Transport Canada renews driveaway-towaway ELD exemption for three years
Eligible carriers delivering RVs and commercial vehicles for sale or lease can keep using paper logs, but must file a new notice before operating under the renewal.
Transport Canada has renewed for three years an exemption that lets carriers in driveaway-towaway operations record hours of service without an electronic logging device (ELD).
The Canadian Recreational Vehicle Association (CRVA) announced the renewal on Oct. 21. The original exemption was granted on Oct. 19, 2023. Transport Canada's notice carries tracking number ASF-2026-04E and stays valid for 36 months from signing.
Who it covers
The exemption applies to extra-provincial carriers and their drivers in three types of work, between and through all provinces and territories:
- Driveaway of commercial vehicles — unladen trucks being delivered for sale or lease, including combinations of power units towed by towbar, pintle, fifth wheel or saddle mount.
- Driveaway of motor homes — unladen motor homes driven between manufacturers, dealers and end users for sale or lease.
- Towaway — unladen commercial vehicles or RV trailers towed by fifth-wheel hitch, ball-and-socket hitch or towbar for sale or lease.
Drivers keep a record of duty status under section 82 of the federal hours-of-service regulations instead of using an ELD. Transport Canada says the exemption is meant to remove ELD-related operating and cross-border problems and to line up with a similar waiver from the U.S. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Conditions to watch
Carriers must meet several requirements, including:
- Emailing Transport Canada a new notice of intention before operating under the renewed exemption, with provinces of operation, legal name, carrier number, safety rating and contact details.
- Holding an Excellent, Satisfactory or Satisfactory Unaudited safety rating.
- Reviewing each driver's abstract (or U.S. motor vehicle record) before they start and every year after.
- Keeping a copy of the exemption and Transport Canada's acknowledgement in each vehicle, plus the bill of sale or lease agreement when moving vehicles for sale or lease.
- Reviewing collisions involving drivers using the exemption and filing a monitoring report within 12 months, then annually.
Drivers must carry the exemption documents and note in the "Remarks" section of their daily log on any day they use it.
The full text is posted on Transport Canada's website.