Choose an ELD plan from required workflows and total cost, not from the lowest monthly headline. Include hardware, cables, activation, replacement, mobile devices, data, integrations, training, support, contract length, export, and cancellation terms.
What this means for your fleet
Create a three-year total-cost worksheet and score each plan against must-have compliance and operations tasks. Recheck Factor ELD's current pricing and inclusions at the time of purchase because plan details are dynamic.
Three-year plan comparison example
For 12 trucks, compare every quote over 36 months. Add device and cable, activation, subscription, mobile device/data, installation, administrator and driver training, replacement/shipping, integrations, support tier, export, taxes, renewal increase, and cancellation. Divide only after the full total is calculated.
| Line | Quote A | Quote B |
|---|---|---|
| Recurring plan | 12 × 36 × stated monthly rate | 12 × 36 × stated monthly rate |
| One-time deployment | Hardware + cable + install + training | Hardware + cable + install + training |
| Expected operating cost | Replacement + data + paid support/export | Replacement + data + paid support/export |
| Exit exposure | Remaining term + return + post-cancel access | Remaining term + return + post-cancel access |
Populate the cells only from dated Factor terms and the executed quote; public headline pricing is not the contract.
What to check
Use these checks before changing a log, policy, device, integration, or buying decision.
| Check | How to verify |
|---|---|
| 1. Count all hardware and cable costs | Retain each vehicle class, required connector and cable part number, hardware quantity, unit price, replacement assumption, and extended total. |
| 2. Map included versus add-on features | Keep a plan-by-feature matrix tied to the dated quote, with included limits, add-on price, prerequisite, excluded tier, and written vendor confirmation. |
| 3. Review contract and cancellation | Save the contract term, renewal, price-change, cancellation, hardware return, data retention, export, and post-exit access clauses. |
| 4. Price training and support | Keep role-based training scope, implementation hours, support channel and coverage, tested escalation, quoted cost, and exception. |
| 5. Test data export | Export a named date range, open the file, verify originals and edits, count records, document owner and recipient access, and retain the result. |
Common failure modes
- Ignoring implementation labor.
- Assuming every advertised feature is in the quoted tier.
- Using an expired price.
Limits and exceptions
This guide does not decide a fact-specific legal exception, certify a record, or guarantee a compliance, safety, cost, or audit outcome. Keep the original ELD record and any edit history. Use the current official rule for applicability and the exact installed-device manual for screen-by-screen actions.
Sources, review date, and limits
Reviewed August 10, 2026. Each source supports only the point described beside it. Rules and product details can change; recheck dynamic facts before changing a fleet workflow or signing a contract.
- Current first-party product, plan, feature, and support representations; dynamic facts require release-date recheck — Factor ELD.
- Official registered-device list and manufacturer self-certification/non-endorsement language — Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Price the complete operating setup
Bring the vehicle, cable, phone or tablet, record-access, replacement, support, and cancellation requirements—not only a target monthly price. Factor ELD can demonstrate its current product; rule applicability remains a fleet compliance decision.