A truck driver log book template is a practical recordkeeping document used to track a driver’s hours of service, duty status, driving time, on-duty time, off-duty time, sleeper berth time, vehicle details, route information, mileage, shipping references, and daily certification. In the United States, driver logs are closely connected to Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration hours-of-service rules, electronic logging device requirements, and motor carrier recordkeeping practices. A template can be useful for training, internal review, backup documentation, paper log situations, non-regulated operations, or supporting administrative records, but it should be used carefully because many regulated commercial drivers are required to use an ELD rather than a paper log. This page provides downloadable Word, PDF, and Excel versions of the truck driver log book template, together with practical guidance for completing, customizing, printing, archiving, and using the document responsibly.
Download the Truck Driver Log Book Word Template
The Word format is useful when you want to edit the truck driver log book freely before printing, sharing, signing, or adapting it to a specific carrier policy, driver training process, paper log format, internal audit procedure, or backup recordkeeping workflow.
Download the Truck Driver Log Book PDF Template
The PDF format is useful for printing, archiving, keeping a fixed-layout blank log page, sharing with drivers or dispatch staff, or storing completed daily records with supporting compliance documents.
Download the Truck Driver Log Book Excel Template
The Excel format is useful when the log book contains repeatable daily rows, driver registers, vehicle lists, duty status totals, trip records, mileage entries, supporting document references, dates, schedules, review notes, or automatic time calculations.
How to Complete and Use This Document
Start the truck driver log book template by entering the driver and carrier information for the specific 24-hour period being recorded. Important fields usually include driver name, employee or driver ID, motor carrier name, main office or terminal address, home terminal time zone, date, truck or tractor number, trailer number, co-driver if any, shipping document number, bill of lading number, trip number, starting location, ending location, total miles driven, and the driver’s signature or certification. The log should be traceable to one driver, one day, and the vehicles operated during that day.
The core of a driver log is the record of duty status. A traditional paper-style log normally separates time into off duty, sleeper berth, driving, and on duty not driving. The driver should record each change in duty status at the time it occurs, using the applicable time standard for the home terminal, and should include enough remarks to explain where the change happened and what activity was performed. Examples may include pre-trip inspection, loading, unloading, fueling, roadside inspection, repair delay, customer stop, yard move if applicable, personal conveyance if allowed by policy, rest break, sleeper berth period, or end of shift.
Calculate the total hours for each duty status line and confirm that the total equals 24 hours for the day. A common quality check is to compare the driving total, on-duty total, off-duty time, sleeper berth time, mileage, dispatch records, fuel receipts, toll records, delivery documents, GPS data, and inspection reports. The log should not be completed from memory at the end of the week unless a specific rule or internal procedure allows reconstruction. Inaccurate, incomplete, missing, or falsified logs can create serious compliance, insurance, employment, and liability issues.
Use the remarks and supporting document section carefully. A good truck driver log book template should provide space for location, activity notes, shipping document references, customer names, fuel stops, receipts, roadside inspection numbers, repair orders, tolls, dispatch instructions, and exceptions claimed. Motor carriers may need to retain supporting documents tied to a driver’s records of duty status, and those documents should be organized so the carrier can verify whether the log is accurate. Drivers should submit completed logs and supporting materials according to company policy and applicable federal requirements.
Do not assume that a paper truck driver log book template is acceptable for every operation. Under federal rules, many motor carriers and drivers who are required to keep records of duty status must use an electronic logging device. Paper logs may still be relevant in limited situations, such as certain short periods, exempt operations, ELD malfunctions, training, internal review, or operations not subject to the ELD requirement. Short-haul operations may use time records rather than full records of duty status only if the specific conditions of the exception are met. Because these rules depend on vehicle type, weight, cargo, passenger operations, distance, duty schedule, interstate or intrastate status, and motor carrier classification, the user should verify the current requirements before relying on a template.
Customize the document to match the operation. A long-haul carrier may need detailed trip, load, broker, fuel, toll, and inspection references. A local fleet may need start time, release time, total hours, job number, and timecard cross-checks. A construction, agricultural, utility, or oilfield operation may need fields for special exceptions, jobsite locations, equipment units, or state-specific rules. A training version may include example entries, reviewer initials, and correction notes. If the template is used electronically in Excel, protect formulas where possible and make sure drivers understand whether it is only an internal tool or an official record.
Before using the completed log for compliance purposes, check that all required fields are complete, the 24-hour totals balance, duty status changes are supported by remarks, mileage appears reasonable, shipping documents are referenced, and the driver has certified the record. Keep completed logs with related documents according to the motor carrier’s retention policy and applicable law. For regulated commercial motor vehicle operations, ELD applicability, hours-of-service exceptions, intrastate rules, passenger operations, hazardous materials, audit preparation, accident claims, employment disputes, or enforcement questions, consult a qualified fleet compliance professional, transportation attorney, insurer, safety consultant, or the appropriate federal, state, county, or city authority.