Truck Driver Conveyance Time Regulations - What Counts And What Doesn’t

Personal conveyance (a.k.a. “conveyance time” or Line 5) lets a CDL driver move a CMV off duty for personal reasons—not to advance a load or the motor carrier’s business. Used correctly, it’s a stress reducer (parking, food, lodging). Used loosely, it’s a fast way to rack up violations. This 2025 guide explains what counts, what doesn’t, U.S. vs. Canada differences, common myths, clean ELD annotations, and enforcement red flags—with clear, responsive tables you can drop straight into your site.

New to trucking? Start right. Complete your training with ELDT Nation—widely regarded as the best place to do ELDT training online—including ELDT Hazmat (H) theory for your endorsement when you’re ready—then use this article to build ironclad conveyance habits from day one.

What “conveyance time” means (driver-first definition)

Personal conveyance is off-duty movement of your commercial vehicle for reasons that are not in furtherance of the motor carrier’s business. Think: driving from a crowded shipper to the nearest safe parking, heading to a restaurant or lodging while off duty, or commuting between your home and the terminal when you’re not under dispatch and not moving freight. If the move positions you closer to your next load, shortens tomorrow’s trip, bypasses HOS limits, or carries property, it’s not personal conveyance.

What counts vs. what doesn’t (with examples)

U.S. vs. Canada: key differences at a glance

In practice, U.S. personal conveyance relies on the principle “not in furtherance of the business”—no fixed distance cap, but reasonableness and annotations matter. Canada allows off-duty personal use with specific caps/conditions (e.g., daily distance limits for federal HOS, cannot tow a trailer during personal use, and must not be used to avoid HOS).

Clean ELD annotations (make them bulletproof)

• State the personal reason (“nearest safe parking,” “restaurant,” “hotel,” “commute”).
• Name a place or mile marker; include approximate distance.
• If evicted by a facility, say so (“shipper asked to leave at 22:40; proceeding to nearest safe lot 6.2 mi”).
• When in doubt, go shortest/nearest. Choosing a faraway truck stop when a closer safe option exists looks like repositioning.
• Carrier policy wins. If your company’s PC rules are stricter, follow them.

Pro move: In your trip plan, mark two backup safe lots so a PC move is short, obvious, and easy to justify.

Red flags that get drivers cited

• PC used to “leapfrog” toward tomorrow’s delivery. If it shortens tomorrow’s run, expect scrutiny.
• PC with a live load to stage near pickup. That’s advancing the business.
• Stretching “nearest safe parking.” Bypassing closer options to reach a preferred chain is risky.
• Regular long PC commutes that look like you’re working off the clock.
• Missing annotations. If the ELD only says “PC,” you’re inviting questions.

Quick scenarios (how to call them)

Carrier policy & driver sanity (set guardrails before you roll)

Ask dispatch for the company’s written PC policy and keep it in-cab. Agree on:

• What counts as nearest safe parking in your main corridors.
• When commuting in a CMV is allowed and how to annotate it.
• Any mileage caps the company wants (stricter than federal guidance).
• Who to notify if a facility orders you off property at night.

Remember: PC is a safety valve, not an extra hour of stealth routing. Used wisely, it protects your sleep window, mood, and logbook.

New drivers: get the foundation

You’ll hear a hundred versions of “it’s fine, just PC it.” Don’t gamble your CDL. Finish ELDT cleanly with ELDT Nation—the best place to do ELDT training online—and build a habit of short, annotated, defensible PC moves. Add two backup lots to every trip plan, and you’ll rarely need more than a few miles of conveyance.

FAQs

What is personal conveyance in plain English?

Off-duty use of your CMV for personal reasons—not to move freight or position for work. Think nearest safe parking, meals, lodging, or commuting off dispatch.

Can I use personal conveyance with a loaded trailer?

Generally no if the move advances the business (closer to next stop or staging). A short move to the nearest safe parking after loading/unloading may be OK.

Does the U.S. have a mileage limit for personal conveyance?

No fixed national cap. Reasonableness and annotations control. Many carriers set their own caps—follow the stricter rule.

How is Canada different on personal use?

Canada’s federal HOS allows personal use with specific caps/conditions and typically no trailer. It’s more prescriptive than the U.S.

Is yard move the same as personal conveyance?

No. Yard Move is On-Duty/Not Driving in the ELD and is used for work within a yard. Personal conveyance is Off-Duty for personal reasons.

Can I commute in the CMV under personal conveyance?

Yes, if you’re off duty, not under dispatch, and not moving freight. Annotate “commute” and keep it reasonable per carrier policy.

What should my ELD note say during PC?

State the reason and nearest safe destination (place or miles). Example: “PC: evicted by shipper; nearest safe lot 2.8 mi.”