FMCSA weighs request to allow truckers to use paper logs instead of ELDs for records of duty status
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is weighing a request that would let truck drivers use paper logs instead of electronic logging devices (ELDs) to track their records of duty status.
At issue is how drivers document their hours-of-service compliance. Under current federal rules, most drivers who must keep logs are required to use ELDs, with limited exceptions.
For drivers, the question matters because records of duty status are a core part of roadside inspections and compliance reviews. Any change that expands the ability to use paper logs could affect how drivers manage day-to-day documentation, what they need to carry in the truck, and how enforcement verifies hours-of-service rules.
FMCSA’s consideration of the request is part of the agency’s broader role in setting and enforcing safety regulations for commercial motor vehicles, including the requirements for tracking on-duty and driving time.
No decision has been included in the information provided, only that the request is being weighed.