FMCSA Cracks Down: 133 Fraudulent ELDs Revoked

FMCSA revokes 133 electronic logging devices in fraud crackdown

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has removed 133 electronic logging devices from its Registered Devices List after identifying widespread compliance failures and evidence that some systems were used to falsify drivers’ hours-of-service records.

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced the action Nov. 12, 2026, calling it the largest ELD revocation in FMCSA history. The action includes 121 devices revoked by the agency and 12 devices voluntarily withdrawn by their providers.

FMCSA said motor carriers using the affected devices have 60 days to replace them with compliant equipment listed on the agency’s registered-device registry. The agency also issued enforcement instructions for roadside inspectors. On or after Nov. 24, safety officials who find a driver using one of the revoked devices are instructed to cite 49 CFR 395.8(a)(1) and place the driver out of service under the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s out-of-service criteria.

Investigators found multiple forms of log manipulation

According to FMCSA, the devices failed to meet federal requirements for accurate, secure and reliable recordkeeping. The agency cited three examples of conduct uncovered during its investigations.

In one case, investigators found that an ELD provider allowed motor carriers to contact customer support and have recorded driving time manually erased. The driving periods were then replaced with fabricated off-duty or rest time, even though the drivers were still operating their trucks.

In another case, a provider allegedly uploaded falsified driving logs while a roadside inspection was in progress. The altered records concealed evidence that a driver had exceeded federally permitted operating limits.

A third set of records showed trucks traveling at speeds of up to 130 mph, which FMCSA described as mathematically impossible. The agency said the entries were used to compress recorded driving time and make it appear that drivers had operated for fewer hours than they actually had.

FMCSA did not identify the providers involved in those three cases. The agency also did not disclose how many carriers or drivers used the affected systems, and it did not provide details linking the devices to any particular crashes.

Why the action matters to drivers

ELDs are intended to automatically record driving time and related vehicle information, making it more difficult to falsify records than with paper logbooks. Accurate records are central to enforcing federal hours-of-service rules, which are intended to limit fatigue-related risks on the road.

For property-carrying drivers, the rules generally allow up to 11 hours of driving after 10 consecutive hours off duty, subject to additional limits governing the driving window and weekly on-duty time. When a logging system improperly removes driving time or records false rest periods, a driver may appear compliant while actually operating beyond those limits.

The consequences of using a revoked device can extend beyond paperwork. Once enforcement begins, a driver found using one of the devices may be placed out of service, interrupting a trip and potentially creating delays for the driver and carrier. FMCSA has said that carriers continuing to use revoked devices after the replacement period will be treated as operating without an ELD.

The action also creates a direct equipment concern for drivers and motor carriers. A device that was previously listed as registered may no longer satisfy federal requirements, even if it remains installed and appears to be functioning normally. Older devices were included in the registry cleanup, and FMCSA said a device may be returned to the registered list if its provider corrects all identified deficiencies.

Part of broader ELD enforcement

The large-scale removal follows a series of smaller enforcement actions. FMCSA had removed 79 ELDs from its registered list since January 2025, including 12 devices revoked in a single action in May, according to previously reported agency data. At that time, the registered list contained about 1,050 devices, while the agency’s revoked list exceeded 250.

FMCSA Administrator Derek D. Barrs said the agency is removing noncompliant and fraudulent devices to close loopholes that can be used to evade oversight, avoid revocation, bypass vetting requirements or undermine accurate hours-of-service records.

“Motor carriers must have confidence that every device on FMCSA’s public registry is compliant, secure and actively supported,” Barrs said.

Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said the action is intended to stop systems that allow users to bypass mandated rest periods, undercut lawful operations and put pressure on carriers and drivers that follow the rules.

FMCSA is also expected to propose additional changes to the ELD regulations. The agency’s 2026 regulatory agenda calls for a notice of proposed rulemaking addressing potential revisions to the requirements. No details about those proposed changes were included in the announcement.

For professional drivers, the immediate issue is whether the ELD installed in the truck remains on FMCSA’s Registered Devices List. Devices removed from that list are no longer treated as acceptable equipment for complying with the federal ELD mandate, and their use may result in an out-of-service order during an inspection.