Short answer: yes. ELDs cover hours-of-service. The DVIR is a separate FMCSA §396.11 requirement. Here is what you still need on paper, and why — including the part about defect documentation that most drivers skip.
Why ELDs do not replace DVIRs
The ELD (Electronic Logging Device) mandate covers hours of service only. It tracks driving time, on-duty time, sleeper-berth, and rest. It does not track vehicle condition.
FMCSA §396.11 (Driver vehicle inspection report) is a separate regulation. It requires that every driver, at the completion of each day, prepare a written report covering at least the following parts and accessories: brakes, parking brake, steering, lighting devices and reflectors, tires, horn, windshield wipers, rear-view mirrors, coupling devices, wheels and rims, and emergency equipment.
What needs to be on paper
A written DVIR signed by the driver, completed at the end of each driving day. If defects are noted, the carrier must sign confirming that repairs were made or are not necessary before the vehicle is next dispatched.
The defect-documentation part most drivers skip
If no defects are noted, FMCSA does NOT require the report to be retained beyond the next inspection. But if defects ARE noted, the report must be retained for at least three months from the date the report was prepared.
Keeping a paper DVIR pad in the cab is the simplest way to stay compliant. Our DVIR pads all meet the §396.11 requirements.