Quick Answer
The best ELD for a construction fleet is the one that covers only the trucks that actually log. Most dump trucks and mixers running local qualify for the 150 air-mile, 14-hour short-haul exception and need time records, not an ELD. Trucks that log more than 8 days in any 30-day period need an FMCSA-registered ELD. Heavy equipment tracking is a separate purchase.
Key Takeaways
- Under 49 CFR 395.1(e)(1), a driver who stays within 150 air miles (172.6 statute miles) and is released within 14 hours is exempt from logs and ELDs, if the carrier keeps 6 months of time records.
- A driver who needs a record of duty status on more than 8 days in any 30-day period must use an ELD under 49 CFR 395.8(a).
- Drivers used primarily to haul construction materials and equipment can end their 7- or 8-day period with 24 hours off instead of 34, under 395.1(m).
- Ready-mixed concrete drivers can count 30 minutes of waiting at a job site or terminal as their 30-minute break, under 395.1(t).
- Enterprise platforms like Samsara sell mixed-fleet and heavy-equipment tracking; a compliance-focused ELD like Lucid covers the trucks, not the yellow iron.
“Many construction trucks never need an ELD because they run local under the 150 air-mile, 14-hour short-haul exception. Trucks that log more than 8 days in any 30 do. Pick a simple per-truck ELD for the trucks that log, and a separate asset-tracking platform only if you also need to track heavy equipment.”
Do Dump Trucks Need an ELD?
Some do, many don't. A dump truck is a commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce at 10,001 lbs or more, the same test that applies to box trucks. Our box truck ELD rules guide walks through the CMV weight test and the full exception list, so here we focus on how it plays out in construction. If you run a mixed small fleet, our best ELD for small fleets guide covers multi-driver management.
The typical dump truck hauls gravel, fill or asphalt from a pit or plant to a job site and returns to the yard every night. If the driver stays inside 150 air miles of the yard and is released within 14 consecutive hours, with at least 10 hours off between shifts, that driver is exempt from logs and ELDs under the short-haul exception. The carrier must keep 6 months of time records showing when the driver came on duty, total on-duty hours and release time.
The ELD question changes the day a truck breaks those limits. Under 395.8(a)(1)(ii), a driver who needs a log on 8 or fewer days in any 30-day period can use paper logs. On the 9th logged day in that window, the driver needs an ELD. A dump truck that goes out of radius for a two-week highway job can cross that line fast.
Trucks manufactured before model year 2000, as shown by the VIN on the registration, are also exempt from the ELD requirement under the same section, though the driver still keeps paper logs. That matters for construction fleets that keep older trucks running for years.
Which Construction HOS Rules Change What the ELD Must Do?
Construction gets two HOS provisions that most ELDs handle through settings, not special hardware. Both are in 49 CFR 395.1, verified on eCFR as of November 2026.
Provision | What it allows | Who it covers |
|---|---|---|
395.1(e)(1) short-haul | No logs or ELD; time records instead | Drivers within 150 air miles, released within 14 hours |
395.1(e)(2) non-CDL short-haul | No logs; 14-hour limit on 5 days and 16-hour limit on 2 days in any 7 | Non-CDL property-carrying drivers within 150 air miles |
395.1(m) construction restart | 7/8-day period can end with 24 consecutive hours off | Drivers used primarily to haul construction materials and equipment |
395.1(t) ready-mixed concrete | 30+ minutes waiting at a job site or terminal counts as the 30-minute break, if no other work | Ready-mixed concrete delivery vehicle drivers |
Two cautions. First, 395.1(a)(2) says the (l) and (m) exceptions do not preempt state laws, so check your state's rules for intrastate work. Second, the 24-hour restart applies only to drivers used "primarily" for construction materials and equipment. A driver who mostly hauls general freight shouldn't use it. Everyone else uses the standard 34-hour restart.
When you test an ELD, ask how it applies the construction 24-hour restart. If the software only knows the 34-hour reset, your logs may show an available-hours number lower than the rule allows, which costs you a day of driving.
Interstate or Intrastate: Which Rules Apply to Your Trucks?
Federal Part 395 applies to interstate commerce. Construction trips that never leave the state can still be interstate if the material is on an interstate journey, such as steel beams shipped from another state and delivered locally from your yard.
If every load truly starts and ends in one state, your state's intrastate HOS and ELD rules apply instead. Many states adopt the federal rules with changes. Check your state's DOT or state police commercial vehicle rules before relying on a federal exception for intrastate-only trucks.
What Should a Construction Fleet Look for in an ELD?
Construction fleets have a mix of trucks that log and trucks that don't, and the logging trucks change with the job. That shapes the buying decision more than any feature list.
