The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has eliminated the rule requiring commercial trucks to carry printed operator's manuals for their electronic logging devices, marking the second regulatory burden lifted from drivers in a single day. The final rule, published in Monday's Federal Register, follows a comment period that opened May 30, 2025, and drew 24 responses from industry groups including the American Trucking Associations and the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association. The agency's decision reflects a shift toward digital-first compliance in an industry where ELDs have been mandatory since December 2019.

Of the 24 comments submitted during the 60-day review period, 18 supported the change, four opposed it, and two were classified as out of scope. Supporters pointed out that ELDs routinely include electronic versions of user manuals built directly into the devices, and noted that maintaining physical manuals created unnecessary burdens on motor carriers that could affect their safety measurement system scores during inspections. Opponents argued the requirement wasn't a major burden and expressed concern that drivers and law enforcement often don't know how to access electronic versions, a problem complicated by the variety of ELD types in use across the industry.

FMCSA was blunt in explaining its rationale, stating there's "no readily apparent benefit to continuing to require that the user's manual be in the commercial motor vehicle given the use of ELDs since December 2019." The agency emphasized that while drivers must understand ELD operation to ensure accurate electronic records of duty status and present information during roadside inspections, the printed manual requirement served no practical safety purpose. According to the Federal Register notice, "This final rule eliminates a regulatory burden on motor carriers without compromising safety."

The change doesn't prohibit carriers or drivers from keeping printed manuals if they choose to do so—it simply removes the federal mandate. FMCSA noted that digital versions are built into most devices, and for those that don't include them, the agency maintains copies accessible through its website. The decision reflects broader efforts to modernize trucking regulations and reduce compliance costs without sacrificing safety standards. For an industry that's operated with mandatory ELDs for more than six years, the shift acknowledges that paper manuals have become redundant in an increasingly digital cab environment.