FMCSA declines broad challenge to ELD mandate

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has denied an exemption request that would have allowed most drivers to use paper records of duty status instead of electronic logging devices (ELDs). The request came from the Federation of Professional Truckers (FOPT), which argued that drivers should be allowed to choose between electronic and paper logging methods.

Had the FMCSA approved the request, a potentially large portion of the trucking industry could have been allowed to move away from the ELD system that has been required for most interstate carriers since the federal mandate took effect a decade ago.

FOPT argued that the exemption would provide drivers with greater flexibility, reduce stress associated with electronic time tracking, and lower compliance costs. Many supporters echoed longstanding industry concerns that ELDs can contribute to parking challenges and create pressure for drivers who are trying to manage available driving time.

The proposed exemption wasn’t limited to FOPT members, however. According to the FMCSA, the organization envisioned making the exemption available to any driver who wished to use it but failed to indicate how it would ensure that highway safety wouldn’t be compromised.

The FMCSA pointed to a more fundamental obstacle: Congress directed the Department of Transportation to adopt ELD requirements through the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21). Because of that mandate, the FMCSA said that it cannot grant a blanket exemption for any driver or carrier that wants to avoid the requirement. Carriers and industry groups seeking major changes to ELD requirements may need to look to Congress rather than the agency for relief.

The FMCSA received more than 900 comments on the proposal before reaching its decision.

For carriers, the denial reinforces that ELD compliance remains a central part of hours-of-service enforcement.