Keep the record going during a failure
Preserve duty records, use the required fallback, and verify the repair.
The work still needs a timeline
Keep an accurate duty record during a recording failure. For an ELD malfunction, reconstruct today and the previous seven days on compliant paper logs unless those records are already available or retrievable.
Continue required manual records until the ELD is back in compliance. Use actual available evidence, not invented times. The carrier’s ordinary repair deadline is eight days from discovery or notification, whichever comes first.
Match the response to the failure
At a glance · Follow the sequence
01
Logs missing
Reconstruct and keep required manual records
02
Send failed
Show accurate available logs and troubleshoot
03
Recovery
Verify recording and keep fallback records
A transfer failure can occur while the underlying logs remain intact.
For example, a roadside file may fail to send while all required days remain visible. Present the compliant display or printout as directed and troubleshoot the transfer. A confirmed malfunction still needs reporting when accurate records remain available.
Close the issue with evidence
After repair, verify the driver, truck, current status, and new recorded events. Keep the written malfunction report and manual logs. If repair needs more time, the carrier follows the FMCSA extension process; another paper log does not restart the deadline.