Workaround for Agriculture Exemption in Encompass® ELD App
While there isn't a specific option to select "Agriculture Exemption" in the Encompass ELD application, your drivers can utilize the Personal Conveyance feature and add an "Ag Exempt" annotation. The information below walks through how to implement PC for drivers, and how drivers should use the application to identify operating under Ag Exempt. See ELD Hours of Service (HOS) and Agriculture Exemptions | FMCSA (dot.gov) for official regulatory information on utilizing ELDs + Ag Exemption.
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Info for Admins | Info for Drivers
For Admins
You must first enable Personal Conveyance for a driver in Encompass. You can do this at the company level, or by individual driver.
Company Level:
Go to Settings > Company Level Listing > Locate the appropriate company level > Click Edit Rules.
Check the box next to Personal Conveyance (located in the Hours of Service section) and save.
Please note: if you've ever made changes to an employee's rules on an individual level, the change above will not apply to them, as they are on an "Employee Rule" instead of "Company Rule". You can see which rule a driver is on by going to their Employee File, scroll to Data Profile, Rule Type: Employee Rule.
Employee Level
To turn on Personal Conveyance for individual drivers, first go to their Employee File. Scroll to the Rules section and click Edit.
Check the box next to Personal Conveyance and save.
For Drivers
Once Personal Conveyance is enabled for a driver, they can log into the Encompass® ELD application. If the driver is going to operate under Ag Exempt, they should select Off Duty > toggle on "Authorized personal use of CMV?" > add an Annotation of Ag Exempt.
This will allow the driver to drive without impacting their clocks and/or logs because of 49 CFR § 395.1(k).
Notes:
- The Encompass® ELD application will prompt the driver to end Personal Conveyance (PC) after an ignition cycle is detected. If this is left unanswered, the next movement will be recorded as Driving. (Because of: 49 CFR Appendix-A-to-Subpart-B-of-Part-395(e).)
- Example: Say a driver stops to unload and shuts off the vehicle, leaves the phone in their pocket, and then takes off 30 minutes later without paying attention to whats on their device
- Personal Conveyance needs to be re-enabled if there is a duty status change.
- Example: If a driver goes On Duty Not Driving (ODND) to add a log remark of "unloading", they will need to be sure they go into Off Duty - Personal Conveyance again.