Researcher

This study was performed by

the University of Michigan

Transportation Research

Institute and Science

Applications International

Corporation, Contract No.

DTFH61-95-C-00079.

Distribution

This Tech Brief is being 

distributed according to a 

standard distribution. Direct

distribution is being made to

the Resource Centers and

Divisions.

Availability

The study final report is 

available from the National

Technical Information Service,

Telephone: (703) 605-6000,

Order No. PB99-111866.

Key Words

electronic recorder, hours of

service, fleet size, truck, bus.

Notice

This Tech Brief is disseminated

under the sponsorship of the

Department of Transportation

in the interest of information

exchange. The Tech Brief 

provides a synopsis of the

study’s final publication. The

Tech Brief does not establish

policies or regulations, nor

does it imply FHWA endorsement of the conclusions or 

recommendations. The U.S.

Government assumes no 

liability for its contents or 

their use.

February 1999

Publication No. FHWA-MCRT-99-007
sent out questionnaire forms to members, each with

a cover letter encouraging a reply. 

Findings

Response Rates

Approximately 10,000 questionnaires were mailed;

researchers received about 1,200 responses. Response

rates for the 11 groups ranged from 3.1 percent for

small private fleets, to 24.4 percent from OOIDA

members. The overall response rate was 11.8 percent,

which was much lower than expected. Although

forms were sent to a representative cross section of

the industry, the information obtained can only be

considered as representative of the responses

received due to the low response rate. 

Electronic Recorder Use 

Of the 1,200 responding fleets, 175 reported using

ERs: 137 truck fleets, 24 bus fleets, and 14 owneroperators. Carriers equip their fleets with ERs for a

variety of economic, regulatory, and operational 

reasons, such as managing vehicle operating costs 

and for business management functions. At least 

one-third of the large truck fleets or NPTC member 

respondents reported use of ERs, but ER use is much

lower in all other groups queried. 

There is a clear pattern of decreasing use of ERs as

fleet size decreases. Only a small percentage of small

truck fleets and owner-operators reported using the

technology. The association between fleet size and

the use of ERs is significant, because approximately 

90 percent of all carriers regulated by the FHWA

operate less than nine trucks. Survey responses also

suggest that private fleets are more likely to use ERs

with the HOS function. 

Among respondents with ERs, the following observations were made with regard to the HOS function: 

• Of the 137 truck fleets with ERs, a little over half

(57 percent or 78 fleets) used recorders equipped

with the HOS function. 

• Only 37 truck fleets out of 1,200 responses use ERs

as their primary method of HOS compliance. 

• Most of the truck fleets that used ERs for HOS were

NPTC members, and the rest were large or medium

private truck fleets. 

• None of the responding for-hire fleets or owneroperators used ERs as the primary method for 

HOS compliance. 

• Only one bus fleet used ERs as the primary method

for HOS compliance. 

Cost

Data from this survey suggest that ER acquisition 

and installation cost is approximately $2000 per 

vehicle, but this cost can vary substantially depending

when the unit is acquired and the types of functions

available. Electronic HOS recording typically requires

an ER with the capability to support multiple 

functions. 

Table 1. 

Groups surveyed for Electronic Recorder Study

Association/Census Group Population (N) Selection (N)

NPTC 941 941

Large Private 1,006 931

Medium Private 17,560 1,032

Small Private 192,152 1,000

Large For-Hire 1,411 1,411

Medium For-Hire 15,711 1,047

Small For-Hire 129,372 1,002

OOIDA 9,510 1,500

ITDA 150 150

ABA 727 727

UMA 850 850

Total 10,591
sent out questionnaire forms to members, each with

a cover letter encouraging a reply. 

Findings

Response Rates

Approximately 10,000 questionnaires were mailed;

researchers received about 1,200 responses. Response

rates for the 11 groups ranged from 3.1 percent for

small private fleets, to 24.4 percent from OOIDA

members. The overall response rate was 11.8 percent,

which was much lower than expected. Although

forms were sent to a representative cross section of

the industry, the information obtained can only be

considered as representative of the responses

received due to the low response rate. 

Electronic Recorder Use 

Of the 1,200 responding fleets, 175 reported using

ERs: 137 truck fleets, 24 bus fleets, and 14 owneroperators. Carriers equip their fleets with ERs for a

variety of economic, regulatory, and operational 

reasons, such as managing vehicle operating costs 

and for business management functions. At least 

one-third of the large truck fleets or NPTC member 

respondents reported use of ERs, but ER use is much

lower in all other groups queried. 

There is a clear pattern of decreasing use of ERs as

fleet size decreases. Only a small percentage of small

truck fleets and owner-operators reported using the

technology. The association between fleet size and

the use of ERs is significant, because approximately 

90 percent of all carriers regulated by the FHWA

operate less than nine trucks. Survey responses also

suggest that private fleets are more likely to use ERs

with the HOS function. 

Among respondents with ERs, the following observations were made with regard to the HOS function: 

• Of the 137 truck fleets with ERs, a little over half

(57 percent or 78 fleets) used recorders equipped

with the HOS function. 

• Only 37 truck fleets out of 1,200 responses use ERs

as their primary method of HOS compliance. 

• Most of the truck fleets that used ERs for HOS were

NPTC members, and the rest were large or medium

private truck fleets. 

• None of the responding for-hire fleets or owneroperators used ERs as the primary method for 

HOS compliance. 

• Only one bus fleet used ERs as the primary method

for HOS compliance. 

Cost

Data from this survey suggest that ER acquisition 

and installation cost is approximately $2000 per 

vehicle, but this cost can vary substantially depending

when the unit is acquired and the types of functions

available. Electronic HOS recording typically requires

an ER with the capability to support multiple 

functions. 

Table 1. 

Groups surveyed for Electronic Recorder Study

Association/Census Group Population (N) Selection (N)

NPTC 941 941

Large Private 1,006 931

Medium Private 17,560 1,032

Small Private 192,152 1,000

Large For-Hire 1,411 1,411

Medium For-Hire 15,711 1,047

Small For-Hire 129,372 1,002

OOIDA 9,510 1,500

ITDA 150 150

ABA 727 727

UMA 850 850

Total 10,591
Researcher

This study was performed by

the University of Michigan

Transportation Research

Institute and Science

Applications International

Corporation, Contract No.

DTFH61-95-C-00079.

Distribution

This Tech Brief is being 

distributed according to a 

standard distribution. Direct

distribution is being made to

the Resource Centers and

Divisions.

Availability

The study final report is 

available from the National

Technical Information Service,

Telephone: (703) 605-6000,

Order No. PB99-111866.

Key Words

electronic recorder, hours of

service, fleet size, truck, bus.

Notice

This Tech Brief is disseminated

under the sponsorship of the

Department of Transportation

in the interest of information

exchange. The Tech Brief 

provides a synopsis of the

study’s final publication. The

Tech Brief does not establish

policies or regulations, nor

does it imply FHWA endorsement of the conclusions or 

recommendations. The U.S.

Government assumes no 

liability for its contents or 

their use.

February 1999

Publication No. FHWA-MCRT-99-007