Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

ELD Rule Planned for September

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration estimates it will post the final electronic logging mandate next September.

by Staff
November 19, 2014
2 min to read


The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration estimates it will post the final electronic logging mandate next September.

The rule will require most drivers to eventually switch from paper to electronic logs. It also will set standards for the devices and the supporting documents that regulators need to confirm compliance, and protect drivers from harassment.

Ad Loading...

After the rule is published, carriers will have two years to comply. And carriers that already use electronic logging devices that meet current specifications will have two years to bring those devices into compliance with the new specs.

The September date is not exact. The agency is now analyzing the more than 2,200 comments and plans to submit a final rule to the office of the Secretary of Transportation in May. After that office completes its review, the rule goes to the White House Office of Management and Budget, which may accept the rule as it is or may ask FMCSA to make changes.

Any one of these steps could add more time to the process, which is not unusual.

Ad Loading...

A related rule that would set up penalties for coercing drivers also is scheduled for next September.

In its monthly update of its regulatory calendar, the agency also said it plans to post a safety fitness determination proposal next April.

This proposal will set forth the agency’s plans for using its CSA safety enforcement system to determine whether or not a carrier is safe enough to operate. The final rule probably won’t be ready until 2016.

Also in process:

  • A final drug and alcohol clearinghouse rule is due next October. It will set up a central database for carriers to check drivers’ history with controlled substances as part of the hiring process.

Ad Loading...
  • A proposal by FMCSA and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to require speed limiters on heavy trucks is scheduled for publication next March.

More Safety & Compliance

Photo of smiling truck driver Harold Perry with arms crossed in front of Southeastern Freight Lines truck
DriversSeptember 17, 2026

From One Generation to the Next: How Mentorship Builds Safer Truck Drivers

After three decades in trucking, Harold Perry shares what he's learned about driver safety, mentorship, and helping the next generation build confidence behind the wheel.

Read More →
Mobile tablet showing Motus screen against highway background with Motus logo
Fleet Managementby StaffSeptember 15, 2026

FMCSA Pauses Biennial-Update Enforcement Amid Motus Transition

Carriers whose updates were due on or after June 1 have more time, while FMCSA works to stabilize its new registration system and warns of phishing sites impersonating its new carrier registration system, Motus.

Read More →
Presentation slide showing ZF's North American market growth
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeSeptember 10, 2026

ZF Expands Commercial Vehicle Push in North America

ZF is expanding its North American commercial-vehicle presence with new transmission applications, electrification, trailer technology and autonomous-driving systems.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Illustration with driver behind the wheel, an alert sign, and a laptop
Driversby Lauren FletcherSeptember 9, 2026

Truck Drivers Need More Than Another Alert

Fleets have more visibility into truck health, safety events, and driver activity than ever. The next challenge is turning all that information into useful guidance for the person who has to decide what to do next.

Read More →
Tesla Semi electric truck with interior of Tesla Cybercab superimposed on top
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeSeptember 8, 2026

Tesla Wants a Self-Driving Semi. Are Cameras Enough?

Could Tesla’s camera-only autonomous driving technology work on an 80,000-pound Semi? In this commentary, HDT's Deborah Lockridge takes a look at Tesla, Cybercab, and how autonomous trucks see the road.

Read More →
Collage of five autonomous trucks
Safety & Complianceby Deborah LockridgeSeptember 8, 2026

What DOT’s Automated Vehicle Strategy Means for Trucking

The U.S. Department of Transportation issued a new automated-vehicle strategy that outlines plans for driverless-truck regulations, cross-state freight corridors, and federal safety standards.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Illustration of NYC skyline with speed limit sign and the major's order in the foreground
Safety & Complianceby News/Media ReleaseSeptember 4, 2026

NYC Expands Speed, Pedestrian Safety Tech Across Fleet

New York City is expanding intelligent speed assistance and pedestrian-alert systems across its municipal fleet, moving the technologies from pilot programs into vehicle procurement and retrofit requirements.

Read More →
Two men in jackets with Homeland Security indicated on the back, standing in a parking lot looking toward a building with trucks in front of it
Driversby Deborah LockridgeSeptember 1, 2026

FMCSA Removes 110 Truck Driver Training Schools from Certified ELDT List

Federal regulators also are targeting more than 160 additional training providers and launching a nationwide audit of third-party CDL skills testers as part of a broader crackdown on trucking fraud.

Read More →
Digital cover feature illustration showing truck inspector looking at trailer in background with the words "Compliance doesn't equal safety"
Safety & Complianceby Deborah LockridgeSeptember 1, 2026

Beyond DOT Compliance: What Makes a Trucking Fleet Truly Safe?

A trucking fleet can follow every rule and still make unsafe decisions. The real test comes when safety conflicts with freight, productivity, or cost.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Illustration of tired truck driver, electronic logging device, and traffic congestion

Hours of Service Pilot Programs: FMCSA Readies for 2027 Rollout

Two pilot programs could eventually reshape hours-of-service rules, giving truck drivers options to pause their 14-hour clock or use longer split sleeper rest periods.

Read More →