Cummins founds ELD maker ZED Connect, debuts phone-based ELD system

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Updated Jun 26, 2017
ZED’s fleet management portal.ZED’s fleet management portal.

Engine maker Cummins on Friday announced it has launched a new software company, ZED Connect, whose first offering is a smartphone-based electronic logging device that’s compliant with the U.S. DOT’s looming ELD mandate.

The ZED smartphone ELD app is aimed at the small fleet and owner-operator segments. Dubbed a “plug and play” device, the ELD includes visual inspection reporting functionality, commercial routing and other features, in addition to its core functionality of tracking hours of service.

The company charges $200 for the Bluetooth-enabled hardware that connects to a truck’s ECM.

The ZED platform will work with all engine makers, Cummins says — the key reason the company started ZED as a separate entity.

For drivers and owner-operators, ZED says its ELD is a simple compliance option for the federal ELD mandate. Drivers must begin using an ELD to track hours of service by Dec. 18, 2017.

The ZED ELD app.The ZED ELD app.

For fleets, ZED touts a fleet management portal with real-time equipment tracking, hours of service monitoring, vehicle inspection report tracking and access to repair records, among other features.

“Cummins’ deep relationships within the on-highway market and its leadership in integrated solutions make this an exciting partnership for ZED Connect,” said Skip Kinford, newly appointed President and CEO of ZED Connect. “We view this opportunity as a way to collaborate with an industry leader to solve mutual customers’ problems. Our model of linking the collective knowledge and information across an open ecosystem will provide substantial value to fleets, original equipment manufacturers, manufacturers and technology service providers.”