ELD compliance guide
Unassigned Driving Time on an ELD
Unassigned driving is not something a carrier should simply delete or ignore. It is ELD-recorded vehicle movement that must be reviewed, assigned to the correct driver when appropriate, or explained with an annotation when it legitimately remains unidentified.
Why it matters
FMCSA requires drivers and carriers to address unidentified driving records. A recurring backlog can point to login problems, device workflow issues, vehicle moves by non-driver personnel, or weak fleet procedures.
How unassigned driving is created
Driver responsibility
Carrier responsibility
A clean fleet workflow for unidentified driving
Review new unidentified driving daily instead of waiting until an inspection or audit.
Match the timestamp, truck, location, dispatch activity, driver assignment, maintenance activity, and other supporting records.
Send a proposed assignment only when evidence supports the correct driver.
Use factual annotations when legitimate shop, yard, maintenance, or other movement remains unidentified.
Track repeated causes and fix the workflow: driver login training, vehicle assignment, ELD connectivity, or internal yard procedures.
Do not solve unassigned driving by falsifying another driver's log
The goal is accurate attribution, not making the unidentified list disappear. Automatically recorded driving retains its audit trail. Assign only when the record belongs to that driver; otherwise document why it remains unidentified.
Unassigned Driving FAQ
What is unassigned driving time?
It is vehicle movement recorded by the ELD when the driving event is not associated with an authenticated driver account. The ELD keeps this under the unidentified driver profile until it is reviewed and handled.
What must a driver do when prompted with unassigned driving?
The driver must review the unassigned driving presented by the ELD. If the driving belongs to that driver, the driver should add it to their record. If it does not belong to them, they should not claim it.
What must the carrier do with unidentified driving?
FMCSA says the motor carrier must either assign the driving record to the appropriate driver or annotate the record to explain why it remains unassigned.
How long are unidentified driving records retained?
Motor carriers must retain unidentified driving records for at least six months from the date of receipt as part of their HOS ELD records.