A. Yes. The user’s manual, instruction sheet, and malfunction instruction sheet can be in electronic form, which conforms to the federal register titled “Regulatory Guidance Concerning Electronic Signatures and Documents” (76 FR 411).
No matter the format, beginning Dec. 18, 2017, a driver using an ELD is required to have an ELD information packet onboard his or her vehicle. The information packet must consist of:
- A user’s manual for the driver describing how to operate the ELD
- An instruction sheet describing the data transfer mechanisms supported by the ELD and step-by-step instructions to produce and transfer the driver’s hours-of-service records to an authorized safety official
- An instruction sheet for the driver describing ELD malfunction reporting requirements and recordkeeping procedures during ELD malfunctions
In addition, the driver should have a supply of blank driver’s record of duty status (RODS) paper graph-grids sufficient to record his or her duty status and other related information for a minimum of 8 days in the event the ELD malfunctions or is deemed non-compliant.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recommends that drivers have this packet and graph-grids in their vehicle prior to the Dec. 18, 2017, ELD Mandate deadline.
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