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Guide to the ELD mandate

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has published the Final Rule requiring carriers and drivers currently using paper record of duty status (RODS) to adopt electronic logging devices (ELDs).

Who must comply?

The rule applies to most motor carriers and drivers currently required to prepare and retain paper RODS to comply with the HOS regulations under part 395.

The following drivers are exempt from installing and using ELDs and may continue to use manual paper or electronic logging system RODS:

  • Drivers using paper logs no more than 8 days during any 30 day period
  • Drivers who conduct driveaway - towaway operations, where vehicle being driven is the commodity being delivered (i.e. transporting an empty vehicle for sale, lease or repair)
  • Drivers of vehicles manufactured before model year 2000.

Further, for those drivers who are not required to maintain RODS because they operate under the short haul/ 100-air mile exemption, may continue without adopting ELDs. However, if the driver exceeds the conditions of the exemption rule for more than 8 days in any 30 day period, those drivers will be required to adopt ELDs. 

Read more about the ELD mandate.