ELD Connection Issues

Having trouble connecting to your ELD device? This page walks you through the most common causes and how to fix them.

Common Reasons the ELD Will Not Connect

Bluetooth is turned off on your phone or tablet.
You are too far from the ELD device — you need to be inside or very near the vehicle.
The ELD device is not powered on — the vehicle’s ignition may be off.
Permissions have not been granted — RouteMate needs Bluetooth and Location permissions to find and connect to the ELD.
The app or device has a temporary glitch that needs a restart.

Steps to Fix the Connection

Work through these steps in order. After each step, try connecting to the ELD again to see if the issue is resolved.

1. Make Sure Bluetooth Is Enabled

Open your device’s system settings and verify that Bluetooth is turned on. The ELD communicates with your phone or tablet over Bluetooth, so this must be active.

2. Get Close to the ELD Device

Make sure you are inside the vehicle cab or standing right next to it. Bluetooth has a limited range, and walls, other vehicles, or distance can interfere with the connection.

3. Check Location Permissions

RouteMate needs Location permission to scan for and connect to Bluetooth devices (this is a requirement on both iOS and Android).

Go to your device’s settings, find RouteMate in the app list, and make sure Location is set to Allow or While Using the App.

4. Check Bluetooth Permissions

Make sure Bluetooth permission is granted to RouteMate as well.

On newer versions of Android, there is a separate Bluetooth permission in addition to Location. Make sure both are enabled.
On iOS, check that Bluetooth access is allowed for RouteMate under your device’s Privacy settings.

5. Restart the RouteMate App

Close the app completely (do not just switch away from it — fully close it from your recent apps list) and then reopen it. This clears any temporary state that might be preventing the connection.

6. Restart Your Phone or Tablet

If restarting the app did not help, try restarting your device entirely. This resets the Bluetooth stack and clears any system-level issues.

7. Check the ELD Device for Power

Make sure the vehicle’s ignition is on (or in accessory mode, depending on your ELD model). The ELD device draws power from the vehicle and will not be available for Bluetooth connections if it is not powered.

Tip: Look for a light or indicator on the ELD device itself. If there is no light, the device may not be receiving power.

When to Contact Support

If you have tried all of the steps above and the ELD still will not connect:

Contact your fleet manager — they may be able to help troubleshoot from their end or check if there is a known issue with your ELD device.
Contact RouteMate support — if the issue appears to be with the app itself, reach out to the support team for further assistance.

Note: Make sure to let your fleet manager know if you are unable to connect to the ELD before you start driving. They can advise you on how to proceed while staying compliant.