Abbreviation: PC
Personal Conveyance
The authorized use of a CMV for personal transportation recorded as off-duty time in the ELD when the driver is released from all work responsibilities.
FMCSA guidance allows limited personal conveyance. The driver must be genuinely off duty with no work or carrier responsibilities. PC is a special ELD duty status that does not count against HOS limits. The distance and movement are still tracked by the ELD. Individual carriers may set stricter policies on when PC may be used.
When personal conveyance is permitted
FMCSA guidance allows PC when the driver is using the CMV for personal purposes and has been completely relieved of all work responsibilities. Recognized examples include: driving from a truck stop to a nearby restaurant or hotel; moving to a safer parking location at the driver's own discretion; and traveling to a personal residence at the end of a trip. PC is not appropriate when the carrier directs or dispatches the movement, or when the move benefits the carrier's business (such as repositioning the truck to a preferred drop location).
PC limits and carrier policies
FMCSA does not set a specific mileage cap for PC, but guidance makes clear that PC cannot be used to extend driving time in ways that defeat HOS limits. The ELD records PC movement with its own duty status, which does not count against driving time — but the distance traveled and location are still recorded and visible during inspection. Most carriers establish their own PC policies (distance limits, prohibited uses) as a condition of employment. Drivers unfamiliar with their carrier's PC policy should confirm it before using PC status.
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.