Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Rule

The Arkansas Highway Police (AHP) Division of the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) would like to remind Arkansas motor carriers of the congressionally mandated compliance date of December 18, 2017, for implementation of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA’s) electronic logging device (ELD) rule.

The rule is applicable to interstate and intrastate motor carriers and drivers who are currently required to maintain records of duty status. It applies to commercial buses and trucks, as well as Canada- and Mexico-domiciled drivers.

The final rule was first published on December 16, 2015, which allowed affected motor carriers more than two years to come into compliance. Nonetheless, some motor carriers were still able to continue to use a grandfathered automatic onboard recording device (AOBRD), under certain conditions, until no later than December 16, 2019. The AOBRD was required to meet the requirements of 49 C.F.R.395.15.

On the effective ELD compliance date of December 18, 2017, AHP enforcement officers began documenting ELD violations on roadside inspection reports and could issue citations to drivers operating commercial motor vehicles without a compliant ELD. Although operating a commercial motor vehicle not equipped with a compliant ELD is a violation that requires drivers to be placed out-of-service, AHP enforcement officers, along with motor vehicle enforcement officers nationwide, did not begin implementing the out-of-service criteria until April 1, 2018.

The AHP believes that deferring the ELD out-of-service criteria provided for an educational period that promoted a smoother transition and afforded the motor carrier industry, shippers and its enforcement officers with time to adjust to the new ELD requirement. AHP enforcement officers will continue to enforce other hours-of service violations, and if required, place drivers out-of-service.

For more information about the ELD rule and its requirements, please visit FMCSA’s ELD implementation website at www.fmcsa.dot.gov/hours-service/elds/electronic-loggingdevices