Tax Planning for Trucking & Owner-Operators
Per diem rules, heavy equipment depreciation, income earned across a dozen states — trucking is one of the most complicated corners of tax planning, and one of the most overlooked.
A flat per diem rate claimed out of habit, instead of calculated against the days you actually logged on the road, is one of the most common gaps we see — and one of the easiest to fix. A tax preparer who isn't specifically looking for it almost never catches it.
Where trucking & owner-operators businesses lose money, and how we fix it
Per diem for days on the road that isn't being fully claimed
A per diem review sized to the days you actually logged
Truck and trailer depreciation that isn't working as hard as it could against this year's income
Section 179 and depreciation planning for your trucks and trailers
Quarterly payments that don't move with fuel costs and freight rates
Quarterly payments that account for fuel and freight rate swings
Entity structure that hasn't been looked at since you added your first extra truck
Entity structuring as you add drivers or trucks
Common deductions we check for trucking & owner-operators
- Per diem for days on the road
- Fuel
- Truck and trailer depreciation
- Maintenance and repairs
- Licensing and permits
- Insurance
- Load board and dispatch fees
An owner-operator had been claiming a flat, underestimated per diem rate for years — recalculating against actual logged days on the road materially changed the deduction.
Illustrative example based on common situations in this industry, not a specific named client. See a real, anonymized client result on our Results page.
Frequently asked questions
Do you work with owner-operators leased to a carrier, not just independent fleets?+
Yes, the tax strategy applies whether you're independent or leased on, as long as you're receiving 1099 income.
More general questions about pricing, process, and security? See the full FAQ.
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