Certifying Your Logs
Certifying (also called “signing”) your daily logs is how you confirm that the information recorded is true and accurate. This is a legal requirement under FMCSA regulations, and keeping your logs certified on time helps you stay compliant.
What Does Certifying Mean?
Section titled “What Does Certifying Mean?”When you certify a log, you are digitally signing it and agreeing to a legal statement that the record of your duty statuses, locations, and driving times for that day is accurate and complete. Think of it like signing a paper logbook at the end of the day — it is your confirmation that everything is correct.
Note: Once you certify a log, you can still make edits if needed, but the log will need to be re-certified after any changes.
How to Certify a Single Log
Section titled “How to Certify a Single Log”- Open the daily log you want to certify. (See Viewing Your Daily Logs for how to find your logs.)
- Look for the Certify button, typically located at the bottom of the log details screen.
- Tap Certify.
- A legal statement will appear on screen. Read it carefully — by proceeding, you are agreeing that the log is a true and accurate record of your activities for that day.
- Confirm by tapping Agree or Certify to complete the process.
The log status will change from Unsigned to Certified.
How to Certify Multiple Logs at Once
Section titled “How to Certify Multiple Logs at Once”If you have several unsigned logs that need certification, you do not have to sign them one at a time:
- From the Logs list, look for the option to Certify All unsigned logs or select multiple logs.
- Tap the multi-certify option.
- Review the list of logs that will be certified.
- The legal agreement will appear, covering all selected logs.
- Confirm to certify all of them at once.
Tip: This is especially handy if you have fallen a few days behind on certifying. You can catch up quickly by certifying several days in one step.
The Legal Statement
Section titled “The Legal Statement”When you certify, you will see a statement similar to:
“I hereby certify that my data entries and my record of duty status for this 24-hour period are true and correct.”
By agreeing, you are legally confirming the accuracy of your log under federal regulations.
Warnings About Missing Information
Section titled “Warnings About Missing Information”Before certification, RouteMate may warn you if certain information is missing from your log, such as:
- Trailer numbers not entered for the day
- Shipping document numbers not recorded
You can still proceed with certification even if these fields are missing. However, it is a good practice to fill them in for a complete and compliant record.
Tip: If you see a warning about missing trailers or shipping documents, take a moment to add them before certifying. It only takes a few seconds and makes your records more complete.
Why Timely Certification Matters
Section titled “Why Timely Certification Matters”FMCSA regulations require that you certify your logs promptly. Here is why it is important:
- During a roadside inspection, an officer will check whether your recent logs are certified. Unsigned logs can lead to violations.
- Your carrier’s compliance score can be affected by uncertified logs across their fleet.
- Late certification may raise questions during audits about the accuracy of your records.
Note: Make it a habit to certify your log at the end of each driving day or first thing the next morning. RouteMate will remind you if you have unsigned logs that need attention.