ELD Mandate Exemptions
Not everyone needs an ELD. Here's the full list of FMCSA exemptions — and the situations that look exempt but aren't.
The 5 Exemptions
Pre-2000 engine model year
Any commercial motor vehicle with an engine manufactured before 2000. Important: engine model year, not vehicle year. Check the engine plate, not the VIN sticker.
Short-haul 150 air-mile
Property-carrying drivers who stay within 150 air-miles of their reporting location, start and end at the same location within 14 hours, and don't exceed 11 hours of driving. Passenger-carrying: 150 air-miles / 15-hour window.
8-day RODS rule
Drivers who are required to keep records of duty status 8 or fewer days in any 30-day rolling period. Occasional long-haul only.
Drive-away / tow-away
Operations where the vehicle being driven is itself the commodity being delivered (e.g. delivering a new truck from factory to dealer).
Agricultural (150 air-mile)
Drivers of covered farm vehicles hauling agricultural commodities within 150 air-miles of the source. State-defined and mandate-adjacent.
You Are NOT Exempt If…
At $15/month, ELD Hub costs less than one hour of DOT out-of-service time. A wrong exemption call can cost $10K+ plus CSA damage.
Exemptions FAQ
Am I exempt from the ELD mandate?+
You're likely exempt if: your engine is pre-2000, you're short-haul 150 air-mile with same-day return, you keep RODS ≤8 days in 30, or you're drive-away/tow-away. Otherwise you probably need an ELD.
What is the 100/150 air-mile exemption?+
Property-carrying drivers within a 150 air-mile radius of their reporting location who return to that location within 14 hours are exempt from RODS/ELD. FMCSA expanded this from 100 to 150 miles in September 2020.
Does the pre-2000 exemption use vehicle year or engine year?+
Engine year. A 2005 truck with a 1999 rebuilt engine can qualify. But you must have paperwork proving the engine model year — check the engine plate, not the truck VIN.
What if I only occasionally drive long-haul?+
The 8-day rule covers you. If you're required to keep RODS 8 or fewer days in any rolling 30-day period, you don't need an ELD. Day #9 in 30 days = you need one.
Are agricultural drivers exempt?+
Covered farm vehicles hauling agricultural commodities within 150 air-miles of the source are exempt. Rules vary by state and commodity — check with your state DOT before relying on this.
What's the risk of wrongly claiming an exemption?+
Out-of-service, $1,000–$10,000 fine per violation, CSA points that hit for 2 years, and possible insurance premium increase. Wrong exemption = ELD violation on your record.