ELD for Vehicles Under 10,000 lbs: Exempt, But Still Being Asked
If your power unit is rated under 10,001 lbs, the ELD mandate does not apply to you. That has not stopped the requests. Vetting platforms and brokers ask light-duty carriers for a live ELD connection, and there is no exemption from a private company's access rules.
Do vehicles under 10,000 lbs need an ELD?
No. The FMCSA ELD mandate applies at 10,001 lbs gross vehicle weight rating and above, so a vehicle under that rating is exempt and does not have to keep electronic records of duty status. Carriers running light vehicles often add an ELD voluntarily because brokers and carrier-vetting platforms require a connected ELD account before releasing loads. ELD Hub costs $15 per vehicle per month with a 14-day free trial.
Last verified by ELD Hub.
4 quick steps — personal details, company info, billing, done. About 2 minutes.
When an ELD Is Required — and When It Is Not
The federal line is 10,001 lbs GVWR
Below it, no ELD, no RODS, no HOS logging under the mandate. That has not changed.
Private access requirements are not exemptions
A broker or vetting platform can set its own conditions for booking freight. Being FMCSA-exempt does not override them.
A voluntary ELD is a real ELD
Running one voluntarily gives you the same FMCSA-registered account, GPS records and duty-status history as a mandated carrier — which is exactly what the platform wants to see.
Trailers can push you over the line
Check the combination rating, not just the power unit. A light truck with a loaded trailer can cross 10,001 lbs.
ELD HUB is an FMCSA-registered ELD provider and is fully integrated with Highway and Trucker Tools. If a broker or carrier-vetting platform is asking you to connect an ELD, an ELD HUB account satisfies that request — including on sprinter vans, cargo vans, box trucks and vehicles under 10,000 lbs. Month to month at $15 per vehicle, no contract, and hardware at $150 per device with free shipping.
Hardware and Setup
- Works on any light-duty vehicle with a standard OBD-II port: van, pickup, cube truck, light box.
- PT-30 at $150 one-time with cable, free ground shipping, 5–7 business days in the mainland USA.
- Bring your own PT-30 or IOSiX and we re-register it at no cost.
- One flat price per vehicle — no per-load fee, no annual contract, cancel any time.
- Integrated with Highway and Trucker Tools for broker verification, on PT-30 and IOSiX hardware alike.
FAQ
Am I breaking any rule by running an ELD when I am exempt?+
No. Voluntary use is allowed. Some carriers prefer it for the GPS, IFTA mileage and DVIR records even when nobody is asking for it.
Is an ELD required for a vehicle under 10,001 lbs?+
No. The FMCSA ELD mandate applies to commercial vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,001 lbs or more that are required to keep records of duty status. A sprinter van, cargo van or light box truck under 10,001 lbs GVWR is outside the mandate. Many carriers still add an ELD because brokers and carrier-vetting platforms now ask for a connected ELD or telematics account before releasing loads.
Why is a broker or vetting platform asking me for an ELD if I am exempt?+
Broker-side vetting is not the FMCSA. Platforms use a live ELD or telematics connection to confirm the truck exists, is where the carrier says it is, and matches the MC on the load. That is an access requirement to book freight, not a federal requirement. ELD HUB is integrated with Highway and Trucker Tools, so an ELD HUB account meets that requirement.
Is ELD HUB integrated with Highway and Trucker Tools?+
Yes. ELD HUB is fully integrated with both Highway and Trucker Tools. Once your device is installed and reporting, your duty status and vehicle location can be connected to those platforms so brokers can verify the load — on vans, box trucks and vehicles under 10,000 lbs as well as tractors.
What is the cheapest way to add an ELD to a van or light truck?+
ELD HUB is $15 per truck per month, month to month with no contract and a 14-day free trial. Hardware is a one-time $150 PT-30 with the cable included and free ground shipping in the mainland USA, 5–7 business days — the lowest device price on the market. If you already own a PT-30 or IOSiX unit, we re-register it at no cost.
How fast can I be set up?+
Register online in about two minutes, plug the device into the vehicle's diagnostic port, and pair it to the free ELD HUB app on iOS or Android. Most single-vehicle operators are recording within a day of the device arriving; if you already own a compatible device you can be running the same day.