Whether you’re a professional truck driver or a fleet management company, you likely understand the importance of tracking your hours. After all, it is a federal mandate.
The ELD rule requires commercial drivers to log their hours with an Electronic Logging Device (ELD). However, not everyone is required to follow this federal mandate, depending on their eligibility for an ELD exemption. If your fleet doesn’t qualify for an exemption, you’ll need to choose a reliable ELD solution. Check out our guide to the best ELD devices to find the right one for your needs.
In this guide, you’ll learn what an ELD exemption is, who is eligible for them, and why an ELD is still a good addition to your vehicle, even if you’re exempt.
What Is the ELD Rule?
The ELD rule — also known as the ELD mandate — is a federal regulation in the US requiring commercial drivers to use electronic logging devices (ELDs) to record hours of service.
This mandate was passed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) in order to more efficiently replace paper logs and generally keep the hour recording process more modern to maintain safety for drivers.
The absolute final deadline for the ELD rule was December 2019, so it is now required by law that all 3.5 million commercial drivers in the US track their hours with an ELD.
Check out our ELD Mandate guide for more information
Who Is Eligible for ELD Exemptions?
While the ELD rule was one of the biggest federal regulations in US history, it does have some exceptions or ELD exemptions. An ELD exemption allows a driver to avoid the necessity for an ELD, provided that they meet certain criteria that is consistent with the mandate.
According to the FMCSA, here are all of the ELD exemptions:
Drive-away-tow-away operations
If you are in a situation where you are hauling an empty or unladen vehicle as a commodity for delivery, you are exempt from the ELD mandate. This exemption also applies to recreational vehicles and motor homes.
Short haul drivers
Good news for drivers that aren’t about that long haul life. Short haul drivers are exempt from the ELD mandate. There are obviously some pretty strict guidelines in regard to what qualifies, including the fact that drivers must operate within a 150 air-mile (about 173 land miles) radius of their home base. Additionally, you must return to your reporting location within 14 hours of leaving to be eligible for this exemption.
Agricultural operations
Those transporting agricultural goods, like livestock, bees, horses, and fish, among other agricultural commodities are also exempt from using an ELD to log their hours. This exemption also includes farm equipment and applies to both private and for-hire carriers. It’s also worth noting that you’re only eligible for this exemption if you operate in a 150 air-mile radius.
Old car drivers
If you’re a fan of the classics, you might be eligible for an ELD exemption. All vehicle models before the year 2000 are not required to log their hours with an ELD. It’s worth noting that this date is determined by the VIN number, as well as the engine, which could be important in the event you swap out your engine.
Drivers only required to use paper logs for 8 or fewer days a month
It’s a bit of a mouthful, but drivers that are using paper logs — also known as RODS — for less than 8 days in a 30-day period are exempt from using an ELD to log hours. This means that if another job is already requiring you to log with paper hours, and you don’t work that many days, you should be all set.
Benefits of ELDs for Truckers
Now that you know about your ELD exemption status, it’s time to have a serious conversation about the benefits of the top ELDs beyond regulatory compliance. Whether or not you’re exempt from the ELD rule, the reality is that these devices can be quite handy for your driving experience, particularly if you operate an entire fleet of vehicles.
Here are some of the benefits of ELDs for truckers:
- Real-time tracking – ELDs use GPS to track vehicles in real-time, so you can see exactly where they are on the road.
- Vehicle health updates – Get regular updates on the health and condition of your vehicle to be proactive about repairs.
- Fuel optimization – ELDs can provide valuable insights into fuel usage and idle time, making it easy to locate problem areas.
- Lower insurance costs – This proactive approach to vehicle care can lead to some insurers lowering premium costs.
- Other regulatory compliance – ELDs can help with reporting for other regulations, including the fuel tax (IFTA) and International Registration Plan (IRP).
If you’re running an entire fleet and need to get the most out of your average ELD, it’s often better to pair them a full-on fleet management software. These tools can help you with even more, including route optimization and dash cam compatibility.
Check out our how to use an ELD guide for more information
Verdict: Do You Need an ELD?
If you meet an of the criteria listed above, you are exempt from the ELD rule, and therefore, you do not need to track your hours of service with an ELD while driving commercial vehicles.
However, as we mentioned above, there are a lot of benefits to using an ELD, particularly when managing an entire fleet. Subsequently, we’d still recommend at least checking out some of our other guides on the topic to find out if an ELD could improve your business.
But again, if you’re exempt, no one is going to make you!