Reminder: New ELD Mandate Starts April 2025
Starting April 1, 2025, Wisconsin intrastate commercial CDL drivers will be required to use Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs), becoming the last state to adopt this mandate. The rule aligns with FMCSA 395 regulations, requiring only FMCSA-registered ELDs, six of which were recently delisted.
What is the ELD Mandate?
The ELD mandate is a government regulation that was passed as a way to ensure driver safety and to create an easier system to digitally track and manage records of duty status (RODS). The ELD mandate aims to annually avoid thousands of crashes, save lives by reducing drowsy driving, and save billions of dollars in paperwork expenses.
There are a few exceptions to Wisconsin’s ELD mandate for intrastate commercial CDL drivers:
- Short-Haul Exception: Drivers operating within a 150-air-mile radius of their normal work reporting location and completing their shift within 14 consecutive hours are not required to use an ELD. Employers must still maintain electronic or paper time records.
- Paper Logs: Drivers who exceed the 150-air-mile radius no more than eight days within any 30-day period can use paper logs instead of an ELD.
- Older Vehicles: Trucks manufactured before model year 2000 are exempt from ELD requirements and must use paper logs when operating beyond the short-haul limits.
Training for drivers, dispatchers, and management will cover ELD use, logging procedures, handling malfunctions, and compliance with hours-of-service rules.
Additional ELD Requirements
Employers and drivers must comply with the following ELD regulations:
- ELD Account Management: Employers must create, update, and deactivate driver accounts as needed.
- Driver Identification: Each driver must have a unique username.
- Device Maintenance: ELDs must be properly calibrated.
- Required In-Truck Documents:
- ELD user manual
- Step-by-step instructions for downloading/transferring HOS records to safety officials
- Instructions on identifying and reporting ELD malfunctions
- A minimum of eight days of paper logs in case of ELD failure
- Data Retention: Employers must back up all ELD records for at least six months on a separate device.
Key Takeaways
Starting April 13, 2025, the FMCSA will automatically send your Federal Medical Examiner’s Certificate (Fed Med card) to the Wisconsin DMV within 48 hours of your DOT physical.
What does this mean for you? No more manual submissions—the Wisconsin DMV will no longer accept Fed Med cards via paper, email, fax, or online uploads. This automated process is designed to streamline compliance and reduce paperwork, ensuring your records are updated efficiently. Stay ahead of the changes! Make sure you’re aware of this update so you can focus on the road ahead. Reach out to your client advisor or risk manager for more information.
