Quick Answer
Yard move and personal conveyance are the ELD's two special driving categories, and they answer different questions. A yard move is work — repositioning the truck inside a confined yard or terminal — logged as on-duty, not driving. Personal conveyance is personal — off-duty movement for your own purposes. Yard moves burn your 14-hour window but not your 11 driving hours; PC burns nothing. Using either one on a public road for the carrier's benefit is where citations happen.
Key Takeaways
- Yard move = on-duty not driving: it counts against the 14-hour window and weekly cycle, but not the 11-hour driving limit.
- Personal conveyance = off duty: counts against nothing, but must be genuinely personal, not load-advancing.
- Location decides yard moves: a confined yard, terminal, or dock area with restricted public access — not the street around the block.
- Select the category before the wheels turn; both must be enabled by the carrier in the ELD settings.
The side-by-side
Category | Yard move | Personal conveyance |
|---|---|---|
Duty status | On-duty, not driving | Off duty |
Purpose | Work: repositioning, docking, shuttling in the yard | Personal: food, lodging, home |
11-hour driving clock | Not consumed | Not consumed |
14-hour window | Consumed | Not consumed |
60/70-hour cycle | Consumed | Not consumed |
Where it's valid | Confined yards/terminals, limited public access | Public roads fine — if the trip is personal |
What counts as a yard
The category exists so that creeping between dock doors doesn't record as highway driving. The test is the property, not the distance: a fenced terminal, a shipper's dock complex, a drop lot with controlled access. FMCSA guidance frames a yard as a confined area with restricted public access — the moment you're repositioning on an open public street, you're driving, and the log should say so. Brief, incidental crossings inside a facility are one thing; "yard-moving" two miles down a county road is a violation waiting for an auditor.
What each status protects you from
Yard moves keep dock shuffling from eating your 11 driving hours — on a day with three live loads, that's real time. But they don't pause your 14-hour window, because you're working. Personal conveyance, being off duty, protects everything — which is exactly why inspectors scrutinize it and why using it to push a load closer to delivery is the fastest route to a falsification finding.
The mistakes that draw citations
- Yard move on a public road. The most common misuse — the category doesn't travel.
- PC for the carrier's benefit. If the movement helps the load, it's not personal. Full stop.
- Selecting the status after the move. Both categories are chosen before the wheels turn; retroactive edits to driving time are exactly what this year's enforcement blitz hunted for.
- Assuming the buttons exist. Special driving categories only appear if the carrier enabled them in the ELD's settings — if you don't see them, ask before you improvise.
A simple decision habit
Two questions before the truck moves: Is this movement for work? and Am I on private, confined property? Work + yard = yard move. Personal + anywhere = PC. Work + public road = driving, no matter how short. Drivers who run those two questions never touch the gray zone.
Published July 2026. Educational, not legal advice — confirm details against current FMCSA guidance and your carrier's policy.
FAQ
Does a yard move count against my 14-hour clock?
Yes. Yard moves log as on-duty not driving, so they consume your 14-hour window and weekly cycle — just not your 11-hour driving limit.
Is there a speed limit for yard moves?
The regulation defines the category by location and purpose, not a speed number — though many ELDs automatically flip to driving above low speeds. Keep yard moves slow and inside the yard.
Why don't I see yard move or PC options on my ELD?
Special driving categories must be enabled by the motor carrier in the device settings. If they're missing, request them — don't log around the gap.
