ELD (Electronic Logging Device)
A device that automatically records a commercial driver's hours of service, required by FMCSA regulation for most interstate carriers.
How it works — and why it matters
An ELD plugs into the truck's engine control module and automatically logs driving time, engine hours, vehicle movement, and location. The FMCSA's ELD mandate — enforced since December 2017, with grandfathered AOBRDs phased out by December 2019 — made these devices standard equipment across most interstate fleets in the United States.
Beyond compliance, ELDs are a rich data source for logistics workflows: their location pings power freight visibility platforms, their hours-of-service data lets dispatchers plan loads a driver can legally run, and their event streams can trigger automated arrival and departure updates. Most major ELD vendors expose this data through APIs.
Related terms
See it in practice: Tranztec telematics & ELD integrations →