Highway Plans ELD Certification Program After HOS Manipulation Concerns
Highway is planning a new ELD provider certification program after reports of Hours-of-Service manipulation. Here's what the proposed standards mean for carriers and brokers.
Key dates
- Overdrive publishes its investigationOctober 6, 2026
- October 10, 2026Investigation updated
Carrier vetting platform Highway is preparing to introduce a new ELD provider certification program following concerns about Hours-of-Service (HOS) manipulation involving electronic logging device providers integrated with its platform.
The planned certification initiative comes after an investigation by trucking publication Overdrive raised questions about ELD data integrity and the reliability of certain FMCSA-registered devices.
What Triggered Highway's ELD Certification Plans?
Overdrive identified ELD providers that advertised integrations with Highway while raising concerns about potential HOS record manipulation.
According to the investigation, a representative of Leader ELD acknowledged that its system could add three to four hours of available driving time to a driver's electronic logs.
Another provider, Nexus ELD, also advertised Highway integration, but did not confirm allowing HOS manipulation.
The findings raised questions about whether FMCSA registration alone provides sufficient assurance of an ELD provider's reliability.
What Is the Highway Certified ELD Provider Program?
Highway says it plans to introduce certification standards designed to improve confidence in ELD integrations.
The initiative is expected to:
Establish additional technical and data integrity requirements.
Identify ELD providers that meet Highway's certification standards.
Improve transparency for brokers and motor carriers.
Help users evaluate the reliability of ELD-generated information.
Highway has indicated that the program will form part of its broader Certified Network.
Will ELD Certification Be Mandatory?
No. The planned Highway ELD certification program is voluntary.
Highway has not committed to automatically removing all providers associated with allegations of HOS manipulation.
The company has stated that it monitors vehicle location information for unusual patterns, including potentially impossible travel and location spoofing.
However, Highway says it does not have access to drivers' actual HOS records and does not conduct FMCSA-style safety compliance reviews.
Why ELD Data Integrity Matters
Electronic logging devices are used to record commercial drivers' hours of service and support compliance with federal regulations.
Manipulated logs may conceal unsafe driving schedules, undermine compliance monitoring, and create potential safety risks.
For carriers and brokers, the reliability of ELD data is also important when evaluating transportation partners.
What Motor Carriers Should Do
Carriers should evaluate ELD providers beyond basic FMCSA registration.
Before selecting a provider, consider its compliance history, technical reliability, data security practices, and ability to support accurate HOS records.
FMCSA registration does not, by itself, establish that an ELD system is protected against manipulation.
Source: Overdrive Investigation
Frequently asked
What is Highway's Certified ELD Provider Program?
It is a planned voluntary certification initiative intended to identify electronic logging device providers that meet Highway's technical and data integrity standards.
Is Highway ELD certification mandatory?
No. Highway described the program as voluntary rather than a mandatory requirement for every integrated ELD provider.
Does FMCSA registration guarantee that an ELD is secure?
No. FMCSA registration alone does not guarantee that an ELD is free from vulnerabilities or manipulation risks.
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