Final answer:
The statement is false because most commercial drivers now use Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) to track their hours, negating the need for manual duplicate logs. However, drivers exempt from the ELD rule may still maintain paper logs, with backups as needed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that every driver must prepare an original and one copy of the driver's record of duty status is False. In current practice, the use of Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) for tracking hours of service is mandated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) for most commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers. This mandate, which took effect in December 2017, means that manual creation of duplicate logs is no longer necessary for drivers who are required to keep Record of Duty Status (RODS) and are subject to the ELD rule.
However, drivers who are exempt from the ELD rule due to certain conditions, such as those operating vehicles older than the model year 2000 or who do not operate outside of the 100 air-mile radius very often, may still be required to keep paper logs. But the requirement to keep a duplicate is focused on backup records in case the original records are lost or damaged, not a daily requirement for each log.