Can I drive a truck without an ELD?
The ELD mandate applies to most commercial truck drivers on the road today. You can only drive a truck without an ELD if you qualify for one of the few ELD exemptions as mandated by the FMCSA. The exemptions are:
- Drivers who are operating under short-haul operations are exempt for CDL and non-CDL vehicles, and aren’t required to keep record of duty status (RODS). Time cards can be used in place of ELD.
- Certain driveaway-towaway operations in which the vehicle being driven is part of the shipment being delivered or in which the vehicle being transported is a motorhome or a recreational vehicle trailer.
- Drivers who maintain RODS for eight days or fewer in 30-day rolling periods and short-haul drivers who occasionally take longer trips. But if you exceed the short-haul exemption more than eight times within 30 days, you’ll need an ELD for the rest of the cycle.
- Drivers of motor vehicles manufactured before the year 2000.
Benefits of using ELDs even if you are exempt:
- Reducing paperwork
- Aumating IFTA reports
- Tracking vehicles in real time
- Monitoring vehicle condition and health
- Increasing fuel efficiency
- Identifying high-risk driving behavior
- Improving driver and vehicle safety
- Improving CSA scores
- Lowering insurance premiums
- Increasing profitability