FMCSA Opens Public Discussion on Possible Mass Exemption from ELD

On February 9, 2026, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) officially opened the public comment period on the request for exemption from the mandatory use of electronic logging devices (ELD). The discussion is conducted under the FMCSA-2025-1282 docket and will last for 30 days.

The application in question was submitted by the Federation of Professional Truckers (FOPT), which proposes allowing drivers and carriers participating in their program to use paper logbooks instead of ELDs under certain conditions. Formally, the exemption does not repeal the ELD rule, but in practice, it could affect a significant part of the industry.

FMCSA is accepting comments through the official federal portal, where all materials related to this case are published: FMCSA-2025-1282 docket on Regulations.gov.

FMCSA emphasizes that any exemption from existing rules is possible only if the applicant proves that the alternative approach provides an "equivalent level of safety" compared to current requirements. This standard is key in all exemption procedures and is explicitly enshrined in the agency's rules.

According to FMCSA's official clarification, the agency is required to consider safety data, enforcement practices, and potential traffic risks before making a final decision. A detailed description of the exemption procedure and evaluation criteria is published on the FMCSA website: FMCSA exemption procedure.

The initiators of the request claim that:

• paper logs remain an understandable and verifiable tool for inspectors;
• the cost of ELDs and subscriptions creates a disproportionate burden on small carriers and owner-operators;
• technical failures and exceptions from the registry of certified devices undermine compliance stability.

At the same time, it is proposed to introduce internal control, driver training, and exclusion of program participants in case of violations to compensate for the refusal of electronic logging.

Even if FMCSA does not approve the request in full, the very fact of its consideration shows that the regulator is ready to discuss flexibility in the application of the ELD rule. Industry comments may influence:

• conditions of possible future exemptions;
• requirements for backup timekeeping options;
• FMCSA's approach to small carriers and individual drivers.

For market participants, this is a rare opportunity to directly record their position in the official federal process.

Currently, the ELD rule already contains limited exemptions, including the possibility of using paper logbooks for no more than 8 days within a 30-day period in certain cases. These exemptions are detailed in FMCSA's official clarifications: ELD exemptions and waivers.

The mandatory use of ELDs was introduced to improve the accuracy of timekeeping and reduce violations of HOS rules. However, since its implementation, the rule remains one of the most controversial in the American trucking industry — and the current FMCSA-2025-1282 comments have become another stage in this long-standing debate.