What 395.26B means in plain language
Your electronic logging device (ELD) is required to capture and store specific pieces of information automatically—without you having to manually enter them. This includes things like your vehicle identification number, engine serial number, odometer readings, and the exact time your duty status changes.
When an inspector cites you for 395.26B, it means your ELD wasn't set up or working properly to record those required elements on its own. This is a motor carrier responsibility. Your company is supposed to ensure the device is functioning correctly and gathering all the data the FMCSR demands. If your ELD was missing data, recording it incorrectly, or had gaps in what it captured, the inspection officer will flag it as a violation of this code.
This is different from you manually entering false information or forgetting to add a document number. The focus here is on the device itself and whether your carrier maintained it to spec.
What our enforcement data actually shows
Across our 13 million+ inspection records, 395.26B has been cited 1,182 times all-time, with 512 citations in the last 12 months and 90 citations in the last 90 days. This makes it the 673rd most frequently cited FMCSR code out of 3,036 total codes.
The good news: this citation almost never results in being placed out of service. Across all 1,182 all-time citations, only 1 driver was removed from service, yielding a 0.1% out-of-service rate. That's dramatically lower than the all-FMCSR average of 31.4%, which means inspectors and enforcement agencies treat 395.26B as a correctable deficiency rather than an immediate safety threat.
In the last 90 days, the trend has been stable, hovering between roughly 28 and 62 citations per month. The data shows this is not a code that is rapidly escalating or declining—it remains a steady part of ELD enforcement.
Who gets cited most
Our data from the last 180 days shows Iowa leads all states with 120 citations, followed by North Carolina and New Mexico, each with 34 citations. Illinois and Kentucky round out the top five with 19 and 1 citation, respectively.
Notably, none of these states have a high out-of-service rate for this code except Kentucky, where the single citation resulted in an out-of-service placement. Iowa, North Carolina, New Mexico, and Illinois all show a 0.0% OOS rate, reinforcing that this citation is typically handled as a warning or correctable violation.
Our records show fleets such as Evans Delivery Company Inc (USDOT 38111) with 10 citations and Carmelon LLC (USDOT 4267795) with 9 citations have encountered this violation multiple times. This pattern suggests that ELD configuration or maintenance issues can persist across a carrier's fleet if not addressed systematically.
How severe is this compared to similar codes
In the Hours of Service category, 395.26B sits in the lower-enforcement tier. For comparison:
395.24 (ELD Form and Manner) has been cited 106,486 times with a 0.0% OOS rate—it is by far the most cited HOS code and is treated as a strict documentation issue, not a removal-from-service trigger.
395.8E (False Record of Duty Status) has 83,660 all-time citations and a 9.6% OOS rate, meaning it is taken more seriously and leads to out-of-service placements in roughly 1 in 10 cases.
395.30B1 (Driver Failed to Certify Accuracy of ELD Data) has 70,864 citations but only a 0.1% OOS rate, very close to 395.26B's severity profile.
Your citation is squarely in the documentation and procedural enforcement band—not a reckless driving or unsafe equipment category.
How to avoid it
The co-occurring violations in inspections where 395.26B was cited offer practical clues:
-
Ensure your ELD synchronizes with your vehicle's engine control module (ECM). The most common co-occurring code is 395.8E (False Record of Duty Status, 34 shared inspections), which often stems from data gaps or miscommunication between your ELD and the truck. Before each shift, verify that your ELD screen shows the correct vehicle ID, engine serial number, and odometer reading. If any field is blank or shows "unknown," report it to your fleet safety team immediately.
-
Verify your ELD powers on correctly and completes startup diagnostics. Nineteen inspections where 395.26B was cited also had violations recorded for 390.21TB. Perform a pre-trip walk-around and confirm your ELD boots up without error messages. Many modern ELDs display a diagnostic check on startup; don't skip that step.
-
Manually input required shipping documents and certification steps without delay. The code 395.24C2III (Driver failed to manually add shipping document number) co-occurred in 18 inspections. While 395.26B focuses on automatic recording, the system depends on accurate manual entries where required. Add shipping document numbers, load information, and certifications as soon as you receive them, not hours later.
-
Review and certify your ELD records before signing off each day. Seventeen inspections flagged both 395.26B and 395.30B1 (Driver failed to certify accuracy). Even though your device should auto-record, you are required to review what it captured and certify it is correct. Spend 2–3 minutes at the end of each shift reviewing your duty status log on the ELD screen.
-
Pay attention to your vehicle's electrical and engine systems. Our citation data shows Freightliner trucks (FRHT) account for 405 of all 395.26B citations, suggesting that certain vehicle makes may have higher rates of ELD-to-ECM sync issues. If you drive a Freightliner, Utility, Volvo, or Great Dane (the top four makes cited), keep your battery, alternator, and engine electronics in good working order. A weak battery can prevent your ELD from establishing a stable data connection.
-
Keep your carrier's ELD provider informed of device errors. If your ELD has ever shown error messages, frozen screens, or gaps in recorded data, notify your fleet manager and request a replacement or repair before the next inspection. Document these reports—they demonstrate good-faith compliance effort.
Your citation is not a severity flag like a brake violation or speeding conviction. It's a signal that your ELD setup needs attention. Work with your carrier to verify the device is current, properly configured, and communicating with your truck's systems.