No. ELDs are only required by FMCSA to record data needed to determine HOS compliance — driving time, duty status, location, mileage, and engine hours. Speed monitoring and vehicle diagnostics are separate features available through GPS tracking.
A common misconception is that ELDs are surveillance devices. In reality, the FMCSA defines exactly what data an ELD must record — and it's limited to HOS compliance data.
What the FMCSA Requires ELDs to Record
Date and time, vehicle miles driven, engine hours, vehicle location (approximate — nearest city/town), driver duty status (Off Duty, Sleeper Berth, Driving, On-Duty Not Driving), driver ID, and carrier information. That's it.
What ELDs Do NOT Record
Speed, hard braking events, steering input, phone usage, camera footage, fuel consumption, or engine diagnostics are not ELD functions. These are available through separate telematics and GPS systems.
ELD Location vs. GPS Tracking
ELD location captures your position at duty-status change events — not continuously. It reports the nearest city or town and state, not a street address. GPS tracking is a separate device that provides continuous, street-level location data. Learn more about ELD location data.
Driver Privacy
Because ELD data is limited to HOS compliance, drivers retain privacy regarding behavior that isn't relevant to logging regulations. If your carrier uses GPS tracking separately, that data is governed by your carrier's policies.