FMCSA drops ELD manual requirement in trucks
FMCSA rescinds the rule that required an ELD operator's manual to be kept in each CMV.

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Saklakova - stock.adobe.com (Asset 222235090)FMCSA amended the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations to rescind the requirement for a copy of the electronic logging device operator's manual to be kept in a commercial motor vehicle, according to the Federal Register notice.
The notice says drivers are required to understand how the ELD works on the vehicle so the electronic records of duty status are accurate and can be shown during inspections by enforcement officials. FMCSA said there is no readily apparent benefit to keeping the user's manual in the CMV given the use of ELDs since December 2019.
The agency said the final rule removes a regulatory burden on motor carriers without compromising safety. The source does not list any additional compliance steps, and it does not give a separate effective date in the text provided.
What it means
Drivers
The Federal Register notice says the manual no longer has to be kept in the CMV, while drivers still need to understand how the ELD operates for inspections.
Fleets
FMCSA says the final rule removes a regulatory burden on motor carriers tied to carrying the ELD operator's manual in each CMV.
Safety pros
The notice ties the change to ELD use since December 2019 and says the agency sees no safety loss from ending the manual requirement.
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