How to check If your ELD is FMCSA-registered or revoked 

Quick answer: Go to the official FMCSA ELD portal at eld.fmcsa.dot.gov, open both the Registered Devices and Revoked Devices lists, and search for your device by its name, model, or ELD identifier. Your device appears on exactly one list. If it shows up under Revoked - or doesn't appear at all - you have a 60-day window to switch to a compliant device before your drivers risk being placed out-of-service.

That's the short version. Below is exactly how to do it, what happens if your device is revoked, and how to switch without losing a single log.

Why this matters in 2026

FMCSA has been removing non-compliant electronic logging devices at a faster pace than ever. More than 56 devices have been pulled from the Registered Devices list since the start of 2025, and 2026 has seen batch removals every few weeks — sometimes a dozen at a time.

Here's the part that catches carriers off guard: a revoked ELD still turns on and still records logs. Nothing on the device tells you it's no longer valid. The only way to know is to check the FMCSA list yourself. If you wait for a roadside inspection to find out, it's already too late.

How to check your ELD status in under 5 minutes

Follow these five steps. You only need your device information and a couple of minutes.

1. Find your device details. Locate the exact ELD name, model, and identifier. You'll find these on your invoice, in a provider support email, on the physical device, or inside the app under Device Information (the ELD identifier is usually a short code, such as 01ABCD).
2. Open the official FMCSA portal. Go to eld.fmcsa.dot.gov. This is the only authoritative source — ignore third-party "checkers" for your final compliance decision.
3. Search both lists. FMCSA maintains a Registered Devices list and a Revoked Devices list. Search for your device by name or identifier. It will appear on one of them.
4. Read the result.
   • On the Registered list → you're compliant. Move on.
   • On the Revoked list → you're on the clock. Note the revocation date and enforcement deadline.
   • Not on either list → treat this as non-compliant and contact your provider immediately.
5. Log it. Record the device name and the date you verified it in your carrier records. If an officer questions your device, a screenshot of the current FMCSA status is useful roadside proof.

Do this on a schedule. Revocations happen with little warning, and the countdown starts the moment FMCSA publishes the notice — not when you notice. A monthly check is a reasonable cadence for most fleets.

What happens if your ELD is on the revoked list

Revocation doesn't put you out of service overnight, but the consequences escalate on a fixed timeline.

• Day 0 - Revocation published. FMCSA posts the notice and the 60-day replacement clock starts immediately. Your carrier typically receives an email with the enforcement deadline.
• Days 1–60 - Grace period. You may keep operating while you migrate, but you must record hours of service another way in the meantime: paper Records of Duty Status (RODS) or compliant logging software, as allowed under 49 CFR 395.8.
• After the deadline. Operating on the revoked device is treated the same as having no ELD at all. That's a 49 CFR 395.8(a)(1) violation - "No record of duty status" - and drivers can be placed out-of-service under CVSA criteria, with civil penalties that add up quickly for every day out of compliance.

One correction worth making, because bad information is circulating: the replacement window is 60 days, not 30. Acting on the wrong number can cost you a truck.

The 60-day replacement roadmap

Use the grace period deliberately instead of scrambling at the end.

• Week 1 - Confirm and communicate. Verify the revocation on the FMCSA list, note the exact deadline, and tell affected drivers. Switch them to paper logs or backup logging software right away.
• Weeks 2–3 - Evaluate replacements. Shortlist two or three providers. Confirm each candidate is currently on the Registered list (don't skip this - a device can be registered today and revoked next month).
• Weeks 4-7 - Install and train. Roll out new devices in waves. Driver training on a new interface usually takes about 30 minutes. Verify that HOS data transfers correctly.
• Before day 60 - Full cutover. Every truck should be running the compliant device with no driver left on the revoked hardware.

How to choose a replacement that won't get revoked next

Switching once is painful. Switching twice because you picked another shaky provider is worse. Look for:

• A currently registered device - verify it on the FMCSA list yourself, today.
• Modern data transfer that meets the current technical spec. Most 2026 revocations came down to failed audits and outdated data-transfer methods that couldn't hand logs to an officer at roadside.
• A stable, established provider with a track record of staying compliant, not a bargain device with an uncertain future.
• Portable records. Make sure you can export your historical logs and inspection data so a vendor change never leaves a gap in your compliance history.

Motion ELD runs on FMCSA-registered hardware, uses current-spec data transfer, and keeps your trip and document history stored for the life of your account - so if you ever change anything else in your stack, your records stay intact. If you're migrating off a revoked device, get pricing or contact our team and we'll help you switch before your deadline.

FAQ

How do I know if my ELD is FMCSA-approved? Search for your device by name or identifier on the FMCSA Registered Devices list at eld.fmcsa.dot.gov. If it's listed there and not on the Revoked Devices list, it's approved.

Can I keep driving if my ELD is revoked? Yes, but only during the 60-day grace period, and only if you record hours of service on paper logs or compliant logging software in the meantime. After the enforcement deadline, using the revoked device is treated as having no ELD and can result in an out-of-service order.

How often should I check the revoked ELD list? At least once a month. Revocations happen without much warning and the 60-day clock starts the day FMCSA posts the notice, so routine checks protect you from finding out at a roadside inspection.

What's the penalty for using a revoked ELD? After the grace period, it's a 49 CFR 395.8(a)(1) violation ("No record of duty status"). Drivers can be placed out-of-service under CVSA criteria, and carriers face civil penalties that accrue per day of non-compliance.

Can a revoked ELD be reinstated? Yes. If the provider corrects the deficiencies FMCSA identified, the device can be returned to the Registered Devices list. But you can't count on that happening before your deadline — plan to replace it either way.