FMCSA denies request to allow paper logbooks for truck drivers

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has denied a request from the Federation of Professional Truckers (FOPT) to allow drivers to use paper logbooks instead of electronic logging devices (ELDs).

The FOPT argued that manual paper logs are more cost-effective for small carriers, easier for law enforcement to process, and less prone to the technical malfunctions associated with ELDs. Despite receiving 901 public comments, many of which supported the exemption to reduce driver stress and costs, the FMCSA rejected the application.

The agency stated that the FOPT failed to demonstrate that a manual logging exemption would provide a level of safety equivalent to or greater than current ELD requirements. Additionally, the FMCSA noted it is bound by a Congressional mandate from the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act, which requires the use of ELDs for drivers maintaining records of duty status.