Income Tax Services for Truckers

Transportation workers include over-the-road truck drivers, owner-operator truck drivers, and anyone else subject to hours of service regulations who directly moves people or goods by plane, train, barge, bus, truck, or ship and whose job requires the worker to travel away from home to areas with different federal per diem rates during any one trip.

Transportation workers subject to the Department of Transportation (DOT) hours of service laws are allowed a greater deduction for meals. 

What expenses can I deduct?

Truck drivers, particularly owner-operators who travel across state lines, have many additional expenses to consider.

Common items to include are:

  1. Sleeper bedding
  2. Laundry of sleeper bedding
  3. Laundry while away from home
  4. Communications equipment and service fees (such as cell phones and cell service plans)
  5. Tools, such as those for brake adjustments
  6. Batteries and flashlights
  7. Maps or mapping devices such as a GPS
  8. Administrative fees for faxing, ATMs, Wire Fees, Comdata/Comcheck fees
  9. Scale receipts (if not reimbursed)
  10. Tolls for roads and bridges (if not reimbursed)
  11. Association dues
  12. Postage/Fedex for mailing documents
  13. Cleaning supplies for the truck, inside and out
  14. Office supplies – pens, paper, pencils, paper clips, folders, etc.
  15. Recordkeeping tools: log books, vehicle inspection logs
  16. Medical exams
  17. Gloves
  18. Safety gear, such as boots and hard hats
  19. Software used for work
  20. Computers/tablets/laptops used for work (be able to substantiate business use!)
  21. Equipment – snow chains, winches, tarps, corner irons, straps
  22. News/traffic/weather reporting services

If you own your own truck, add the following deductions:

  1. Interest on the trucks/trailers
  2. Depreciation for the purchase of the trucks/trailers
  3. Fuel
  4. Repairs – costs to fix, but not replace, broken things such as windows, headlights, air conditioners
  5. Improvements – costs for items added to the truck or replaced such as blowers, engines, grills
  6. Maintenance – costs to keep the truck in good working order, such as lube and oil changes
  7. Tires
  8. Registration fees for trucks, trailers, IFTA, MCC, DMV
  9. Advertising for new routes
  10. Brokers fees if you paid direct
  11. Accounting and tax preparation fees
  12. Insurance – workers compensation, liability, inland marine, cargo/freight, vehicle
  13. Bank fees for business account
  14. Home office if applicable
  15. Rental/Leasing – trailers, trucks (when yours in the shop), parking spaces
  16. Anything else that is necessary and ordinary for you to do your job!