ELD Compliance

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)'s ELD mandate is a federal regulation that requires commercial motor vehicle drivers who are required to maintain records of duty status to use an electronic logging device (ELD) instead of paper logs. The mandate was established to improve road safety by reducing driver fatigue and eliminating falsified paper records. 

Samsara's FMCSA-registered ELD platform automatically records driving time, syncs with real-time GPS to apply the correct ruleset for each driver's location, and connects compliance data to the back office through 200+ turnkey integrations, so fleet managers have a complete, real-time view of their fleet's compliance status without manual data entry or paper-based reporting.

For example, Sterling Crane Canada leveraged Samsara to improve compliance. After recognizing their paper-based workflows were inefficient and time-consuming, Sterling Crane Canada implemented Samsara Connected Workflows, saving $1.2 million in driver downtime while improving satisfaction and HOS compliance. With 30% of their fleet subject to the ELD mandate, they also streamlined DVIRs and HOS tracking and saved over $1.5 million in labor costs by eliminating unreliable apps.

Hours of service (HOS) violations are one of the most frequently cited driver infractions during DOT inspections, but they can be prevented using fleet management technology like Samsara. 

With Samsara, fleets gain real-time visibility into driver hours and automated workflows that prompt drivers to act before a violation occurs. Samsara's Compliance Dashboard gives fleet managers real-time visibility into HOS status across every driver, so teams can identify risks and intervene before they reach a roadside inspection. 

Some of the HOS regulations that Samsara can provide visibility into include:

• 11-Hour Driving Limit: Drivers may drive no more than 11 engine hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty.

• 14-Hour On-Duty Limit: Drivers cannot drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, following 10 hours off duty. Off-duty time does not extend the 14-hour period.

• 30-Minute Break Requirement: Drivers must take a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving. Since the 2020 HOS Final Rule, this break may be satisfied by off-duty time, sleeper berth time, or on-duty not-driving time.

• 60/70-Hour Limit: Drivers may not drive after 60 hours on duty in 7 consecutive days or 70 hours on duty in 8 consecutive days. The "week" resets after taking 34 consecutive hours off duty (known as the 34-Hour Restart).

• Sleeper Berth Provision: Drivers can split the required 10 hours off duty, as long as one off-duty period is at least 8 consecutive hours in the sleeper berth, with another separate 2-hour period either off-duty or in the sleeper berth.

The FMCSA published the final ELD mandate rule in December 2015, with a phased enforcement timeline that began in December 2017 for most carriers and concluded in December 2019, when drivers using older automatic onboard recording devices (AOBRDs) were required to upgrade to fully compliant ELDs. Since December 2019, full ELD compliance has been required for all applicable commercial motor vehicle (CMV) operators. 

Samsara has been FMCSA-registered since 2017 and has continued to expand its compliance platform to include automatic ruleset updates, AI-powered log management, and an interactive Driver App that brings ELD capabilities to any supported iOS or Android device. With Samsara, fleets can stay compliant as regulations evolve, without changing hardware or vendors.

Every HOS violation recorded during a DOT roadside inspection contributes points to a fleet's CSA score under the FMCSA's Safety Measurement System, specifically in the Hours of Service Compliance BASIC category. Serious violations, such as operating beyond the 11-hour driving limit, carry higher point weights and remain on a carrier's record for up to 24 months, affecting insurance premiums and relationships with freight brokers who screen carriers by CSA standing. 

Samsara offers advanced tools for monitoring CSA scores and violations in real time, such as:

• Real-time data and tracking: Get granular, real-time GPS visibility across vehicles, trailers, and assets, enabling faster, proactive decision-making and immediate response to incidents or risks.

• Automated maintenance and health alerts: Continuously monitor critical systems like brakes, ABS, and tires while automating maintenance based on DVIRs, mileage, and diagnostics to prevent breakdowns and violations.

• Compliance workflows and digital DVIRs: Streamline DOT compliance with integrated DVIRs and HOS logs, along with proactive alerts that help drivers and managers avoid violations and reduce audit risk.

• Driver safety and coaching: Use Samsara AI Dash Cams and in-cab alerts to deliver real-time coaching, reduce risky behavior, and improve CSA scores through safer driving.

• Consolidated analytics and reporting: Unify operational and compliance data into a single dashboard with automated and customizable reports to track performance over time.

• Seamless integrations: Connect with TMS, maintenance, and risk platforms like McLeod, FourKites, MacroPoint, and SambaSafety to centralize and extend operational data.

• Open API and App Marketplace: Enable real-time data sharing and custom workflows through an open API and integrations with tools like Kafka and FieldAlytics.

• Customizable alerts and automated workflows: Deliver automated alerts for key events like violations or cargo status while enabling tailored workflows to proactively prevent operational issues.

For example, JRayl Transport leveraged Samsara to lower CSA scores, unlocking a 57% improvement in the CSA Crash Indicator category, a 71% improvement in the Unsafe Driving category, and a 31% improvement in the Vehicle Maintenance category in just one year.  

