Mileage Tracking for Truck Drivers
Many truck drivers drive 80,000 to 130,000 business miles a year. At the 2026 IRS standard rate of 72.5 cents per mile, that is a deduction range of $58,000 to $94,250 for the workers who can claim it.
Who can deduct
Owner-operators and lease-purchase truck drivers are 1099 contractors and deduct mileage on Schedule C. Company drivers (W-2) cannot deduct unreimbursed mileage federally after the 2025 OBBBA change. Per-diem reimbursement is the path for most company drivers.
How truck drivers actually drive
Long-haul OTR truck drivers commonly drive 100,000 to 130,000 miles a year. Regional drivers typically 60,000 to 80,000. Local delivery drivers 30,000 to 50,000. The deduction math is enormous for owner-operators: at 100,000 business miles, the standard rate produces a $72,500 deduction.
Typical deductible trips
The trips below are the ones truck drivers most commonly forget to log, plus the obvious ones. Auto-tracking catches all of them, including the small ones that add up.
- Long-haul runs between distribution hubs
- Pickup at shipper, delivery at consignee
- Driving to truck stops, weigh stations, and rest areas during a haul
- Driving to a terminal for paperwork or maintenance
- Bobtail miles (driving without a trailer attached, between drops)
- Deadhead miles between a delivery and the next pickup
How TruMile helps
TruMile auto-detects every drive using motion plus location, so the trips above get logged whether you remember them or not. Smart classification learns your repeat routes (between regular client homes, between job sites, to your supply store) and starts tagging them automatically after a few trips.
At year-end, one tap turns your trip log into an IRS-compliant CSV or PDF you can hand to your accountant or paste into Schedule C. The math is already done.
Free for 40 auto trips a month, every month. If you are anywhere near the high end of the typical mileage range, the unlimited Pro tier at $7.99 a month or $59.99 a year usually pays for itself in the first week of tax season.
FAQ for truck drivers
Should owner-operators use standard mileage or actual expenses?
Almost always actual expenses. Owner-operator rigs are expensive ($150,000+ new), have huge fuel costs, and qualify for Section 179 plus bonus depreciation under heavy-vehicle rules. The standard mileage rate dramatically under-counts these costs. Run the actual-expense math.
Are per-diem payments taxable?
If structured as an accountable plan reimbursement at or below the IRS per-diem rate for trucking ($69/day in 2026 for transportation industry workers in covered DOT hours), it is tax-free to the driver. Above the rate or without substantiation, it is taxable wages.
What about deadhead miles?
Owner-operator deadhead miles are deductible business miles. The rate applies to all business driving, paid or unpaid at the destination.
Can I deduct meals while on a haul?
Yes. Truck drivers under DOT hours-of-service rules can deduct 80 percent of meal costs while away from home, higher than the standard 50 percent for other business travel. Most use the per-diem method (a flat daily rate) rather than tracking actual receipts.
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