Five ELDs in November 2025, January 20 2026 drop-dead — before the August five everyone remembers

What the notice actually said

Dispatch pulled the registered list and found FMCSA had reused the five-device headline. November 20, 2025 is this winter list: swap by January 20, 2026 or the box is no ELD.

The slug without “-0” on the newsroom side is this list. The August 2026 story on our blog is the other five — the one people remember as “five ELDs, October 6.” Two calendars. Same Appendix A engine.

After January 20, 2026: 395.8(a)(1) and CVSA out of service. Inspectors take paper or software logs instead of no-RODS during the 60 days. After that, revoked means no ELD.

Check identifiers on the live list, not the number in the headline. “Five” happened more than once.

Providers can relist after they fix deficiencies. Do not bet a USDOT number on a promise that this winter five will be back by spring.

What it changes on Monday

If a partner truck shows “we swapped after the October one,” ask which October and which January. We still inspect the box before that truck takes a Chicago live-load.

A shop that treated “ELD news” as one story will miss a deadline. Identifiers and dates are the only things that matter this week.

Registered list: eld.fmcsa.dot.gov/List. Later five-device chapter on this blog is the August 2026 bulletin, not this page.

Owner-operators and lease boxes: OO page. Dispatch will ask what is in the windshield before the appointment is locked.

What we will — and will not — do

We will not mix the January 20, 2026 grace date with the October 6, 2026 grace date. Two five-device lists stay two files.

We will not dispatch a revoked winter-list identifier because someone remembers only the August five. Motive stays; clones get checked.

Call +1 (847) 702-8181 with the device name. We will look at the live list, not a headline count.

Short glossary

The jargon, in the order it showed up — no extra theory.

Grace window: Inspectors take paper/software logs instead of no-RODS during the 60 days. After that, revoked = no ELD.

Official sources

Read the government original first. This page is our translation for people who quote lanes and hire drivers — not a substitute for the rulebook.

FMCSA: five ELDs removed (Nov 20, 2025) — Primary newsroom original.

This page is an industry briefing for shippers, brokers, and drivers. It is not legal advice. Confirm current rules in the Federal Register and on FMCSA.gov before you change a process.

FAQ

Is this the October 6 story?

No. That is the August 2026 five. This grace ended January 20, 2026. Same legal mechanism, earlier invoice.

Could they come back?

If FMCSA relists them after the provider fixes Appendix A. Check the live list, not a vendor email.

Paper logs?

Only as a bridge during the 60-day window. After January 20, 2026 a revoked box was no ELD.

Who is on the hook?

The motor carrier. The USDOT on the door owns the logger, not the shipper.