ELD Malfunction Procedure

What to do when the PT-30 or driver app malfunctions, per 49 CFR § 395.34.

If your ELD malfunctions, you have 8 days.

Under § 395.34(b), the driver can continue operating on handwritten paper logs for up to 8 days while the carrier dispatches a replacement ELD or fixes the malfunction. The driver must also note the malfunction in the daily log.

Step 1

Drivers — what to do RIGHT NOW

·Note in your log: "ELD malfunction" + date + time + malfunction code if shown on the app.
·Reconstruct your previous 7 days of logs on paper if not already certified. (Use the back of the printed grid sheet.)
·Begin keeping a handwritten paper log until the ELD is fixed or replaced. Continue logging duty status changes manually.
·Report the malfunction to your motor carrier within 24 hours. Use the in-app SOS button or call dispatch.
·You can keep driving — § 395.34(b) explicitly allows it. Don't hand back the truck unless you'd normally need a break.

Step 2

Carriers — your 8-day clock

From the moment a driver reports the malfunction, you have 8 calendar days to:

•Repair, replace, or service the malfunctioning ELD.
•If you can't fix it in 8 days, file an extension request with your FMCSA Division Administrator. Extensions up to 5 additional days are allowed.
•Email [email protected] immediately — NovaELD ships replacement PT-30s overnight at no cost during your active subscription.

Step 3

The four FMCSA malfunction codes

Code	Meaning	Trigger
P	Power compliance	ELD lost power for >30 min
E	Engine sync compliance	Lost ECM data for >30 min in a 24-hr period
T	Timing compliance	ELD clock drifted more than 10 min from UTC
L	Positioning compliance	No GPS lock for 60+ min during driving
R	Data recording compliance	Cannot record duty status events
S	Data transfer compliance	Cannot transfer Output File to inspector
O	Other malfunction	Anything else flagged by self-monitoring

Step 4

Where to get help

•Driver hotline (24/7): +1 (855) 555-ELDS
•Roadside inspection help (officer presses 9 on the same line)
•Status page: status.novaeld.app
•Email: [email protected]
•Download a printable paper-RODS template: paper-rods.pdf

This procedure satisfies § 395.34(d): the carrier must make the malfunction-handling procedure accessible to every driver. Print it, put it in every cab, or just bookmark this page on the driver's phone.