Every commercial truck driver in Canada is required to track their hours of service. Whether you use a paper log book or an electronic logging device, the rules governing what you record, how you record it, and how long you keep it are detailed and strictly enforced. Getting the details wrong leads to violations, fines, and out-of-service orders that cost you time and money. This guide covers exactly what Canadian drivers need to know about log book compliance in 2026.
The Four Duty Statuses
Every minute of a driver's day falls into one of four categories. Understanding these statuses is the foundation of all log book compliance.
1. Off-Duty
Time when you are relieved of all work responsibilities. You are free to use this time as you choose. Off-duty time counts toward your daily rest requirements — you need at least 10 hours of off-duty time in a day, with a minimum of 8 consecutive hours.
Examples: sleeping in your sleeper berth (when not using the sleeper berth provision), personal errands during a break, leisure time at a truck stop.
2. Sleeper Berth
Time spent resting in the sleeper berth of your truck. This is a distinct status from off-duty because the sleeper berth provision allows you to split your rest period into two segments — one of at least 2 hours and another of at least 8 hours — rather than taking all 10 hours consecutively.
The sleeper berth must meet federal standards: at minimum 190 cm (75 inches) long and 60 cm (24 inches) wide, with adequate bedding, ventilation, and protection from the elements. If your truck does not have a compliant sleeper berth, you cannot use this status.
3. Driving
Any time you are at the controls of a commercial vehicle that is in motion, including while stopped momentarily in traffic. The Canadian federal limit is 13 hours of driving time within a 14-hour on-duty window. Once you reach 13 hours, you must stop driving until you have completed the required off-duty rest.
4. On-Duty Not Driving
Any time you are working but not driving. This includes pre-trip and post-trip inspections, fuelling, loading and unloading, waiting at a shipper or receiver dock, paperwork, vehicle maintenance, and any other work performed for a motor carrier.
On-duty not driving still counts against your 14-hour daily on-duty limit. A common mistake new drivers make is spending 4 hours loading at a shipper, then believing they still have 13 hours of driving available. You have 13 hours of driving, but only 10 remaining on-duty hours in your 14-hour window.
The Grid Graph Explained
The daily log grid is a 24-hour timeline divided into the four duty statuses. Each status has its own horizontal line, and you draw a continuous line showing what you were doing at every point in the day.
Reading the Grid
Off Duty: ███████ ███████████
Sleeper:
Driving: ████████████ ██████████████
On-Duty ND: ████
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mid 2 4 6 8 10 Noon 2 4 6 8 10 Mid
In this example, the driver was off-duty from midnight to about 5:30 AM, drove from 5:30 AM to 11:30 AM (6 hours), was on-duty not driving from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM (2 hours — likely loading), drove again from 1:30 PM to 5:30 PM (4 hours), and went off-duty at 5:30 PM.
Grid Graph Requirements
Every paper log grid must include: - Date (day, month, year) - Driver name and signature - Name of co-driver (if team driving) - Carrier name and main office address - 24-hour period start time (must be consistent — you cannot change it trip-to-trip) - Truck and trailer unit numbers - Total kilometres driven that day - Total hours in each duty status (must equal 24) - City, province/state, and time of each duty status change - Shipping document reference numbers
Paper Log Rules
Who Can Still Use Paper Logs?
Despite the ELD mandate, paper logs are still permitted in specific circumstances:
- 160 km radius exemption — Drivers who operate within a 160 km radius of their home terminal and return to that terminal each day are exempt from daily log requirements entirely. However, the carrier must maintain a time record showing the driver's start and end times.
- Day cab exemption — Drivers who do not have a sleeper berth and return to their home terminal each day may qualify for exemptions depending on the province.
- Pre-2000 model year trucks — Vehicles manufactured before the year 2000 are exempt from the ELD mandate (the engine does not have the ECM port required for ELD connection).
- Permit overweight/overdimensional vehicles — Some provinces exempt these operations.
- Rental vehicles used for 30 days or less — ELD is not required for short-term rentals.
Paper Log Retention
Drivers must keep a copy of their daily logs for the current day plus the previous 14 days in the vehicle at all times. This is the documentation an enforcement officer will ask for at a roadside inspection or checkpoint.
Carriers must retain driver log records for a minimum of 6 months from the date of the log. Many carriers retain them for 2 or more years for insurance and legal purposes.
The ELD Mandate in Canada
Canada's federal ELD mandate took full effect on January 1, 2023. All federally regulated commercial vehicles that are required to maintain daily logs must use a certified ELD — not just any electronic device, but one that has been certified by an accredited third-party body and listed on Transport Canada's certified device registry.
