A year after the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) put electronic logging device regulations into effect, California troopers are warning truckers that their paper logs books will absolutely not be accepted any longer.
CHP: Paper Logs Are No Longer Allowed For Most Drivers
On Saturday, November 24, the California Highway Patrol’s (CHP) Donner Pass division issued a reminder via Facebook to any truckers who are still using paper logs:
“In case you haven’t heard the news….the CHP is no longer accepting paper log books. You will be REQUIRED to present a legal FMCSA ELD logbook unless you have a current federal ELD exemption.”
ELD regulations went into effect on December 18, 2017. On April 1, 2018, the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) started placing truckers out of service for ELD violations for the first time.
Fast Food Excuse Doesn’t Fly
CHP also wants to remind truck drivers that an ELD malfunction does not count as an actual emergency. Later in the Facebook post, troopers wrote:
“Also we had a driver call 911 emergency to report that his ELD was not working and wanted CHP permission to drive to a fast food restaurant. Don’t be this driver. The driver is subject to enforcement action for making a non emergency call to 911.”
In case you haven’t heard the news….the CHP is no longer accepting paper log books. You will be REQUIRED to present a…
Posted by CHP – Donner Pass on Saturday, November 24, 2018
According to the FMCSA, truck drivers who are exempt from ELD regulations include:
- Drivers who are required to keep Record of Duty Status not more than 8 days within any 30-day period.
- Drivers conducting a drive-away-tow-away operation, (an operation in which an empty or unladen motor vehicle with one or more sets of wheels on the surface of the roadway is being transported) if the vehicle being driven is the commodity being delivered, or if the vehicle being transported is a motorhome or recreational vehicle trailer.
- Drivers of vehicles manufactured before the model year 2000.
Livestock and insect haulers are also exempt from ELD regulations through December 7, 2018, though the FMCSA also notes that the the exemption will remain in place until further notice.