ELD mandate update: where the 2025 revisions stand in 2026
In 2024, FMCSA's regulatory agenda pointed to a June 2025 proposal to revise the ELD rule. That proposal never came, but the ELD rules still moved: one requirement was dropped, and device removals sped up.
Written by Inely Baez
The ELD rule, September 2026
The ELD mandate update expected in 2025 did not happen. As of September 2026, FMCSA has not proposed the broader ELD revisions it floated in 2022, and now targets November 2026. The one change finalized: carriers no longer need the ELD user's manual in the cab, effective July 22, 2026.
This article originally looked ahead to ELD revisions expected in 2025. Regulatory calendars are forecasts, not deadlines, so the honest follow-up is to check what actually happened.
I lead operations at Simplex, and I track rule changes the way I track any dependency in a system: what is final, what is only proposed, and what is still just a question. This update sorts the ELD rule into those buckets.
The full briefing, read aloud
7 chapters. Select one to jump to it.
Generated with AI text-to-speech from this article's key insights, in order, rather than reading it word for word. Chapter times come from a transcript of the audio. The article itself was written and reviewed by Inely Baez.
Key takeaways
The broad ELD revisions are still not proposed
FMCSA asked for comments in September 2022 and has published no proposed rule since. Its latest target is November 2026.
The target date has moved four times
November 2023, October 2024, June 2025, May 2026, and now November 2026.
The in-cab user's manual is gone
Since July 22, 2026, carriers no longer have to keep a copy of the ELD manual in the truck. The rest of the information packet stays.
Device removals are the change you feel
FMCSA revoked 56 devices in 2026 through August 6, compared with 37 in all of 2025.
A revoked device starts a 60-day clock
Switch to paper logs or logging software, then replace the device. After the deadline, drivers are placed out of service.
In this articleContents
What is the latest ELD mandate update?
The latest ELD mandate update is a small one: FMCSA rescinded the requirement to keep the ELD user's manual in the truck, effective July 22, 2026. The broader revisions discussed since 2022 have not been proposed.
| Action | Status | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| ELD revisions notice (September 16, 2022) | Questions only, no proposed rule. Target: November 2026 | Nothing to change yet |
| In-cab ELD manual rescission | Final rule, effective July 22, 2026 | The paper manual can leave the cab |
| Removals from the registered ELD list | Ongoing: nine FMCSA removal actions in 2026 so far | Check your devices against the list |
The core mandate is unchanged. Carriers that must keep records of duty status still need a registered ELD, and the exemptions, including the one for vehicles built before model year 2000, still stand. Our complete guide to electronic logging devices covers the rule itself.
Where do the 2025 ELD revisions stand?
They are still at the question stage. On September 16, 2022, FMCSA published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) on ELD revisions, and comments closed on November 15, 2022. The docket holds more than 1,300 comments, but no proposed rule has followed.
What FMCSA asked about
The notice asked questions in five areas. It did not propose any rule text.
- Pre-2000 engines: whether to change how the exemption applies to rebuilt or remanufactured engines and glider kits, many of which have engine control modules that could support an ELD
- Malfunctions: whether to clarify when a driver must switch to paper logs
- Removal process: whether to delist devices from providers that go out of business, require listing updates within 30 days and yearly confirmation, and cut a provider's 60-day correction window to 30 days
- Technical specifications: more data on every event, yard-move handling, an automatic on-duty status after engine shutdown, and more time to read engine data
- Certification: whether FMCSA should establish its own certification process for ELDs, which providers self-certify today
How the target date has moved
FMCSA reports a target date for each rulemaking in the federal Unified Agenda. For the ELD revisions, the date for a proposal has moved four times.
| Agenda edition | Target for the proposal |
|---|---|
| Fall 2022 and Spring 2023 | November 2023 |
| Fall 2023 | October 2024 |
| Spring and Fall 2024 | June 2025 |
| Spring 2025 | May 2026 |
| Latest edition (2026) | November 2026 |
The June 2025 target is where the "expected in 2025" forecast came from. Even if a proposal appears in November, a comment period and a final rule would still come before any new requirement applies.
What changed: the ELD manual no longer has to ride in the cab
Since July 22, 2026, carriers no longer have to keep a copy of the ELD user's manual in each truck. FMCSA proposed the change on May 30, 2025, and published the final rule on June 22, 2026.
FMCSA noted that more than 3,000 drivers were found in violation of this requirement in 2024. Its reasoning: many devices carry an electronic manual, and FMCSA keeps every registered device's manual on its ELD website.
Two things did not change. Drivers must still produce and transfer their records when an officer asks, under 49 CFR 395.24(d). And the rest of the ELD information packet is still required: two instruction sheets and blank graph-grid logs for at least 8 days.
