Buy and Install a New ELD and Harness

We recommend the Geotab GO9. The Geotab GO9 ELD is a small form-factor vehicle tracking device that plugs directly into your vehicle diagnostic port.

Highlights:

• Easy to install with no antenna or wire-splicing required.
• Operates on 4G/LTE cellular bands.
• Includes an updated GPS module with enhanced location data accuracy.
• Order processing time is typically between 3 to 5 business days, plus shipping time.

Transflo is an official Geotab partner. All new genuine OEM Geotab devices are branded Geotab on their face plate. Transflo-branded devices are no longer available for purchase but Transflo-branded T9 ELDs (shown below) are still supported.

 

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When purchasing an ELD, fleet and retail customers typically have one of the following four (4) options:

 

 

 

1. Fleets of all sizes with any number of registered drivers or trucks can contact your Transflo account representative, Sales, or Support. Review the specs and place your request directly with Transflo. When you order, have the following information ready:

   • Current (old) device serial number; we'll set you up with new ones.

   • VIN number (to validate harness type)

   • DOT number

   

   Note: If you prefer, your current ACH payment setup will remain the same (no changes).

    

    

2. After receiving your new device, go online and replace each old ELD in the Transflo Telematics portal. Complete the device swap instructions as explained in the following video (click the image to play the video or go to https://vimeo.com/631165994/a62b853bcb):

   

   

   Tip: (Optional) As a fleet customer, your reporting automatically updates for any given unique vehicle before and after the device is swapped out; however, you can add your old device serial number in the comments section and the date if you prefer to simply have this data on record. The device swap is seamless so you will not lose IFTA reporting data or fuel tax information generated by the old number. In other words, it is not necessary to enter the old serial number (device ID) in the comments; it can be useful, but isn’t required.

    

3. After receiving your new device, if your old device was damaged, inoperable, defective, or 3G, complete a Device Termination Request by contacting Transflo Support. They can take the necessary steps to properly terminate your old device.

 

(Required) Update Your Device ID in Transflo HOS:  After you get your replacement device, you must complete all the steps in Update Your Device ID.

 

 

• In heavy duty and class 8 trucks, installation is typically done with a harness instead of directly plugging into the OBDII port. A Y-harness replaces the original diagnostic port, and safely moves the device under the dashboard. Although not as easy as the plug-n-play of the past, most ELD installations today support one of the following options:

  1. Connect to the diagnostic port.

  2. Connect to the diagnostic port using a harness in the case of Deutsch connectors.

  3. Connect to the RP1226 port (using a special cable).

  4. Connect directly into the fuse box (typical with Volvo and Mack trucks).

• In passenger vehicles and pickup trucks, you can plug your ELD directly into your vehicle OBDII port. Most class 8 trucks don’t have an OBDII port with the exception of Volvo and Mack trucks, but you still can’t install an ELD using that port in those makes.

• Older 16-pin connectors are rare in heavy duty trucks; only Volvo and Mack use them. When installing a Geotab 9-series (GO9) ELD, you cannot use a 16-pin harness connector due to possible thermal malfunctions. Instead, completely different harnesses are available for Volvo and Mack. No longer plug-and-play, these new harnesses are wired directly into the fuse box.

  

  WARNING! When installing a GO9, you cannot use a 16-pin harness connector due to possible thermal malfunctions.

• Overall, use of zip ties to secure the device to the connector on the harness is strongly recommended to prevent any movement of the device while driving the truck.

• Many experts in the industry believe older devices were much more simple. We had plug-and-play 6-pin, 9-pin, and 16-pin harnesses no longer available today. Today, those 6-pin, 9-pin, 16-pin connections are for passenger vehicles, van, and light-duty trucks. We have 14-pin (RP1226) harnesses and the specific harnesses for Volvo and Mack. Mack has two (2) different types depending on model year.