What Certification Means
A certified ELD must automatically record engine hours, vehicle movement, kilometres, and location via the engine ECM port. It must auto-set driving status when the vehicle moves, prevent tampering with driving records, support data export via USB or Bluetooth for roadside inspections, and display the daily log graph on screen.
Checking the Certified Device List
Transport Canada maintains a public list of certified ELD devices. Before purchasing or subscribing to an ELD, verify that the specific make and model appears on this list. Using a non-certified device is treated the same as having no ELD at all — it is a violation.
As of 2026, the certified-device list includes products from approximately 75 manufacturers; the full current list is published at tc.canada.ca.
Driver Responsibilities with an ELD
Review and certify your ELD records daily. Annotate any corrections with a note explaining the change. Know how to display your records on the ELD screen for roadside inspectors and how to transfer data via USB or Bluetooth. Carry blank paper log forms as backup in case of ELD malfunction, and report any malfunction to your carrier within 24 hours.
Carrier Responsibilities
Carriers must ensure all required vehicles have certified ELDs, train drivers on proper use, review logs and address violations within 14 days, retain ELD records for 6 months minimum, and make records available to enforcement within 24 hours of a request.
Common Log Book Violations
Violations discovered during roadside inspections fall into two categories: form and manner violations (paperwork errors) and false log violations (deliberate falsification).
Form and Manner Violations
| Violation | Typical Fine |
|---|---|
| Missing driver signature | $200–$500 |
| Incorrect or missing carrier name | $200–$500 |
| Missing shipping document references | $200–$500 |
| Grid graph does not total 24 hours | $200–$500 |
| Missing city/province at status change | $200–$500 |
| No logs in possession (past 14 days) | $500–$1,000 |
HOS Violations
| Violation | Typical Fine |
|---|---|
| Driving beyond 13-hour limit | $500–$2,000+ |
| Exceeding 14-hour on-duty window | $500–$2,000+ |
| Insufficient daily off-duty time | $500–$1,500 |
| Cycle hour violation (70/7 or 120/14) | $500–$2,000+ |
| No valid ELD (when required) | $500–$1,000 |
| Operating with malfunctioning ELD beyond 14 days | $500–$1,000 |
False Log Violations
Falsifying a log book is a serious offence. If an enforcement officer determines that your recorded duty statuses do not match the evidence — GPS data, fuel receipts, toll records, shipper/receiver timestamps — the consequences escalate rapidly:
- First offence: $1,000 to $2,000 fine, possible CVOR points
- Repeat offence: $2,000 to $5,000 fine, potential license suspension
- CVOR impact: False log violations carry high point values, degrading the carrier's safety rating
- Insurance consequences: Insurers review CVOR records; violations increase premiums or trigger cancellation
Roadside Inspection Tips
A roadside inspection typically includes a log book review. Keep your current log up to date at all times — do not wait until end of day. Have your previous 14 days of logs accessible and your supporting documents (bills of lading, fuel receipts) within reach. Know how to operate your ELD's inspection display mode and how to transfer data via Bluetooth or USB.
During the inspection, be professional and cooperative. Hand over all requested documents promptly. If the officer identifies a discrepancy, do not argue at roadside — note it, accept the report, and address it with your carrier afterward. Review the inspection report carefully. If you believe a violation was issued in error, your carrier can submit a challenge through the appropriate provincial or federal process.
Daily Log Compliance Checklist
Use this checklist at the start and end of every driving day:
- [ ] Log started at the correct 24-hour period start time
- [ ] Driver name, carrier name, and truck/trailer numbers recorded
- [ ] Pre-trip inspection completed and recorded as on-duty not driving
- [ ] Every duty status change recorded with time, city, and province/state
- [ ] Shipping document numbers noted for each load
- [ ] Grid graph lines are continuous with no gaps
- [ ] Total hours across all four statuses equal exactly 24
- [ ] Daily driving total does not exceed 13 hours
- [ ] Daily on-duty total does not exceed 14 hours
- [ ] Minimum 10 hours off-duty with 8 consecutive
- [ ] Log signed and certified (paper or ELD)
- [ ] Previous 14 days of logs accessible in the vehicle
ELD Integration with TruckerPro
TruckerPro integrates with major certified ELD providers to pull driver HOS data directly into the dispatch platform. Fleet managers see real-time hours remaining for every driver, receive automated compliance alerts before violations occur, and can review daily logs from the admin dashboard. Drivers see their HOS clock in the TruckerPro mobile app alongside their load assignments, so they always know how much driving time they have available.