ELD Rules and Exemptions Every Owner-Operator Should Know
Determine whether the operation requires an ELD and document any short-haul, driveaway or older-engine exemption.
ELD and Hours of Service
Electronic logging devices, driving-time limits, exemptions and technology choices for small carriers.
A practical order of work
- Check whether the driver and operation need an ELD or qualify for an exemption.
- Understand the daily and weekly clocks before applying an exception.
- Compare device usability, data access and contract terms against the actual operation.
Use these guides to prepare a decision and identify the evidence you need. Confirm time-sensitive requirements through the official sources linked in each guide.
12 guides in this topic
Your ELD Was Removed From the FMCSA List—What Now?
Follow a controlled replacement process, preserve records and meet FMCSA deadlines after a device is revoked.
Choosing the Right ELD for a One-Truck Operation
Test roadside usability, support, data exports, hardware and contract flexibility before committing to a device.
What ELDs Really Cost: Hardware, Fees and Contract Traps
Calculate total ELD ownership cost across hardware, subscriptions, installation, add-ons, renewal and cancellation.
The 11-Hour and 14-Hour Rules Without the Confusion
Understand the two daily clocks, required breaks, weekly limits and the events that do or do not pause time.
Split Sleeper Berth: Practical 7/3 and 8/2 Examples
Work through valid and invalid split combinations and see how paired rest periods recalculate available time.
34-Hour Restart and the 60/70-Hour Rule: Worked Examples
Calculate rolling 60/70-hour limits, recap hours and the optional 34-hour restart through practical driver examples.
Adverse Driving Conditions: When the Extra 2 Hours Apply
Distinguish genuinely unforeseen adverse conditions from ordinary delays and document the HOS exception correctly.
Personal Conveyance: When Off-Duty Driving Is Allowed
Apply FMCSA's commercial-benefit test to parking, commuting, meals, repairs and movement toward the next load.
ELD or Fleet Management Software? What Small Fleets Need
Choose between a standalone ELD, specialist tools and an integrated platform based on real operational needs.
Short-Haul Exception: 150 Air-Mile Rule, ELDs and Time Records
Apply the 150-air-mile short-haul exception correctly, including the 14-hour return rule, carrier time records, RODS and ELD transition.
ELD Malfunction Rules: Paper Logs, 24-Hour Notice and 8-Day Repair
Respond to an ELD malfunction with the correct driver notice, reconstructed RODS, paper logs, repair deadline and extension process.
Continue planning
Compare assumptions with the carrier tools or explore another topic.