Yard Move

A yard move is the operation of a commercial motor vehicle within the confines of a yard, terminal, distribution center, or other facility property. Under ELD regulations, yard move time is recorded as on-duty not driving status rather than driving status, meaning it counts toward the driver's total on-duty hours but does not consume their limited driving hours under HOS rules.

Yard moves are commonly performed when repositioning trailers within a facility, moving a truck to a loading dock, pulling through a fuel island at a carrier terminal, or parking at a designated spot. The ELD must support a yard move function that allows the driver or a designated yard jockey to switch to this special status while operating on facility property.

Carriers must establish clear policies about when yard move status is appropriate, as its misuse to avoid recording driving time is a compliance violation. During DOT audits and roadside inspections, enforcement officers may review yard move records and question extended or geographically inconsistent yard move entries. Proper use of yard move status helps drivers preserve their driving hours for on-road operations while accurately recording all vehicle movement.