Abbreviation: RODS
Records of Duty Status
The official record showing a CDL driver's duty status changes — off duty, sleeper berth, driving, or on-duty not driving — for each 24-hour period.
RODS are generated automatically by ELDs for drivers subject to HOS rules. Drivers with ELD exemptions keep paper RODS on Form ELD-1 or equivalent. Seven days of current and previous RODS must be available to inspectors. RODS are the underlying record that ELDs produce and store.
RODS and ELD: the same record, different formats
RODS is the official term for a driver's record of duty status — whether generated electronically by an ELD or manually on a paper log. When a driver uses an ELD, the device creates and stores RODS automatically from engine data and driver inputs. When a driver uses paper logs (under an ELD exemption), they manually complete RODS on Form ELD-1 or equivalent. Either way, the legal requirement is the same: an accurate, complete record of all duty status changes for each 24-hour period.
How many days of RODS must be available at inspection
During a roadside inspection, a CDL driver must be able to produce RODS for the current 24-hour period and the previous 7 days. ELD users display this data on the device and can transfer it electronically to the inspector via cable or Bluetooth. Paper log users must carry the physical logs. If an ELD malfunctions, the driver must immediately revert to paper RODS and annotate the logs with the malfunction. The carrier must be notified within 24 hours and must repair or replace the device within 8 days.
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.