Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs)

An electronic logging device (ELD) is a device connected to a vehicle’s motor, which automatically records all information related to a heavy vehicle driver’s hours of driving.

No. Regardless of the medium used (paper or electronic records), drivers who are required to produce a record of duty status must always keep their records of duty status for the previous 14 days on board their vehicle. Operators must keep the records of duty status in the driver’s file for a minimum of 6 months.

Heavy vehicles subject to the ELD requirement must be equipped with a certified ELD that meets Canada’s technical specifications regarding ELDs.

See the list of certified ELDs⁠ ⁠.

ELDs have been mandatory in Québec since April 30, 2023, which is the date the amendments to the Regulation to amend the regulation respecting the hours of driving and rest of heavy vehicle drivers came into effect. This requirement applies to all heavy vehicles travelling on Québec roads, regardless of whether or not those vehicles are registered in Québec.

Effective April 30, 2023, heavy vehicles used in extra-provincial transportation are also required to be equipped with an ELD when travelling in Québec.

It is your responsibility to verify the requirements regarding ELDs in each jurisdiction in which you plan to travel.

Generally speaking, any heavy vehicle subject to the Regulation and whose driver is required to keep track of hours of driving, on-duty time and off-duty time in a record of duty status must be equipped with an ELD. The following exceptions apply:

• vehicles manufactured before the 2000 model year
• vehicles that are leased under a rental agreement of not longer than 30 days, provided the agreement has been neither extended nor renewed
• vehicles that are being driven within a 160 km radius of the driver’s home terminal, provided the driver also returns to the home terminal each day to begin a minimum of 8 consecutive hours of rest
• situations where a driver operating a vehicle within a 160 km radius of the home terminal is unable to return to the home terminal the same day due to adverse driving conditions
• vehicles driven under the following circumstances:
  • the vehicles are neither hitched nor loaded, except if the saddle-mount method is being used to transport one or more other vehicles that are also part of the delivery, and the vehicles are being delivered:
    • to the owner’s home terminal following a transfer of ownership
    • to the lessee
    • to the vehicles are neither hitched nor loaded and are being driven within the first 5 days of their delivery following a transfer of ownershipthe lessor during or upon the expiry of the rental agreement
    • to a branch of a vehicle rental company for an inventory adjustment
  • the vehicles are neither hitched nor loaded and are being driven within the first 5 days of their delivery following a transfer of ownership
• new vehicles that are being driven in order to be delivered to a company to complete their manufacturing or make them comply with the use for which they are essentially intended, or that are being returned to the owner following such an operation

Heavy vehicle drivers who are in this situation can use any device they wish to record their on-duty and off-duty time. They can use a certified ELD, an ELD that has not been certified, a computer or any other device, provided the device in question can produce and submit a valid record of duty status in accordance with the Regulation. Drivers may also choose to complete their records of duty status on paper.

For practical or financial reasons, operators may decide to install a certified ELD on a heavy vehicle even if not required to do so, just as a driver may decide to use an ELD for similar reasons. The only thing that may prevent them from doing so would be an incompatibility between the ELD and certain types of motors.

Visit the website of the Canadian Council of Motor Transport Administrators⁠ ⁠.

See the page entitled Driving and Off-Duty Time.

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