FMCSA Removes Four ELDs From Its Registered List

In July 2024, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) removed four electronic logging devices (ELDs) from its list of registered devices. According to the agency's announcement, the four were CTE-LOG ELD, ELD VOLT, POWERTRUCKS ELD and TFM ELD. FMCSA said they had failed to meet the minimum requirements in 49 CFR part 395, subpart B, appendix A, the technical specifications every ELD must meet.

A repeat of 2023

The July action followed a similar step a year earlier, when FMCSA removed four other devices in July 2023. The removals announced on July 23, 2024 took effect the same day, and FMCSA said it would send an industry-wide email to tell motor carriers what to do.

What carriers using the devices had to do

FMCSA told motor carriers using any of the four revoked devices to take these steps:

• stop using the revoked device and go back to paper logs or logging software to record hours of service;
• replace the revoked device with a compliant ELD from the registered list before September 21, 2024.

That gave carriers 60 days to replace the devices.

Enforcement during the switch

During the 60-day window, FMCSA encouraged safety officials not to cite drivers using the revoked devices for having no record of duty status under 49 CFR 395.8(a)(1) or for failing to use a registered ELD under 395.22(a). Instead, officials were to ask for the driver's paper logs or logging software, or use the ELD display as a backup way to review hours of service data.

From September 21, 2024, carriers that kept using the revoked devices would be considered to be operating without an ELD. FMCSA said safety officials who found a driver using one of the devices on or after that date should cite 395.8(a)(1) and place the driver out of service under the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance out-of-service criteria.

Path back to the list

FMCSA said that if the providers corrected all the deficiencies it had identified, it would put the devices back on the registered list and inform the industry. It also urged carriers to act right away rather than wait, to avoid compliance problems if the providers did not fix the problems.

Why the list mattered

The case showed that a device's place on the registered list was not permanent. A carrier that bought a listed device could still have to replace it within 60 days if FMCSA later found that the device did not meet the specifications.

Archive: this article describes rules and events as of July 2024. Regulations may have changed since, so check the current rule before relying on it.