Wondering how long to keep driver logs? For ELD record retention, the federal rule says carriers keep records of duty status and supporting documents for at least 6 months from the date of receipt.
This guide sits under our wider overview of eld compliance.
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Carrier retention of RODS and supporting documents | Not less than 6 months from date of receipt |
| Backup copy of ELD records | Kept 6 months on a separate device |
| Driver submits record to carrier | Within 13 days of the 24-hour period |
| Driver carries prior logs | Previous 7 consecutive days |
| Supporting documents cap per driver, per 24-hour period | No more than eight need be kept |
These points come from the federal hours-of-service rules in the eCFR (see the record of duty status rule and the ELD data rule). They can change, so check the source before you rely on them.
What is the basic ELD record retention period?
The core rule sits in the hours-of-service recordkeeping section. It says a motor carrier shall retain records of duty status and supporting documents for each of its drivers for a period of not less than 6 months from the date of receipt.
The clock starts when the carrier receives the record, not when the driver made the trip. A log for a trip on one date but received later runs its six months from the day it arrived.
The wording is “not less than”, so six months is a floor. Many carriers keep records longer for their own reasons, such as dispute handling or insurance, but that is a business choice rather than a federal minimum in this section.
Which records fall under the rule?
The rule covers two groups of records. Both follow the same six-month period.
- Records of duty status (RODS): the driver’s logs, whether produced by an ELD or recorded another permitted way.
- Supporting documents: business records the carrier uses to check what the logs say.
- ELD backup data: a second copy of the ELD records, covered in its own section below.
Some drivers complete a paper record of duty status. Our page on the agricultural eld exemption covers a related topic. If a driver keeps paper logs, the carrier still keeps them for the same period.
How do the driver’s own duties fit in?
Retention is not only a carrier matter. A driver operating a commercial motor vehicle must submit the record of duty status to the carrier within 13 days of the 24-hour period it covers.
Separately, the driver must keep a copy of each record for the previous 7 consecutive days. That copy must be in the driver’s possession and available for inspection while on duty.
So the timeline looks like this:
- The driver records duty status during the 24-hour period.
- The driver submits the record to the carrier within 13 days.
- The carrier’s six months start on the date it receives the record.
- Throughout, the driver keeps the last 7 consecutive days available for inspection.
What about supporting documents?
Supporting documents are the ordinary business records that let a carrier verify a driver’s log. Under the regulation, each electronic mobile communication record applicable to a driver’s 24-hour period counts as a single document toward the limit.
The regulation sets a cap: a motor carrier need not retain more than eight supporting documents for an individual driver’s 24-hour period. If it holds more than eight, it must keep the ones with the earliest and the latest time indications among the eight it retains.
If a driver has fewer than eight documents carrying all the required elements, a document containing only the first three of the four data elements can count toward the cap. That helps carriers fill the eight-document allowance without discarding useful records.
One exception to the cap applies to paper logs. A carrier that requires a driver to complete a paper record of duty status must maintain toll receipts for any period when the driver kept paper records. Those receipts sit on top of the other supporting documents.
For drivers submitting documents, the same 13-day window applies: the driver must submit supporting documents within 13 days of either the 24-hour period or the day the document comes into the driver’s possession, whichever is later. Drivers of private passenger carriers (nonbusiness) are carved out of that submission rule.
What about ELD backup copies and where to store them?
ELD data has a separate protection rule. A carrier must retain for 6 months a back-up copy of the ELD records on a device separate from the one holding the original data.
The point is resilience. If the primary device or the provider’s system fails, a second copy kept apart from it means logs can still be produced for an audit or a roadside request.
Practical habits that support the rule:
- Confirm with your ELD provider where the backup lives and how you can pull it.
- Keep a written schedule for deleting records once the six months have passed, so you do not purge early.
- Index supporting documents by driver and date so an auditor’s request can be met fast.
- Treat driver data with care, since logs contain location and personal details.
How do the rules differ across the border?
The figures here are United States federal rules. Canada runs its own hours-of-service and ELD regime with its own retention expectations, covered in our page on eld requirements canada. Drivers who cross the border should check both sets of rules rather than assume the six-month period carries over.
State rules can also matter for intrastate operations, and a company’s insurer or lawyer may ask for longer retention. This site is independent and educational only; it is not affiliated with any agency or provider, and it cannot give legal advice or take enquiries.
Frequently asked questions
How long must a carrier keep ELD records?
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Under the eCFR text of 49 CFR 395.8, as up to date on 11/05/2026, a carrier keeps records of duty status and supporting documents for not less than 6 months from the date of receipt.
Do drivers have to keep logs too?
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Yes. A driver keeps a copy of each record for the previous 7 consecutive days, available for inspection while on duty.
How many supporting documents must be kept per day?
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No more than eight per driver for a 24-hour period. If there are more, keep the documents with the earliest and latest time indications among the eight retained. Toll receipts for paper-log periods are required in addition.
Is a backup copy of ELD data required?
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Yes. Keep a second copy of the ELD records on different hardware from the original, and hold it for the same 6 months.
Can I keep records longer than six months?
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The regulation sets a minimum, with the wording “not less than” six months. Longer retention is allowed, but check your own legal and insurance needs.
