FMCSA Increases Pressure on Non-Certified ELD Manufacturers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) continues to tighten control over the market for electronic logging devices (ELD). In January 2026, the regulator confirmed its course for actively removing devices that do not meet federal requirements from the registry, directly affecting carriers and independent drivers across the country.

According to the industry publication FreightWaves, FMCSA has removed several more ELD devices from the official list, continuing the large-scale campaign started in 2024–2025. In a publication dated January 13, 2026, it is emphasized that the agency "maintains pressure on manufacturers whose devices do not meet ELD rule requirements" (FreightWaves).

This is not about formal violations, but about technical non-compliance with key requirements: correct engine data recording, reliability of log transmission, and protection against tampering.

In official notifications, FMCSA indicates that devices are removed from the registry due to non-compliance with the minimum standards set by the federal ELD rule. In one such notification, the agency explicitly states that the devices were removed because "they do not meet the minimum requirements of the ELD rule" (FMCSA notifications, January 2026, FMCSA ELD News & Events).

The regulator also reminds carriers: after a device is removed from the registry, its use is equivalent to the absence of electronic logging.

The tightening of control has several practical consequences:

• Carriers are required to replace excluded devices within a set timeframe, otherwise fines and orders to take the vehicle out of service are possible;
• Violations related to ELD negatively affect CSA scores and inspection results;
• Responsibility falls not only on the manufacturer but also on the company that continues to use non-certified equipment.

FMCSA emphasizes that checking the status of an ELD is the carrier's responsibility, not a formality.

The federal ELD rule applies to most commercial transportation and aims to improve road safety by accurately tracking drivers' working hours. It requires the use of devices that meet technical standards and are registered in the FMCSA system (overview of the ELD rule).

The current actions of the regulator show that formal self-certification by manufacturers is no longer sufficient: devices are effectively checked in practice, and non-compliance leads to removal from the registry.

FMCSA's campaign against non-certified ELDs is a signal to the market: control is becoming stricter, and the risks for carriers are higher. In 2026, choosing an ELD is no longer a matter of price or convenience, but an element of legal and operational business safety.