Electronic Logging Device (ELD)
Last reviewed · By Chad Griffith
An Electronic Logging Device (ELD) is hardware connected to a commercial motor vehicle's engine that automatically records driver duty status, vehicle movement, and HOS data. Required under the FMCSA ELD mandate (49 CFR 395.8(a)) since December 2017, ELDs replaced paper logs for most CMV operations. ELDs must be self-certified by manufacturers and registered on FMCSA's ELD self-certification list. ELD-recorded data must be available for transfer to authorized officials during roadside inspections via web service, email, or local USB/Bluetooth transfer (49 CFR 395.24).
Frequently Asked Questions
Who must use an ELD?
Per 49 CFR 395.8(a), most property-carrying and passenger-carrying CDL drivers must use an ELD. Exemptions include: drivers operating under the short-haul exemption (395.1(e)), drivers using paper logs for fewer than 8 days in any 30-day period, drive-away tow-away operations where the vehicle is the commodity, and vehicles manufactured before model year 2000.
What data must an ELD record?
An ELD records: driver identification, vehicle identification, date and time of duty status changes, location at each duty status change, engine hours, vehicle miles, and total miles for each driver per 24 hours. The ELD must record automatically during vehicle motion — manual annotation is permitted only for limited categories.
What are common ELD violations?
Common citations: failing to use a registered ELD (395.8(a)(1)) — penalty up to $1,000; ELD malfunction not corrected within 8 days (395.34) — varies; failing to transfer ELD data to authorized official (395.24) — up to $1,000; falsifying records of duty status (395.8(e)) — up to $13,775. Driver-side violations also feed into the HOS BASIC.
How long must ELD data be retained?
Per 49 CFR 395.22(c), ELD records and supporting documents must be retained for at least 6 months. The carrier must keep both the original ELD record and any backup. Drivers must keep paper records of duty status (when used) for at least 8 days under 395.8(k)(2).
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