Based on aggregated data, the 2025 Samsara Safety Report revealed that Samsara customers see better CSA scores. Comparing fleet performance prior to deploying Samsara, Samsara analyzed how customers’ publicly available BASIC scores changed from the 30 months prior to Samsara to the 30 months post-adoption, for fleets with 175+ vehicles. In aggregate, improving customers see:

• 43% improvement in Unsafe Driving score

• 57% improvement in HOS Compliance score

• 35% improvement in Vehicle Maintenance score

• 83% improvement in Controlled Substances/Alcohol score

• 59% improvement in Driver Fitness score

Non-compliance with the FMCSA's ELD mandate may result in costly penalties and fines, such as:

• Civil penalties for ELD violations range from approximately $1,000 to $16,000+ per violation, depending on the severity and nature of the offense.

• A driver found operating without a required ELD during a roadside inspection can be placed out of service immediately, taking the vehicle off the road until the issue is resolved.

• Each out-of-service order and violation also flows into a fleet's CSA score, increasing regulatory scrutiny, raising insurance costs, and affecting a carrier's ability to win freight contracts. 

Samsara's Compliance Dashboard and Driver Workflows prevent violations from reaching the roadside by giving managers real-time visibility into log status and automatically prompting drivers to complete required compliance tasks before dispatch, so issues are resolved at the yard, not on the road.

Drivers who operate a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) could be subject to the ELD rule. Commercial drivers who are required to maintain records of duty status (RODS) must comply with the ELD mandate.

CMVs are vehicles that are used for business purposes and travel interstate. In addition, they meet one of the following criteria:

• Weigh more than 10,000 pounds.

• Have a gross vehicle weight rating or a gross combination weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds.

• Are designed to transport 16 or more non-paying passengers, including the driver.

• Are designed to transport 9 or more paying passengers, including the driver.

• Transport enough hazardous materials to legally require warning placards.

Under the ELD mandate, several categories of drivers and vehicles are exempt from ELD requirements:

• Short-haul drivers: Those who operate within a limited radius and qualify for the short-haul exemption (no RODS required).

• Limited RODS users: Drivers who use paper logs 8 days or fewer within a 30-day period.

• Pre-2000 vehicles: Trucks with engines manufactured before model year 2000 (due to lack of compatible electronic data).

• Driveaway-towaway operations: When the vehicle being driven is the commodity being delivered.

• Certain agricultural operations: Some farm and ranch drivers operating within designated agricultural exemptions.

The FMCSA does not require proprietary ELD devices. Drivers can use iOS or Android smartphones and tablets as part of a compliant ELD solution, as long as the software is FMCSA-registered and meets all technical requirements. 

The Samsara Driver App is free and available on any supported iOS or Android device, giving fleets flexibility in hardware and reducing procurement costs. The Driver App connects to Samsara's FMCSA-registered Vehicle Gateway through a vehicle's diagnostic port, providing the engine data the ELD mandate requires. The Vehicle Gateway's built-in WiFi hotspot keeps driver devices connected and compliant even in areas with limited cellular service, eliminating the need for separate cellular data plans.

Customers achieve significant return on investment (ROI) from leveraging Samsara’s ELD compliance solution, driving improvements in efficiency and cost-savings. Here are a few examples:

• JRayl Transport improved their CSA Unsafe Driving score by 71% in a single year, including a 57% improvement in the CSA crash indicator category.

• Jett Express improved their overall CSA score by 6% by utilizing accurate ELD reporting.

• Salisbury Trucking improved their CSA score after switching from their previous provider.

• Emery Sapp & Sons achieved an 11% improvement to their FMCSA score through connected training.

• DHL Supply Chain improved their CSA score by 10%, reduced harsh driving by 65%, cut accidents by 26%, and saw major reductions in speeding and mobile use by consolidating seven point solutions into Samsara (ELD, dash cams, trip management, DVIR, trailer tracking, speed monitoring).

• Sterling Crane Canada improved compliance and saved $1.2M in driver downtime by implementing Samsara Connected Workflows, streamlined DVIRs and HOS tracking for 30% of their fleet under the ELD mandate, and saved over $1.5M in labor costs by eliminating unreliable apps.

• VLS Environmental Solutions decreased HOS issues by 25%, reduced incident-related damages by 19%, and saved $800K+ in annual auto claims using Connected Workflows for HOS.

• TEAMS Transport reduced HOS violations by 63% with Samsara’s ELD, improved their Manitoba Carrier Profile safety score by 26%, and cut high-risk driving and insurance claims, saving over $1M.

• ArcBest reduced time managing unassigned HOS by 50% and decreased preventable road accidents by 13% after integrating ELD data with internal compliance systems via API.

XPO saved thousands of administrative hours per year by digitizing compliance workflows, specifically switching from paper forms to eDVIR.