200K California Vehicles Must Meet New Intrastate ELD Requirements by 2024

​54% of 366,800 drivers are affected by the rule are not using ELDs now. This means nearly 200,000 vehicles will need a new ELD to meet California’s requirement.

Since December 18, 2017, Federal Regulations have required interstate motor carriers and drivers to use an ELD to record a driver’s RODS in accordance with Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 395, Subpart B, unless otherwise exempted. 

Well, this is now expanding to California intrastate motor carriers and drivers in the new year.

After a quick comment period, the change becomes effective January 1, 2024 to require the state’s intrastate carriers and drivers are required to use an electronic logging device (ELD) to record a driver’s record of duty status (RODS).

California is mostly aligned with the FMCSA’s existing ELD mandate with a few key differences, which include:   

• No 30-minute rest break requirement for California intrastate operators
• Drivers may drive 12 of 16 on-duty hours, instead of 11 hours

But let’s take a quick step back.

What is an ELD or electronic logging device?

An ELD is a telematic device connecting to your vehicle’s computer that is used to automatically track mileage and hours of service (HOS) records that many drivers and fleet operators are required by law to maintain.

The device can track basic vehicle information, as well as:

• Date
• Time
• Geographic location
• Miles traveled
• Engine power up and shutdown
• Yard moves
• Engine diagnostics and malfunction
• Driver logon/logoff
• Hours of service (HOS)
• Duty status changes (driving, on duty, off duty)
• Personal use
• Certification of driver’s daily record

There are many advantages to using ELDs, but the main purpose is to ensure that commercial drivers remain within their daily driving limit and accurately log their working hours.

The use of ELDs also reduces administrative burdens, such as eliminating the need for paper daily logs and reducing the time enforcement officers need to verify regulatory compliance.

Systems like the Pedigree ELD system can track your driving habits to help you stay safe and compliant with the new laws.

[Related: Create a Driver Scorecard from ELD data]

Once this rolls out, intrastate drivers need to be aware of these common ELD violations, or face penalties and fines:

• The driver doesn’t know how to transmit ELD data.
• The driver failed to present an ELD cab (instruction) card to the roadside enforcement officer.
• The driver doesn’t have blank logbook pages in case of an ELD malfunction.
• The driver has been operating a vehicle with a malfunctioning ELD for more than 8 days.
• The ELD can’t be viewed by roadside enforcement from outside the vehicle. 

Difference Between Federal and California HOS Rules

Federal HOS Basics (49 CFR § 395)	California HOS Basics (CCR Title 13, Division 2, Chapter 6.5, Article 3, Section 1212)
11 hours driving	12 hours driving
14 hours total duty window	16 hours total duty window
10 hours off-duty mandatory	10 hours off-duty mandatory
70-hour maximum workweek (8 days)	80-hour maximum workweek (8 days)
34-hour restart provision – general trucking	34-hour restart provision – general trucking
24-hour restart provision – construction trucking	24-hour restart provision – construction trucking
Short-haul exemption – 150 air miles, 14-hour day (effective 9/28/20)	Short-haul exemption – 100 air miles, 12-hour day

Who is exempt?

Short haul

California businesses with physical operations in the state conducting intrastate commerce exclusively can use the short-haul exemption if the driver stays within a 100-air-mile radius and is released from duty within 12 hours of coming on duty.

Logbook exemptions

California intrastate driver who isn’t required to keep a logbook for more than eight days within a 30-day period will not be required to adopt ELDs.

Similarly, drivers operating in a driveaway-towaway operation and those operating a CMV manufactured before model year 2000 (or manufactured in model year 2000 or later but with an engine replacement prior to model year 2000) are also exempt from California’s regulation. 

What is the best ELD?

Compliance Navigation Specialists searched high and low for a partner in the telematics or electronic logging device (ELD) industry, testing over 20 ELD systems before partnering with Pedigree Technologies.

We found that Pedigree’s “OneView” platform offered a great product and even better technical support to improve efficiency and streamline your operation.

As a certified reseller, CNS offers great customer support and a partner who knows the DOT rules and regulations.

Not the right fit, we can recommend another ELD, just let us know.