The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Werner Enterprises began the pilot program of the Paperless Log System in June of 1998. The Paperless Log System stemmed from C.L. Werner, Founder and Chairman of the Board. His motives involved more than just satisfying the Department of Transportation, his main concern was for the safety of the professional drivers and the motoring public.

After six years of testing, Werner Enterprises became the only trucking company in the United States to be granted an exemption from the U.S. Department of Transportation's FMCSA agency to utilize its Global Positioning System (GPS) technology to record drivers' hours-of-service. The two-year exemption was a milestone for Werner Enterprises and the trucking industry.

Based on Werner's performance, the FMCSA stated its belief the exemption achieves a level of safety equivalent to, or greater than, the use of paper logs.

FMCSA Administrator Annette M. Sandberg, formally signed the exemption on December 2, 2004, recognizing Werner's outstanding creativity in the use of GPS to accurately track and report the work activities of truck drivers.

"This supports Federal HOS regulations that help to ensure truck drivers get ample rest and, consequently, are more alert behind the wheel. Innovation and technology are critical to achieving our goal of improving safety on the nation's highways," Sandberg said.

Timeline:

• 1992 - Werner installs Qualcomm^TM satellite communications in its trucks.
• 1994 - C. L. Werner directed the Werner management team to develop technology to improve safety and eliminate the hassle drivers experience with paper logbooks. Werner began investigating and initiating paperless logs as a feature of its established satellite technology.
• 1995 - Werner drivers began testing the Paperless Log System while they continued using the traditional paper logbooks.
• 1996 - Werner contacted the Federal Highway Administration on the Paperless Log System. The FHWA was enthusiastic about the system and approved Werner's continued testing of the technology, while using the traditional paper logbooks. Improvements in the system continued during the year.
• 1997 - Werner made a final commitment to paperless logs and ran tests with approximately 2,000 drivers while using the traditional paper logbooks.
• April 1998 - Werner's Paperless Log System entered into the Federal Register.
• June 10, 1998 - The Federal Highway Administration officially authorized Werner's adoption of the Paperless Log System, and discontinuance of the paper logbooks.
• September 21, 2004 - The U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) granted exemption from paper log usage.
• December 2, 2004 - Werner was formally granted an exemption from the FMCSA agency to utilize its GPS technology to record drivers' hours-of-service.