Trucking news and briefs for Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022:
Per diem rates remain unchanged for 2023
The Internal Revenue Service announced recently that it is not changing the per diem rate for truck drivers for fiscal year 2023, leaving it at $69 per day, effective as of Oct. 1.
Through the end of the year, drivers will be able to claim a 100% deduction of the $69 due to the Federal Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. Beginning in January, however, drivers can only claim an 80% deduction, or $55.20, which was standard practice prior to 2021.
Owner-operators can claim per diem for each day they are away from their “tax home,” as long as they are away from home for “substantially longer than a normal work day,” per the IRS. On the days that drivers depart and the days that they arrive at home, they must claim a partial day allowance instead of a full day allowance, which is 3/4 of the standard allowance.
[Related: Per diem tax breaks just got a lot simpler for owner-operators]
Best Fleets to Drive For nomination period ends Oct. 31
The Truckload Carriers Association, in partnership with CarriersEdge, is asking for nominations for the 2023 Best Fleets to Drive For awards.
“TCA is excited to once again recognize the best workplaces for North American truck drivers through our 2023 Best Fleets to Drive For honors,” said Jim Ward, TCA president. “The industry has been laser-focused on workforce recruitment and retention this year and we can’t wait to see the innovative experiences they have created for their drivers.”
The Best Fleets to Drive For program is dedicated to uncovering the best workplaces in the North American trucking industry. The awards recognize the for-hire fleets providing exceptional workplace experiences for their company drivers and independent contractors.
The Best Fleets program is open to any for-hire trucking company operating 10 tractor-trailers or more in the U.S. or Canada. There is no cost to participate, and fleets do not have to be TCA members. Fleets must be nominated by a driver or independent contractor currently working with them, and nominations will be accepted through Oct. 31.
The Top 20 Fleets, Hall of Fame and Fleets to Watch will be announced on Jan. 31, 2023, with overall winners announced and recognized at TCA’s Annual Convention taking place March 4-6, 2023, in Orlando, Florida.
Love’s sets new record with $4.3M donation to children’s hospitals
Love’s Travel Stops and its customers raised more than $4.3 million through its annual Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals campaign, surpassing last year’s total by more than $1 million.
Since 1999, the company has raised more than $40 million for children’s hospitals in the states where Love’s stores are located.
“Our customers and team members never cease to amaze us with the effort and donations they put forth each year for the Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals campaign,” said Jenny Love Meyer, chief culture officer and executive vice president of Love’s. “Supporting sick and injured kids and their caregivers in the communities we live and work is one of our favorite ways to give back each year.”
The official campaign took place from Aug. 26 through Sept. 30, when customers could participate in in-store fundraisers, purchase balloons or CMN Hospitals merchandise, and Round up the Change at registers.
Love’s also announced that, for the first time, the Round up the Change program will continue year round.
“For more than two decades Love’s team members and customers have supported Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals through their culture of giving. This year Love’s reached new heights, raising more funds than ever before for local member children’s hospitals,” said Teri Nestel, president and chief executive officer of Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals. “This achievement shows how a small change, adding an option for customers to round up their purchase to the next dollar on the pin pad during checkout, can produce big results.”
Of the 170 CMN Hospitals throughout North America, 116 benefit from Love’s annual campaign. CMN Hospitals provide 32 million treatments annually to children across the U.S. and Canada.