- Count only the trucks that log. List every truck, mark which drivers run under short-haul, and which go out of radius or log more than 8 days in 30. Pay ELD fees for those trucks, not the whole yard.
- Check flexible billing. Seasonal work means trucks sit for weeks. Look for monthly, cancel-anytime terms or a credit for idle days instead of a multi-year contract.
- Confirm the port. Older dump trucks and mixers may not have the 16-pin port newer trucks use. Ask which ports and protocols (J1939, J1708) the device supports.
- Test the HOS rule settings. Ask how the ELD handles short-haul, the construction 24-hour restart and the ready-mixed concrete break.
- Verify FMCSA registration. Look up the model and ELD ID on FMCSA's list before you buy. Also check that it isn't on FMCSA's revoked list.
- Decide separately on equipment tracking. If you need to track excavators, loaders or trailers, that's an asset-tracking purchase. Don't pay enterprise prices for every truck just to get it.
Samsara Alternatives for Heavy Equipment Fleets: Who Each Option Fits
Samsara's construction page, as of November 2026, describes mixed-fleet tracking of vehicles, heavy equipment and unpowered assets in one dashboard, OEM integrations including CAT, John Deere, Komatsu, Ford and Volvo, and a 360 Camera for equipment. Its pricing page is a quote request, not a public price list. Motive's pricing page is also a quote form that lists Construction as an industry option, as of November 2026.
Option | Best fit | What to know |
|---|---|---|
Enterprise mixed-fleet platform (e.g. Samsara) | Contractors that need trucks and yellow iron in one dashboard | Quote-only pricing as of November 2026; ask for the full-term total |
Quote-based ELD and safety platform (e.g. Motive) | Larger fleets wanting ELD, cameras and a sales-led setup | Quote-only pricing as of November 2026 |
Compliance-focused ELD (e.g. Lucid) | Small fleets where only some trucks log and equipment is tracked separately or not at all | Listed per-truck prices; no heavy equipment or trailer tracking |
Paper logs plus time records | Trucks that log 8 or fewer days in any 30, or always run short-haul | No device, but you own the record-keeping |
If you're comparing Samsara for a small trucking side of a construction business, our Samsara alternatives guide goes deeper on contracts and switching.
Where Lucid ELD Fits for Construction Fleets
Lucid is an FMCSA-registered ELD (model RB139K, ELD ID L12NJ8) for owner-operators and small fleets. It covers the trucks that log: automatic HOS, DVIR, IFTA reporting, real-time GPS tracking and a fleet dashboard. It does not track heavy equipment or trailers; those need a separate tracker.
The device plugs into an OBD-II, 9-pin or 16-pin port in under 5 minutes and supports J1939 and J1708. At listed prices as of November 2026, Standard is $60 per truck per month on a monthly plan or $50 on a 12-month plan, with no setup or activation fees.
For seasonal work, Lucid's monthly plans offer Idle Day Cashback. It isn't automatic: you disconnect the ELD while the truck sits, reconnect before it moves, and those days are credited on your next monthly bill. The driver's logs must still account for those off-duty days, since inspectors can ask for the previous 7 days under 395.8(k)(2).
Lucid offers a free trial, so you can test it on the trucks that log before committing; see pricing for current plans.
Need an FMCSA-registered ELD for your trucks? See Lucid ELD plans
Educational content, not legal advice. Confirm requirements against current FMCSA regulations and your state's rules.
FAQ
Do dump trucks need an ELD?
Only when the driver must keep a log on more than 8 days in any 30-day period. Dump truck drivers who stay within 150 air miles and are released within 14 hours use the short-haul exception and keep time records instead.
What is the best ELD for dump trucks?
One that supports the truck's diagnostic port, handles short-haul and the construction 24-hour restart, is on FMCSA's registered list, and bills only the trucks that log. Trucks manufactured before model year 2000 (per the VIN) are exempt from the ELD rule but still need paper logs when logging applies.
Does the 24-hour restart for construction still apply in 2026?
Yes. As of November 2026, 49 CFR 395.1(m) lets drivers used primarily to haul construction materials and equipment end a 7- or 8-day period with 24 consecutive hours off.
Can concrete mixer drivers count waiting time as a break?
Yes. Under 395.1(t), a ready-mixed concrete driver can use 30 minutes or more waiting with the truck at a job site or terminal as the 30-minute break, if they do no other work during it.
Does an ELD track heavy equipment?
An ELD records driver hours on trucks. Tracking excavators, loaders or trailers takes separate asset trackers or a mixed-fleet platform. Lucid ELD does not track heavy equipment or trailers.
