When was the last time you got a clearance limit short of destination and why did you accept a clearance short of the destination without an EFC?
You can get a Clearance Limit short of destination without getting holding instructions or EFC. What's below goes on to explain that the aircraft must be cleared beyond the fix or holding and EFC issued at least 5 minutes before reaching it. The AIM reference that tells about this is 5-3-8.
4−6−1. CLEARANCE TO HOLDING FIX
Consider operational factors such as length of delay, holding airspace limitations, navigational aids, altitude, meteorological conditions when necessary to clear an aircraft to a fix other than the destination airport. Issue the following:
a. Clearance limit (if any part of the route beyond a clearance limit differs from the last routing cleared, issue the route the pilot can expect beyond the clearance limit).
PHRASEOLOGY−
EXPECT FURTHER CLEARANCE VIA (routing).
EXAMPLE−
“Expect further clearance via direct Stillwater V−O−R, Victor Two Twenty-Six Snapy intersection, direct Newark.”
b. Holding instructions.
1. Holding instructions may be eliminated when you inform the pilot that no delay is expected.
2. When the assigned procedure or route being flown includes a charted pattern, you may omit all holding instructions except the charted holding direction and the statement “as published.” Always issue complete holding instructions when the pilot requests them.
PHRASEOLOGY−
CLEARED TO (fix), HOLD (direction), AS PUBLISHED,
or
CLEARED TO (fix), NO DELAY EXPECTED.
c. EFC. Do not specify this item if no delay is expected.