Short-Haul Exception Documentation (§ 395.1(e))

Drivers operating within 150 air-miles of their normal work-reporting location AND returning to that location within 14 hours of going on duty are exempt from ELD recordkeeping under § 395.1(e), but they are NOT exempt from time records.

What's required (simpler than RODS)

• Start time on duty
• End time on duty
• Total on-duty hours for the day
• Confirmation driver returned to the work-reporting location
• Confirmation driver was off-duty at least 10 consecutive hours before going on duty

A time clock, timesheet, or even pen-and-paper log satisfies the requirement.

What's NOT required

• ELD device
• Records of Duty Status (RODS) graph
• Location annotations every change of duty status
• Personal conveyance tracking (not on duty)

Common pitfall

A driver who occasionally exceeds 150 air-miles in a single day loses the exception for that day and must produce a paper RODS for that day. The 8-day-in-30 rule applies: paper RODS for occasional excursions, but if it happens more than 8 days in a 30-day window, ELD is required.

ELD installation timing

Carriers operating exclusively under short-haul exception do not need ELDs installed. If operations expand (e.g., new long-haul lane), ELDs must be installed before that operation begins.

CFR citations

• 49 CFR § 395.1(e)
• 49 CFR § 395.8(a)

How Compass surfaces this

This skill is searchable in the Compass Ask interface and runs against the carrier's actual fleet data when invoked from within the relevant tracker. It is read-only — no actions are taken without explicit user approval.

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