording duty status of the driver. An hours of service log and a fuel tax log are created from the operating data. The method includes comparing the driver's hours of service log to an applicable requirement, indicating to the driver whether the driver is in-compliance or out-of-compliance with the applicable requirement, automatically uploading the logs to a receiver external to the vehicle using a wireless telecommunications network, and emitting a compliance signal representative of whether the driver is in-compliance or out-of-compliance with the applicable requirement to a second receiver external to the vehicle and under control of authorities.
1. An electronic device for logging and reporting driver activity and vehicle operation, comprising:
a memory device configured to store operating data;
a power supply;
a first interface configured to connect to a vehicle mileage sensing system;
a second interface configured to connect to a data bus of the vehicle;
a receiver configured to link with a global navigation satellite system;
at least one data portal configured to upload data from the memory device to a receiver external to the vehicle using a wireless telecommunications network, and supporting a connection with a receiver external to the vehicle and under control of authorities;
a driver interface configured to record driver identification information input by a driver of the vehicle and duty status input by the driver;
a processor operatively connected to the memory device for processing encoded instructions and recording data selected from a group consisting of operating data, an hours of service log, and a fuel tax log; and
a display.
2. A method for logging and reporting driver activity and vehicle operation, comprising: identifying a driver of a vehicle;
recording operating data with an electronic device operatively connected to a data bus of the vehicle, coupled to a vehicle mileage sensing system, and linked to a global navigation satellite system, the operating data being selected from a group consisting of mileage obtained from at least one of the vehicle mileage sensing system and the data bus; engine use, time, and date obtained from the vehicle data bus; and location, time, and date obtained from the global navigation satellite system;
recording a duty status of the driver;
creating an hours of service log comprising data selected from a group consisting of a change in duty status of the driver, time and date the change occurred, hours within each duty status, total hours driven today, total hours on duty for seven days, and total hours on duty for eight days; and
automatically uploading the hours of service log to a receiver external to the vehicle using a wireless telecommunications network.
3. The method for vehicle data communication according to claim 2 , wherein the vehicle data bus comprises at least one of a group consisting of RS232, SAE J1708, SAE J1850, SAE J1939, and SAE J2497.
4. The method for vehicle data communication according to claim 2 , and comprising wirelessly transmitting information relating to the vehicle to at least one of an onboard recorder and a computing device external to the vehicle.
5. The method for vehicle data communication according to claim 4 , wherein the computing device comprises a handheld device.
6. The method for vehicle data communication according to claim 4 , wherein the computing device comprises a host server.
7. The method for vehicle data communication according to claim 4 , wherein the computing device comprises an electronic tablet.
8. The method for vehicle data communication according to claim 2 , wherein identifying the driver of the vehicle comprises downloading driver related data from a wireless communication network to a vehicle onboard recorder.
9. A method for vehicle data communication according to claim 8 , wherein the driver related data comprises biometric data selected from a group consisting of facial, retinal, and thumb print identifiers.
10. The method for vehicle data communication according to claim 9 , and comprising reading biometric data of the driver and matching the data read to the biometric data stored in the vehicle onboard recorder to verify the identity of the driver, thereby logging the driver into the vehicle onboard recorder.
11. The method for vehicle data communication according to claim 10 , further comprising disabling the vehicle if the driver is not logged into the vehicle onboard recorder.
12. The method for vehicle data communication according to claim 2 , and comprising emitting safety related information from the vehicle.
13. The method for vehicle data communication according to claim 12 , wherein the safety related information comprises tire pressure.