ELD vs Fleet Navigation App: What's the Difference?
New fleet owners sometimes assume an ELD (Electronic Logging Device) also handles routing, or that a navigation app tracks hours of service. They solve different problems, and most fleets need both.
What an ELD does
An ELD records a driver's hours of service automatically, replacing paper logs. It tracks driving time, on-duty time, and rest breaks to keep the fleet compliant with FMCSA hours-of-service rules. Some ELDs also report vehicle diagnostics like engine hours and fault codes.
What a navigation app does
A navigation app plans the route and turn-by-turn directions. A truck-specific one routes around restrictions tied to the vehicle's height, weight, and length, the subject of our truck route restrictions guide. An ELD has no part in this; it does not know the road ahead at all.
Where they overlap, and where they don't
- Hours of service: ELD only. Navigation apps don't log driving time for compliance.
- Route restrictions: Navigation app only. An ELD doesn't route the truck.
- Some all-in-one platforms bundle both under one subscription, alongside dispatch or fuel-tax reporting. Whether that is worth it depends on how many separate tools you're already paying for.
What this means for a small fleet
If you are evaluating tools for a fleet of 3+ trucks, treat "ELD" and "navigation" as two separate line items, even if one vendor sells both. Ask what each product actually does for your specific use case, rather than assuming one covers the other.
Need the navigation half of the equation?
For fleets of 3+ trucks, we can introduce you to Trucker Path's discounted fleet navigation plan (TP Fleet Nav).
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