Intrastate ELD: What Drivers and Fleet Owners Need to Know

Electronic Logging Device (ELD) technology has made life easier for the trucking industry for years. In fact, using ELDs has been mandatory for interstate drivers, fleet managers, and fleet owners on the federal level since late 2015, when the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued its final rule on ELDs. California is now getting on board with its own set of intrastate ELD regulations to be in sync with the Federal regulations.

As of January 1, 2024, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) will require an intrastate motor carrier to utilize ELDs to maintain a driver’s record of duty status (RODS). There is no soft enrollment period. If you don’t use an FMCSA registered ELD and get cited for a RODS violation, you place your CSA Score at risk.

Get to know this regulation before it’s implemented!

Do you qualify for an ELD exemption?

The same federal exemptions for ELDs apply to several types of driving, including trucks in a “driveaway-towaway” operation, trucks manufactured prior to 2000, and trucks not operating within a 30-day period.

Drivers may continue to use paper logs instead of an ELD to maintain ROD status when qualifying for one of the following exemptions:

• Operating an authorized emergency, fire, forestry, law enforcement, or military vehicle
  
• Operating a CMV no more than 8 days within any 30-day period
  
• The motor carrier, driver, or vehicle is subject to federal regulatory guidance, a waiver, or an exemption issued by FMCSA pursuant to Part 395, Title 49, Code of Federal Regulation, which specifically exempts the use of an ELD

Of course, any carrier may choose to use an ELD, even if they are exempt.

Do intrastate motor carriers and drivers still need to keep RODS?

Even when you qualify for an exemption to use an ELD, you must document a driver’s RODS by:

• Doing it the old-fashioned way by keeping records using a paper logbook, or
• Using an automatic on-board recording device or another compliant electronic logging device

You’re exempt from using RODS when driving any of the following:

• Vehicles owned and operated by fire or forestry departments
• Vehicles owned and operated by local law enforcement agencies that are transporting inmates
• An Authorized Emergency Vehicle
• Any vehicle operated by a driver in accordance to Title13 Subsection 1212(e)

Where can you get more info?

FMCSA launched a dedicated ELD webpage to provide drivers and motor carriers with valuable resources such as a FAQ, list of registered devices, and an ELD training checklist for motor carriers. The CHP also posted a downloadable primer on ELD rules for intrastate motor carriers and drivers.

Advanced Emission is always available to answer your questions regarding FMSCA and CARB regulations to ensure that your fleet is road-worthy compliant. Give us a call at (559) 472-7301, or drop us a line, to make sure you are road-ready for the January 1st intrastate ELD rules.