J.J. Keller ELDs Review: Is it the ELD Supplier for Your Fleet?

Commercial fleets must be ELD compliant since December 16 2019. Should you enlist this industry leader to guide you there?

When it comes to fleet compliance, J.J. Keller is an industry leader with a stellar reputation. Having made its name as a pioneer of the humble paper logbook back in the 1950s, this company has spent the last few decades at the forefront of compliance innovation. However, it isn’t a full-fledged GPS fleet tracking system.

From eDVIR solutions to construction safety training, J.J. Keller provides plenty of services besides its ELD (electronic logging device) system. December 16, 2019 was the deadline for full ELD compliance, and here we unpick this big name supplier’s ELD solution to help you decide whether it’s the right one for you.

Let’s get started!

What are J.J. Keller’s Features and Benefits?

So, what does this company have to offer? Well, to achieve full ELD compliance with J.J. Keller, you’ll need:

• Its patented ELDs
• The free J.J. Keller Mobile app
• A subscription to J.J. Keller’s Encompass Fleet Management portal

Let’s take a closer look at these offerings…

✓ ELDs

J.J. Keller’s patented ELDs are certified by the FMCSA, and can be used in vehicles of all classes – cars, trucks, you name it.

The devices are designed to be easy to install, so each ELD comes with a connection cable that you (or your staff) can plug in yourself, along with a quickstart guide for your drivers. Because they’re plug-and-play devices that aren’t hardwired in, they won’t require any down time to get set up – although they may be a little less secure and discreet.

If you do have some technical difficulties, though, J.J. Keller offers some pretty robust customer service – with a tech support line open 24/7.

✓ J.J. Keller Mobile

Designed for commercial drivers, the J.J. Keller Mobile app receives and collates the data collected by your ELDs. Using the app, your drivers can:

• Update their duty status
• Check and certify their HOS (hours of service)
• Perform vehicle inspections
• Browse vehicle records and engine data
• View their GPS coordinates

The app is free, and compatible with Apple and Android, meaning all of your drivers should be able to download and use it on their own devices.

Of course, if you’re looking for a solution that won’t aggravate your employees by eating up their personal memory and data, it’s worth acquiring some cheap tablets and a data plan for this purpose.

J.J. Keller itself provides ‘Compliance Tablets’ that come ready-to-go and pre-loaded with J.J. Keller Mobile. These Android devices provide 4G network coverage, and come locked down – meaning your drivers won’t be able to use them to run unauthorized apps. It goes without saying that Compliance Tablets come at an additional cost – but we’ll explore that in more detail in a moment.

✓ Encompass Fleet Management

While your drivers use J.J. Keller Mobile to check in on their HOS and duty status, you’ll use Encompass Fleet Management, J.J. Keller’s back-office management portal, to do so instead.

Now, when it comes to telematics, Encompass isn’t as featureful as other solutions. What is does have, however, is a laser focus on keeping you compliant with FMCSA regulations. We’d say that, rather than a fleet management system, you’re better off thinking of it as a comprehensive compliance management tool.

Using Encompass’ portal, you’ll be able to check in on data including:

• HOS
• Driver performance
• Fuel tax reporting
• Accident recording
• Driver qualification
• Alcohol and drug tests
• Unit tracking and maintenance

You’ll also be able to set up automatic compliance alerts – handy!

While tech support for drivers and their ELD devices is open 24/7, it’s worth being aware that Encompass technical support is only available Monday through Friday, from 7am until 6pm. So, if something goes wrong at the weekend, you’ll have to wait until Monday for help.

How Much Does J.J. Keller Cost?

First off, you need to be aware that J.J. Keller works on a pay-as-you-go basis and so won’t rope you into a lengthy contract – which, in our eyes, is a huge advantage.

But what exactly will it charge? Well, J.J. Keller itself doesn’t provide transparent pricing information. Rather, it prefers potential customers to get in touch and ask for a custom quote directly.

That being said, a few online sources have gone ahead and crunched the numbers. They cite the below figures as a guideline:

As you can see, the big decision here is whether or not to opt for the company’s Compliance Tablets.

It’s a balance. On the one hand, they will save you the time and effort of sourcing your own tablets, paying for a data plan separately, and getting all the right apps downloaded and logged into. On the flipside, however, you may well be able to find a cheaper tablet and data plan bundle elsewhere.

Whatever you decide, it’s a good idea to compare all the cost options available to you before picking your winning ELD supplier. We can help you there. Answer a few questions about what your business needs – be sure to tick ‘ELDs’! -, and we’ll match you with fleet management and tracking suppliers that can get you compliant.

They’ll then be in touch with bespoke quotes and info just for you! Don’t forget, the deadline for full compliance was December 16 2019. Try our effortless service to get on top of it today!

Is J.J. Keller Right for my Business?

“I want to be safe in the knowledge that I’m ELD, DOT and FMSCA compliant.”

You won’t go far wrong with J.J. Keller. It’s one of the big names in compliance, and is trusted by over 420,000 customers – that speaks for itself!

The team at J.J. Keller are very much compliance experts, and so we’re confident that they’ll be able to talk through your concerns and make good recommendations. And you can rest assured that the ELD system will provide you with everything you need to pass that 16 December deadline with no stress.

“I want a full suite of fleet management and telematics features.”

If you’re keen to reap the benefits of a sophisticated fleet management and GPS tracking system, J.J. Keller may not be the supplier for you. We’d advise looking into fleet management specialists that can also help you with ELD compliance. Read our Samsara review for a good example.

Alternatively, you could use J.J. Keller’s compliance system while also using a full fleet management system from another supplier – but you’ll need to work out whether that’s a cost-effective strategy.

What do J.J. Keller’s Customer Reviews Say?

Overall, J.J. Keller’s customers speak very highly of its ELD system. We scoured pages of J.J. Keller ELD reviews across the company’s website and customer review site ELD Ratings, and found many of them to be glowing.

In particular, customers praise the solution’s ease of use, along with the company’s knowledgeable customer service team:

That being said, a couple of glitches have been pointed out, too:

Meanwhile, a handful of customers have experienced more serious connection issues with J.J. Keller’s ELD:

Expert Verdict

If you’re looking for a solution that you know will get your business fully ELD compliant, we think J.J. Keller’s ELD system is well worth investigating.

It’s intuitive and easy to use (for both you and your drivers), it’s super speedy to set up, and it’s got the power of an experienced, industry leading brand behind it. Plus, rather than roping you into a long contract, it’ll allow you to pay as you go. Oh, and its customer support service is responsive, friendly, and very knowledgeable.

On the other hand, several users have reported connectivity issues, which can cause problems when it comes to something as crucial as duty status and HOS reporting. And if you’re looking for sophisticated telematics, J.J. Keller isn’t the supplier to get it from.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide what fits your business best. But whatever you choose, you should definitely compare as many options as possible first. We’re here to make this process effortless. Based on what your business needs, we can match you up with the fleet management and tracking suppliers that can help you reach ELD compliance before the deadline.

All you need to do is tell us what you’re looking for – make sure you tick ‘ELDs’! – and the best suppliers for you will be in touch with tailored prices and info.