ELDs For Rental Trucks?

My question is: I am a Class B driver. My company is renting a truck from Enterprise ( a non-CDL truck 26.') to take our gear out to California for a trade convention. We will haves the truck from Jan. 17 through Jan.31, leaving Chicago for Anaheim, CA on the 17th and returning on the 31st. Will I be required to use an ELD? What, precisely, are the Federal regulations regarding rental trucks and ELDs? I wo hi ldnlike simply to use paper RODS if possible.

If the truck doesn't have air breaks and has a GVW of 26,000 pounds or less, it not classified as a CMV and would only need a regular driver's license. Therefore no logs.

Does the truck you normally drive have an ELD requiring you to log your time?

It's an Enterprise truck - probably an International Durastar, GVXR 26,000lb., but it does have air brakes. All their 24' and 26' trucks have air brakes. This is another point of confusion - I have been told by Enterprise in the past that they don't require an air brakes endorsement to rent their larger trucks (I have one, BTW).

It's an Enterprise truck - probably an International Durastar, GVXR 26,000lb., but it does have air brakes. All their 24' and 26' trucks have air brakes. This is another point of confusion - I have been told by Enterprise in the past that they don't require an air brakes endorsement to rent their larger trucks (I have one, BTW).

Since the truck in question is registered for less than 26,000lbs GVW it does not require a CDL to operate it. The air brake endorsement is irrelevant. One trumps the other.

Air brakes are safer and more effective for a heavier vehicle than vacuum brakes. Since rental companies make a living and renting these things to “amateurs”, they tag these trucks with a GVR that doesn’t require a CDL, even though they may have the chassis and power train able to support up to 33,000 pounds GVR.

That said; if they take that same truck and re-register it for 33,000lbs gross then a CDL is required with an air brake endorsement to operate it.

Clear as mud?

By "regular driver's license," do you mean a Class C? Also, my understanding is that a driver has to keep logs if the GVWR of a vehicle is 10,001 or more pounds.

You ask, "Does the truck you normally drive have an ELD requiring you to log your time?"

No. I am not a full-time driver. The company I consult for is a small musical instrument manufacturer which does not maintain a fleet of trucks. This is a one-time-only rental for this one specific trip. I was asked to drive because I have a Class B license.

You are way over thinking this. Go drive it...you’re fine.

"You are way over thinking this. Go drive it...you’re fine. " Most likely so. In other words, I don't even need to bother with paper logs? I'm new to this and I simply want to be prepared if a trooper should stop me for some reason. I was stopped outside of Waldo, Florida a few years back - I was driving a 16,000lb. truck, and in this case the truck didn't have a DOT number and the trooper put me out of service for 10 hours (I also did not have a DOT medical card at the time). Nothing was said about RODS at that point but a DOT representative stopped by the company a couple of times to check on us. I apologize for sounding paranoid.

No need to apologize. You do not need to log anything. Just be smart, if you are tired, take a break.

The only thing I would caution you on is the weight of your lading. The empty weight of a truck as described typically is around 20,000 pounds. Leaving you a measly 3 tons to work with.

That’s fine for most household moves (the primary function of rentals like this). Don’t overload it though and risk running over a scale that weighs you exceeding 26k. Then you’ll have a problem.

I’d also check it over and pre-trip it for the obvious stuff. Not always well maintained these things. Penske or Ryder, wouldn’t be so concerned. Be safe about it that’s all.