With the new Electronic Logging Device (ELD) rule mandating carriers to have an ELD to record HOS and performance in the near future, questions have risen as to what kind of carriers and drivers are subject to this rule.
The most common exemption to the new ELD mandate applies to carriers who operate within a 100 to 150 air mile radius of their headquarters.
What Is An Air Mile?
An “air mile” is basically the distance in a straight line between two points. So, if your headquarters is located at Point A, an air mile is the distance you would travel in a straight line to your destination – Point B. You can use Google Maps to experiment with drawing radii from your office to determine air mile distances.
Who Qualifies For The 100 And 150 Air Mile Exemption?
The 100 air mile exemption is for CDL drivers who:
Certain hours of service rules apply no matter what. For example, drivers are never allowed to drive more than 11 hours, nor are they allowed to drive after having been on duty for 14 hours.
Although air-mile exempt drivers are not required to maintain a detailed log of their duty status, they are required to record their on-duty time. Drivers who qualify for these exemptions must maintain a record of:
Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Mandate Exemptions
Anybody who qualifies for the 100 and 150 air mile exemption is also exempt from the upcoming ELD mandate.
As with all Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, it is important to familiarize yourself with the hours-of-service requirements. It may seem like an unnecessary hassle for companies that don’t travel long distances, but should a FMCSA auditor find you out of compliance with any of the hours of service rules, the hassle that may ensue could be far more severe.
The most common exemption to the new ELD mandate applies to carriers who operate within a 100 to 150 air mile radius of their headquarters.
What Is An Air Mile?
An “air mile” is basically the distance in a straight line between two points. So, if your headquarters is located at Point A, an air mile is the distance you would travel in a straight line to your destination – Point B. You can use Google Maps to experiment with drawing radii from your office to determine air mile distances.
Who Qualifies For The 100 And 150 Air Mile Exemption?
The 100 air mile exemption is for CDL drivers who:
- Operate within 100 air miles of their daily starting location
- Go off duty within 12 hours
- Report back to the same work location every day
- Have at least 10 consecutive hours off before starting their next on-duty period
- Operate within 150 air miles
- Do not drive through any state that requires a CDL for the type of vehicle being driven
- Report back to the same work location every day
- Do not drive after the 14th hour of coming on duty in a period of seven consecutive days
Certain hours of service rules apply no matter what. For example, drivers are never allowed to drive more than 11 hours, nor are they allowed to drive after having been on duty for 14 hours.
Although air-mile exempt drivers are not required to maintain a detailed log of their duty status, they are required to record their on-duty time. Drivers who qualify for these exemptions must maintain a record of:
- The time they go on duty
- The total number of hours they are on duty
- The time they go off duty
Electronic Logging Device (ELD) Mandate Exemptions
Anybody who qualifies for the 100 and 150 air mile exemption is also exempt from the upcoming ELD mandate.
As with all Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, it is important to familiarize yourself with the hours-of-service requirements. It may seem like an unnecessary hassle for companies that don’t travel long distances, but should a FMCSA auditor find you out of compliance with any of the hours of service rules, the hassle that may ensue could be far more severe.