The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration on Dec. 1 unveiled an overhauled vetting process for electronic logging devices (ELDs) that the agency said will ensure non-compliant devices are blocked. 

FMCSA said the new process closes a loophole that allowed ELD providers to register non-compliant devices or re-register devices that had been revoked. Besides an initial review of technical specifications, the new process includes fraud-detection steps, including checking new ELD applicants against inactive and revoked lists.

Any device that does not meet the requirements will be required to provide additional information or undergo further review. FMCSA said the new process gives “carriers and drivers a greater peace of mind that the ELDs they purchase are accurate, reliable, and compliant.” 

FMCSA has not yet responded to an email from trucknews.com seeking clarification on the new vetting process, including whether it affects existing devices on the self-certified list. Trucking industry groups contacted by trucknews.com said they were pleased to see FMCSA beginning to take action to combat ELD cheating. 

“There was a lot of room for improvement, so we’re encouraged that the issue is being addressed,” said George O’Connell, director of communications for the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA). “We’ll wait for more technical details before commenting on the extent to which we believe this update improves the process.”

“We appreciate this first step from the Trump administration to overhaul the vetting process for electronic logging devices,” said Chris Spear, president of the American Trucking Associations. “This action, paired with the recent removal of noncompliant ELDs from the registry, shows the FMCSA is committed to addressing this issue swiftly, which is critical for highway safety and fair competition.” 

FMCSA made the ELD announcement the same day the Trucking Association Executives Council (TAEC) issued a report on how to prevent “bad actors” from entering and operating in the trucking industry.

TAEC is comprised of state trucking association and industry association executives from across the United States. As part of its seven-point plan, the group recommended requiring independent third-party testing of ELDs, similar to the Canadian system, and mandating tamper-resistant documentation before approval.

TAEC raised concerns that the self-certification process created a “re-certification loophole,” allowing decertified providers to reapply under new business names.

“Back-end tampering of ELD data undermines highway safety, enables illegal driver overwork, and erodes trust in hours-of-service enforcement — requiring immediate policy action,” TAEC wrote in its report.

Trucknews.com is attempting to reach Tony Bradley, TAEC chairman and president of the Arizona Trucking Association, for additional comment.