You may still carry a printed manual. The rule simply no longer requires it.
Why device revocations are the ELD change to watch
Because a revocation can put your drivers out of service long before any new rule does. FMCSA's revoked-device list shows 56 devices removed by FMCSA in 2026 through August 6, across nine separate actions, compared with 37 in all of 2025.
Providers self-certify their devices, and FMCSA removes devices that fail the technical requirements. Our post on what ELD certification means explains that model. When FMCSA removes a device, carriers get up to 60 days:
- Stop using the revoked device and record hours on paper logs or logging software
- Replace it with a device from the registered list before the deadline FMCSA sets
- After the deadline, drivers using the revoked device, or improperly using paper logs, are cited under 49 CFR 395.8(a)(1) and placed out of service
The most recent removal, on August 6, 2026, covered MOONLIGHT ELD, HGRS ELD, HIGHEST ELD, TRUCKFORD ELD, and Sparkle ELD. Carriers using them must replace them before October 6, 2026.
A removal is not always final, in either direction. PREMIERRIDE LOGS was reinstated on January 23, 2026, after an earlier revocation, then removed again on July 9, 2026. Trust the list, not a vendor's assurance.
How to prepare for ELD rule changes
These steps prepare you for both kinds of change: a device removal next month and a rule change later.
Step 1: Know which device is in which truck
Keep an inventory with each unit's ELD name, model number, and ELD identifier. FMCSA's removal notices list all three, so you can match them in minutes.
Step 2: Check the registered list on a schedule
With nine removal actions so far this year, monthly is a reasonable rhythm. FMCSA also announces removals through its ELD email updates, so put someone on that list.
Step 3: Write the 60-day replacement plan now
Decide in advance who orders replacement devices, how drivers switch to paper, and who confirms every truck is converted before the deadline. Our ELD solutions can be part of that plan.
Step 4: Update the in-cab packet checklist
The manual can come off the checklist. The two instruction sheets and the blank graph-grid logs stay, and a revocation is exactly when drivers need them.
Step 5: Read the proposal when it comes
When FMCSA publishes the ELD revisions proposal, read it and comment during the comment period. That is when carriers can shape the rule. Our DOT safety compliance team covers ELD and hours of service if you want a second read.
How Simplex helps you keep up with ELD changes
Rules change slowly. Device lists change monthly. We help with both.
ELD solutions for fleets
Simplex offers ELD solutions, so a revoked device can be replaced without scrambling for a vendor.
ELD and hours-of-service support
Our DOT safety compliance team covers ELD and hours of service, driver qualification files, and audit support.
A program that keeps checking
Our compliance programs include HOS management, CSA monitoring, mock audits, and driver qualification file management.
Frequently asked questions
Are there new ELD rules in 2026?+
Did the ELD mandate change in 2025?+
Will trucks built before 2000 need an ELD?+
When did the ELD mandate take effect?+
What happens if my ELD is revoked?+
Where this information comes from
The status below comes from the Federal Register, the federal Unified Agenda, federal regulation, and FMCSA's ELD website, checked on September 24, 2026.
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1
Federal Register — ELD operator's manual final rule
Rescinds the in-cab manual requirement, effective July 22, 2026, and cites 2024 violations.
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2
Federal Register — ELD Revisions ANPRM
The five areas FMCSA asked about in 2022, and the November 15, 2022 comment deadline.
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3
Federal Register — ELD operator's manual proposed rule
The May 30, 2025 proposal to drop the in-cab manual.
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4
Unified Agenda — ELD Revisions, RIN 2126-AC50
The rulemaking's stage and its November 2026 target for a proposal, with links to earlier editions.
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5
FMCSA — ELD News and Events
Each 2026 removal and reinstatement, the 60-day replacement window, and out-of-service dates.
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6
FMCSA — Registered and Revoked ELD List
Registered devices, and revoked devices with their revocation dates.
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7
eCFR — 49 CFR 395.22
The in-cab information packet as amended in 2026.
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8
eCFR — 49 CFR 395.8
The December 18, 2017 ELD requirement and the pre-2000 vehicle exemption.
Written by
Inely Baez
Chief Operating Officer, Simplex Group
Chief Operating Officer at Simplex Group, with nearly eight years at the company leading operational strategy and execution across compliance, technology, logistics, and performance systems. She is a Certified Public Accountant with a background spanning operations and finance, including leadership roles within Simplex's Freight 4 U division and Velox Transport Solutions. Her work focuses on building scalable, disciplined systems that support long-term performance and growth.
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Plan around what is final, not what is forecast
The ELD rule changed less than expected, and the device list changed more. A fleet that checks its devices on a schedule is ready for both.
If you want help checking your devices, your in-cab packets, or your replacement plan, talk to our team.