ELD data records

Key Takeaways

• ELD records show duty-status history and vehicle motion data — not steering inputs, speed at a specific second, or what the driver saw.
• Preserve ELD records promptly after a serious incident. Retention schedules vary by platform and may be shorter than the investigation timeline.
• ELD records are routinely requested in truck crash investigations. Route outside requests through the safety or legal contact.

Related documentation steps

Terms in this glossary are meant to keep reports, claim notes, and safety reviews using consistent language.

chain of custody · preservation · driver statement

Plain-English meaning

ELD data records are the electronic logging device outputs required under FMCSA regulations for tracking hours of service. Records include duty-status events — driving, on duty not driving, sleeper berth, off duty — with timestamps, locations, vehicle motion status, and odometer readings.

ELDs are compliance tools, not accident documentation systems. The record shows what duty status the driver was logged in and for how long — it does not capture speed at a specific moment, steering inputs, or what the driver observed.

In post-incident documentation

In serious truck crashes, ELD records are typically requested to assess whether the driver was within hours-of-service limits and how long they had been driving before the incident. Gaps, anomalies, and unassigned driving segments often become points of focus in investigations.

Preserve ELD data for the affected driver, vehicle, and time period promptly after a serious incident. Work with the ELD provider to confirm the specific retention window — some platforms overwrite on a rolling basis that may be shorter than the investigation timeline.

What ELD records can and cannot show

ELD records can show duty status, date, time, location data tied to status changes, engine hours, vehicle miles, and edits or annotations. They help establish whether the driver was in driving status and how the log looked before and after the event.

ELD records do not replace dash cam footage, telematics exports, ECM data, or driver statements. They do not show what the driver saw, whether another vehicle cut in, or the exact second-by-second movement of the truck.

How to preserve an ELD export

Export the affected driver's records for the incident day and the surrounding period requested by the safety contact or insurer. Save the export file, any certification notes, edit history, and unassigned driving review connected to the unit.

Do not rely on a screenshot of the log grid as the only record. A platform export carries more metadata and is easier to review later than a cropped image from the dashboard.