The US Poultry & Egg Association, National Chicken Council and National Turkey Federation submitted comments to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) proposed rule mandating the use of ELDs. The proposed rule was published in the Federal Register on 28 March 2014.

Many of their member companies have already installed ELDs in their fleets and enjoy the benefits of the technology including enhanced record-keeping and other fleet management tools.

However, even though Congress required that FMCSA mandate the use of ELDs in the July 2012 highway reauthorisation law, the industry's opposition to the proposed rule centres on the fact that the existing paper log system allows motor carriers to comply with current hours of service regulations, and there is no reason to believe that electronic systems will substantially improve highway safety. In addition, the mandatory use of electronic systems adds an unnecessary expense to the costs of fleet operations.

The comments were prepared by the Joint Poultry Industry Human Resources Council, which is made up of members from the US Poultry & Egg Association, National Chicken Council and National Turkey Federation. Collectively, the three organisations represent 95 per cent of the nation’s poultry products, and their members generate more than 1.3 million total US jobs.