The truck changes; the driver’s history still matters
Before a driver takes a replacement tractor or a second delivery truck, establish how the earlier part of the day will remain available. Selecting the next vehicle is only one part of the handoff. The driver and office also need to understand which system holds earlier records and how those records can be produced when required.
FMCSA’s recording FAQs distinguish compatible and incompatible ELDs. The rule does not require devices to interoperate automatically. A carrier therefore cannot assume that signing into a different supplier’s ELD will import the driver’s earlier history.
Check the outgoing truck while safely parked
- Identify the vehicle being returned and the last assignment performed in it.
- Review the end of that portion of the record and any unresolved vehicle or driver mismatch.
- Tell the responsible fleet person which truck and device will be used next.
- Follow the installed product’s documented vehicle-change or sign-out procedure. Do not reset, erase or unplug a device to remove recorded activity.
A helper who moves the outgoing truck later must use the appropriate account and process for that movement. Handing over a phone while leaving another person’s account active can create a different record problem; it is not a substitute for a vehicle handoff.
Select and verify the incoming vehicle
The Factor PT30 user manual describes selecting a vehicle by its number or VIN and using Menu → Change Vehicle when a different assignment is needed. Confirm that these instructions match the app and device installed in your fleet; other versions may use different controls.
- Compare the physical truck’s fleet number or VIN with the selected vehicle.
- Connect to the ELD belonging to that truck, using the documented procedure.
- Check the connection indication and vehicle identity together. A connection to the wrong nearby device is not an accepted setup.
- Review the driver’s available records, including the earlier part of the shift.
- Resolve a mismatch with the fleet’s responsible person or Factor support before treating the handoff as complete.
The manual’s connection screen is a useful product check, but it is not proof that an unrelated truck, cable or phone is compatible. Confirm each materially different configuration.
Complete this handoff record
| Check | What the driver and office should be able to identify |
|---|---|
| Outgoing assignment | Previous vehicle, device and end of that assignment |
| Incoming assignment | Next vehicle, selected account and connected device |
| Earlier records | Where they are held and how the driver can produce them |
| Open issue | Any missing event, disputed assignment or connection problem and the person resolving it |
For a federal roadside review, the current day and previous seven consecutive days are relevant to record availability. Use the current recordkeeping requirements and the carrier’s procedure to confirm how a mixed-system day is handled. Do not treat a successful login as proof that the record set is complete.
If activity was recorded without the correct driver assignment, use the unassigned-driving review guide. For planning across several truck configurations, see Factor ELD for mixed fleets.
Truck-change questions
Does changing trucks give me a new set of available hours?
No. A different truck is not a fresh driver history. The carrier’s review must account for the driver’s preceding work and applicable limits.
What if the replacement truck uses a different ELD provider?
Have the carrier establish a complete-record procedure before the assignment. Check how the earlier records will be available to the driver and office; do not assume that two systems exchange them. Confirm the method against the applicable requirements and the instructions for both products.