Personal Conveyance and Yard Moves: When Off-Duty Driving Counts
Two ELD special categories, two different duty statuses. When moving the truck stays off the clock, when it counts as on duty, and what officers look for.
Personal conveyance is driving a truck for personal reasons while off duty, and FMCSA lets drivers log it as off-duty time only when the motor carrier has relieved them of all work. Since FMCSA’s June 2018 guidance, the truck may be loaded. A yard move is different: short moves inside a yard, logged as on duty not driving.
Both are optional ELD categories that the carrier turns on under 49 CFR 395.28. Neither is a loophole for moving freight, and both leave a clear trail on the log. The guidance below applies as of November 2026.
What counts as personal conveyance?
Personal conveyance (PC) is use of the truck for personal use or reasons while the driver is off duty. The test is the purpose of the trip, not whether a trailer or cargo is attached. FMCSA’s guidance, published at 83 FR 26377, says a loaded truck can be used for PC because the load is not moving for the carrier’s commercial benefit at that time.
PC is off-duty time, so it does not count against the 11-hour driving limit or the 14-hour window. It also does not reduce the driver’s or carrier’s duty to drive safely, and the carrier may restrict it, cap the distance, ban it while loaded or not allow it at all. The limits PC sits outside of are explained in our guide to hours of service rules.
When is personal conveyance allowed and when is it not?
The 2018 guidance lists examples on both sides. The examples are not exhaustive, but inspectors and carriers rely on them.
| Situation | PC? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Driving from a truck stop or motel to a restaurant or store and back | Yes | Personal errand while off duty |
| Commuting between home and the terminal, a drop lot or a work site | Yes | Allowed if the driver still gets the required rest |
| Leaving a shipper or receiver after loading or unloading to the first reasonable, safe place to rest | Yes | The driver must then take the required off-duty period before driving again |
| Moving the truck at the request of a safety official during off-duty time | Yes | Listed in the guidance |
| Driving home after working at an offsite location, if the carrier authorizes it | Yes | Listed in the guidance |
| Skipping available rest spots to get closer to the next pickup or delivery | No | Improves the carrier’s operational readiness |
| Bobtailing or pulling an empty trailer to get the next load | No | Continues the trip for a business purpose |
| Taking the truck to a shop for maintenance | No | Business use |
| Driving to the carrier’s terminal after a delivery | No | Business use |
| Driving to rest after being placed out of service for hours of service | No | Unless an officer at the scene directs it |
The safe-haven example has a condition many drivers miss: the rest location must be the first one reasonably available. Running 80 miles past open parking to reach a favored stop closer to the next appointment is the textbook example of misuse. Finding legal parking is covered in where truck drivers can park overnight.
What is a yard move?
A yard move is moving the truck inside a yard, such as hooking and dropping trailers, shuttling to a door or repositioning at a terminal. It is logged as on duty not driving rather than driving, so it uses the 14-hour window and the 60 or 70-hour limit but not the 11 hours of driving.
FMCSA has not written a definition of “yard” into the regulations. In January 2021 it published proposed guidance (86 FR 179) that described what it means by a yard:
- An intermodal yard or port facility.
- A motor carrier’s place of business.
- A shipper’s privately owned parking lot.
- A public road, only while public access is restricted by gates, lights, flaggers or similar controls.
The same proposal said public roads without such controls and public rest areas are not yards. Check FMCSA’s guidance portal for the current wording before building company policy on it.
How do you log PC and yard moves on an ELD?
Under 49 CFR 395.28, a carrier may configure the ELD to allow two special driving categories: authorized personal use and yard moves. When the carrier has enabled them, the driver must follow three steps.
- Select the category on the ELD before the truck starts moving.
- Add the annotation the device asks for, such as “PC to Pilot exit 112 for 10-hour break” or “yard move, dock 14 to drop lot.”
- Deselect the category when the movement ends, so that later driving records correctly.
The ELD still records miles, location and engine hours during PC and yard moves. If the category is not turned on for your login, you cannot use it, and the movement records as driving. Device basics, including malfunctions, are in our explainer on ELD rules.
What do inspectors look at?
Officers compare the PC or yard segment with the rest of the log and supporting documents. Red flags include PC that starts right after a delivery and heads toward the next shipper, long PC segments that end at a pickup, yard moves recorded on public highways, and annotations that say nothing about where the driver went. A movement that does not qualify can be treated as driving time, which can produce a false log violation under 49 CFR 395.8(e) and an hours of service violation if the recalculated time is over the limit.
Bottom line
The question an officer asks is simple: who benefited from this movement? If the answer is the carrier, it is driving or on-duty time, however short. Written company rules on PC, with a distance cap and examples, protect both the driver and the carrier because they show intent before a roadside question comes up.
FAQ
Is there a mileage limit on personal conveyance?
FMCSA sets no mileage or time limit. Carriers can set their own, and many do. The trip still has to fit a personal purpose and leave time for the required rest.
Can I use personal conveyance with a loaded trailer?
Yes. Since the June 2018 guidance, a laden truck may be used for PC if the driver is relieved from work and the trip is personal. Your carrier can still prohibit it.
Does a yard move count toward my 11 hours?
No. A qualifying yard move is on duty not driving, so it counts toward the 14-hour window and the weekly limit, but not the 11-hour driving limit.
Can I use PC to get home after running out of hours?
Only if the trip is personal and the carrier allows it. If you were placed out of service for hours of service, you may not drive under PC unless an officer at the scene tells you to move.
