Log Book
A paper form used to record a CDL driver's duty status changes — also called paper RODS — used by drivers with valid ELD exemptions.
Paper logs must show all duty status changes (off duty, sleeper berth, driving, on duty not driving) for each 24-hour period. Drivers on ELD exemptions must keep the current day's log plus the previous 7 days available. Paper logs must include the driver's name, date, 24-hour period start time, carrier name, vehicle number, and a graph grid.
Paper log requirements for ELD-exempt drivers
Paper RODS must be completed for each 24-hour period and must show: the time zone; driver name and co-driver name (if applicable); truck/tractor number and trailer number(s); carrier name and USDOT number; a graph grid with all duty status changes marked; and the driver's signature. Each day's log must be completed at the end of that day. Drivers using paper RODS must carry the current day's log plus the previous 7 days. Paper logs must be legible and cannot be altered after signing without annotation.
Paper RODS during ELD malfunction
When an ELD malfunctions, the driver must immediately revert to paper RODS. The paper logs must annotate the malfunction and note that the ELD failed. The driver must notify the carrier within 24 hours. The carrier has 8 days to repair or replace the ELD — during this period, paper logs are required. Paper logs during a malfunction must reconstruct the record from the last ELD data point. Driving with a malfunctioning ELD beyond the 8-day repair window is an ELD compliance violation.
Last updated: May 28, 2026
When this definition matters
This term usually matters when a driver, owner-operator, or small carrier is deciding whether a federal rule applies, preparing a compliance file, or checking a state CDL step. Use this definition as a starting point, then confirm the controlling requirement in the official source listed below before making a licensing, hiring, dispatch, or recordkeeping decision.
The related terms above are included because they often appear in the same compliance workflow. Reviewing them together can prevent common mix-ups, such as treating a state licensing step as a federal carrier obligation or confusing a driver record with a separate employer record.