Glossary
ELD (Electronic Logging Device)
A device that automatically records a commercial vehicle's engine hours, movement, and Hours of Service, replacing paper logbooks. Required for most commercial drivers under the FMCSA ELD rule and Canada's ELD mandate.
What ELD means in practice
An ELD (electronic logging device) automatically records a commercial vehicle's engine hours, movement and driving time, replacing the paper logbook for hours of service. It knows only what the engine tells it: it records engine on and off, movement, distance and engine hours on its own, but the driver still declares on-duty time, off duty, sleeper berth and special categories like personal conveyance. What it prevents is backdating or quietly editing driving time: edits are annotated and never overwrite the original record.
Not every driver needs one. US exemptions include the short-haul exception (within 150 air-miles, released within 14 hours), drivers on paper logs 8 days or fewer in any 30-day period, driveaway-towaway operations and vehicles older than model year 2000. Canada's rules differ, and its short-haul exemption is defined within 160 km of the home terminal.
Certification also differs. US devices are self-certified and listed with FMCSA; in Canada, every device needs independent third-party certification, so a cross-border fleet needs hardware certified for both. On High Point GPS, the ELD runs on the same GPS tracking device as tracking and diagnostics.
Read the full explainer
The definition above is the short version. The page below explains ELD (Electronic Logging Device) in depth, with the rules, numbers and examples behind it.
What Is an ELD?Guides that explain ELD (Electronic Logging Device)
- FMCSA ELD Exemptions: Does Your Fleet Need One?
- Geotab vs Samsara: How a Geotab Partner Compares the Two Platforms
- How Much Does GPS Fleet Tracking Cost?
- DVIR Meaning: What Is a Driver Vehicle Inspection Report?
- What Is Telematics? Fleet Telematics and GPS Data Explained
- What Is Fleet Management Software? Modules and How to Choose
- AOBRD vs ELD: What Changed in the Transition and Why It Matters
- Trucking Dispatch Software for Freight: What to Look For
ELD: common questions
Do I need an ELD if I only drive locally?
Not always. In the US, drivers who stay within 150 air-miles of their normal work reporting location and are released within 14 hours can qualify for the short-haul exception and skip records of duty status. It is narrow and condition-specific, not a pass for anyone who drives locally most days. Canada's short-haul exemption is defined differently, within 160 km.
Can a US-registered ELD be used in Canada?
Not automatically. In the US, manufacturers self-certify their devices and register them with FMCSA. Canada does not accept self-certification: every device must be certified by an independent third party against the CCMTA technical standard and appear on Transport Canada's list. A cross-border fleet needs a device certified for Canada specifically, not just FMCSA-registered.
What happens if my ELD is not on the FMCSA registered list?
At a roadside inspection, an unregistered device is treated the same as having no ELD at all. That can mean violations and an out-of-service order on the spot, and ELD violations typically count toward the carrier's CSA score, which insurers, brokers and some shippers check. Confirm the device is on the current list before deploying it.