The Short-Haul Exception: Who Qualifies

The short-haul exception can save local drivers and their carriers a lot of paperwork. Drivers who qualify do not need to keep records of duty status, which also means no ELD. But the conditions are specific, and a driver who fails them on a given day must log that day.

Here is how the exception works for property-carrying CDL drivers, with notes on other cases.

The basic conditions

The exception is in 49 CFR 395.1(e)(1). A driver qualifies on a given day when all of the following are true:

• Radius: The driver operates within a 150 air-mile radius of the normal work reporting location.
• Return and release: The driver returns to the normal work reporting location and is released from work within 14 consecutive hours.
• Rest: The driver has at least 10 consecutive hours off duty separating each on-duty period.
• Driving limit: The driver does not exceed the maximum driving time in 49 CFR 395.3, which is 11 hours for property carriers.
• Time records: The carrier keeps the required time records for the driver.

Air miles are measured in a straight line, not road miles. A 150 air-mile radius covers more ground than 150 road miles.

The time record the carrier must keep

Short-haul drivers do not keep logs, but the carrier still has to keep time records. Under the rule, the motor carrier must maintain and retain for six months accurate and true time records showing:

• The time the driver reports for duty each day.
• The total number of hours the driver is on duty each day.
• The time the driver is released from duty each day.
• The total time on duty for the preceding seven days, for drivers used for the first time or intermittently.

Time cards, timekeeping software or dispatch records can work, as long as they show this information and are accurate. An investigator will compare them with other records, such as fuel and delivery documents.

What the exception relieves you of

When a driver qualifies:

• No record of duty status is required for that day.
• No ELD is required, since the ELD rule applies to drivers who must keep records of duty status.
• The 30-minute break requirement does not apply to drivers using the short-haul exception.

What it does not relieve you of:

• The 11-hour driving limit and the 60- or 70-hour weekly limit still apply.
• Driver qualification, drug and alcohol testing, and vehicle inspection rules still apply.

When a driver falls out of the exception

Plans change. A delivery runs long, or a driver goes past 150 air miles. When a driver cannot meet the conditions on a given day, they must prepare a record of duty status for that day.

That raises the ELD question. Under 49 CFR 395.8, a driver who is required to keep records of duty status for no more than 8 days in any 30-day rolling period may use paper logs instead of an ELD. If a driver needs logs more often than that, the carrier must use an ELD for that driver.

This is why tracking matters. If your short-haul drivers regularly exceed 14 hours or the radius, they may be crossing into ELD territory without anyone noticing.

Other versions of the exception

The rules differ for other drivers. Check the regulation for your situation:

• Non-CDL drivers have a separate short-haul option in 49 CFR 395.1(e)(2), with its own limits and conditions.
• Passenger-carrying drivers have different on-duty and rest limits.
• Specific industries, such as some agricultural or construction operations, have their own provisions.
• Intrastate carriers may be subject to state rules that differ from the federal ones.

When your operation does not fit neatly, confirm with FMCSA or a qualified advisor before relying on the exception.

Short-haul checklist

For each driver, each day:

1. Did the driver stay within 150 air miles of the normal work reporting location?
2. Was the driver released within 14 consecutive hours of coming on duty?
3. Did the driver have at least 10 consecutive hours off before coming on duty?
4. Was driving time 11 hours or less?
5. Is the time record complete and accurate?
6. If any answer is no, did the driver log that day?
7. How many days has the driver logged in the past 30?

DOT Compliance Watch helps carriers keep hours-of-service records and time records organized by driver, which makes it easier to spot patterns before an audit does. You can review the rule text in our DOT regulations reference.

Keep your exception clean

The short-haul exception is a real time saver, as long as your records prove it applies. Keep time records accurate and watch for drivers who drift outside it. Try DOT Compliance Watch free for 14 days and keep those records ready.