ELD Compliance Requirements for Interstate Truckers

Who Is Required to Comply with the Interstate ELD Mandate?

The mandate is required for most commercial motor vehicle drivers who are already required to maintain a RODS. If your business is in interstate commerce, you are governed by federal regulations if your vehicle meets any of the following:

• Weight Threshold: The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating or Gross Combination Weight Rating of this vehicle (combination) is 10,001 pounds or more.
• Hazardous Materials: The vehicle is used to transport hazardous materials in a quantity that requires placarding.
• Passenger Carrying Capacity: The motorcar is intended or used for carrying more than 8 passengers (including the driver) for payment or more than 15 passengers (including the driver) without payment.

2026 HOS Updates: Flexibility and Pilot Programs

As of 2026, the FMCSA has rolled out new pilot programs to counter the ‘one size fits all’ approach currently presented by HOS regulations. Interstate motorists should remain updated about the flexible provisions:

• 14-Hour Clock Pause: Pilot projects are underway to see if drivers can pause the 14-hour on-duty clock for intervals ranging from 30 minutes to three hours. This will give drivers a chance to work around heavy traffic and/or loading dock delays without "burning" their driving time.
• Expanded Sleeper Berth Splits: Beyond the classic 8/2 split and the 7/3 split, “6/4 and 5/5 split rest periods” are also part of the project’s pilot programs. This helps drivers take rest periods closer to cycles of natural sleep. However, they have to fulfill the mandatory requirement to rest for 10 hours.
• Electronic Medical Certificates: In October 2026, the mandatory process of completely submitting an electronic copy of the medical certificate will start, thereby incorporating the driver qualification files with the digital database of the United States government.

Technical Requirements for Interstate ELDs

To be considered in compliance with the regulation in an interstate context, An Electronic Logging Device must fulfill the following technical requirements to ensure the integrity of the data it collects:

• Engine Synchronization: The device must be "integrally synchronized" with the Engine Control Module (ECM), such that it automatically receives information about power status, vehicle operation, and mileage.
• Auto Transfer of Data: The system needs to support wireless or email (telematics) transfer or, alternatively, USB or Bluetooth (local transfer) during a roadside inspection.
• Graphic RODS Display: The unit should have the capability to give a digital and/or printed graph grid displaying the daily driving status of the driver.

Mandatory In-Cab Compliance Materials

The drivers on the interstate are often reviewed for Level I and Level III inspections. The "Compliance Packet" is mandatory in each cab to prevent administrative citations:

Document Type	Purpose
ELD User Manual	Provides operational guidance for the hardware.
Data Transfer	Guide Step-by-step instructions for sending logs to a DOT officer.
Malfunction Sheet	Instructions for reporting and troubleshooting device failures.
8-Day Paper Log Supply	Emergency backup in the event of an ELD malfunction.

Exemptions for Interstate Operators

Although the mandate is quite wide, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration outlines conditions in which the use of the ELD is not necessary:

• Short Haul Exception: Person driving within a 150 air-mile radius of their home terminal and return to such terminal within a 14-hour period are exempt from using ELDs if maintaining a record of their driving times at their terminal.
• Pre-2000 Engines: Those with an engine model year of 1999 or older are exempt because of the technical limitations of their ECMs.
• Casual Users: Drivers who need to maintain RODS for 8 days or less in any 30-day rolling period.
• Driveaway-Towaway Operations: In these operations, because the vehicle being driven is a part of the actual shipment, it may include the delivery of a new truck from the manufacturer (i.e., delivering a new truck from the manufacturer).

Record Retention and Data Management

For interstate carriers, it begins after the driver clocks out. "Carriers must be able to maintain a strict audit trail" to include:

• 6-Month Retention: RODS and all supporting documents (fuel receipts, BOLs, dispatch records) must be retained for a minimum of six months.
• Data Backups: It is required that ELD data is backed up to another device or a cloud server to prevent loss in the event of hardware failure.
• Unassigned Mileage: Every "Unidentified Driving" event must be reviewed and reconciled by the managers to ensure that every mile is accounted for.

A pro-active strategy is then required when it comes to trucking ELD compliance across state lines. With an increasingly integrated telematics solution on its agenda, not to mention relaxation of HOS regulations in 2026, simply maintaining ELD compliance will prove to be your best course of action in upholding your authority to operate.