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Latest Stories: Page 6
Taxes
Handling per-diem and depreciation deductions to save, and cut against common tax myths
Owner-operators' standard per-diem deduction got a boost for the 2025 tax year, and in 2026 options for depreciating equipment have expanded courtesy of legislation also solidifying business income deductions.
January 1, 2026
Taxes
Truck lease v. truck purchase: A tax analysis
Generally, a purchaser will get higher deductions in the first two years that follow, with the fourth year not even close to the level of deductions available to the lease taxpayer. The effect is a tax delay for truck-purchasing owner-operators.
January 1, 2026
Taxes
How, and when it makes sense, for owner-operators LLCs to file as an S Corp to save on self-employment taxes
Filing taxes as an S Corp allows an owner-operator LLC to designate the owner an employee of the LLC, yet still report the income of the business on their personal tax return. S Corp earnings are not subject to self-employment tax.
January 1, 2026
Taxes
Quick-hit tips for truckers to save on taxes and guard against IRS audit risk
The IRS usually has three years from the date of filing to challenge deductions or income stated on your return by requesting an audit. Keep your records for at least that time period, and don't neglect these deductible expenses.
January 1, 2026
Trucking and Other Insurance
Trucking insurance: What's necessary, and what owner-operators can expect to pay
Behind a truck payment, insurance for most owner-operators (particularly those with authority) is the No. 2 highest fixed cost. Understanding what you're buying with any insurance policy is key to getting the best bang for the insurance buck.
January 1, 2026
Trucking and Other Insurance
Commercial auto liability: Independents' biggest insurance expense
Owner-operators who switch to their own authority often are surprised by how costly, complex and time-consuming liability coverage can be, especially as a startup. Keep a close hand on these seven factors influencing pricing, and eyes open for discounts with dashcam use.
January 1, 2026
Trucking and Other Insurance
Head off the insurance-renewal shocker: Mind open reserves, shop early
A doubling of liability premiums at renewal would be a huge shocker for any owner-operator with authority. It's not exactly common, but it happens. A little prep on your own or with an agent to mind any open claim reserves and build real strategy for shopping coverage will go a long way to head off the chances.
January 1, 2026
Trucking and Other Insurance
Physical damage, other important trucking insurance coverages
The law does not require physical damage insurance, but lenders do. A damage policy will pay no more than the value of the equipment. There's plenty more to consider within a damage policy, and don't neglect other important coverages detailed here.
January 1, 2026
Trucking and Other Insurance
Dashcams, ELDs, data: How to use for trucking insurance savings
Usage-based insurance, still uncommon for owner-ops, rises in prominence with tech proliferation. Simply running a dashcam can give you or your agent a talking point to sell risk reduction to any insurer, yet more and more want to see owners engaged with the data cams, ELDs and other telematics systems produce.
January 1, 2026
Business Management
Keen fixed, variable cost understanding key to owner-operator success
Trying to reduce costs, let alone make sense of them, can be a complicated task. Understanding basic principles of operating costs can save you thousands of dollars a year.
January 1, 2026
Business Management
More to earnings than per-mile pay for leased owners: Understanding revenue
The per-mile or percentage rate isn't a cure for every ill. Nor does it mean a big settlement check is coming your way. Per-mile pay or the percentage you're paid for the load always must be considered with other compensation-package elements.
January 1, 2026
Business Management
Bookkeeping: Among the most important tasks for owner-operators to master
While a business services provider can save you time with the task, owner-operators should take an active role in collecting and recording the information. The more organized and thorough you can be, the better you'll know when it's time to adjust one or more parameters for better profits.
January 1, 2026
Business Management
Profit and loss: Tracking, analyzing your progress to effectively compete
Building a P&L on a monthly cadence allows you to track progress over time to see if business income is improving. The best, most successful among owner-operators use the P&L religiously to figure out how to adjust for changing conditions.
January 1, 2026
Business Management
Old-school, tried-and-true ways to simplify record-keeping
Creating basic monthly income/expense reports, profit-and-loss statements and filing taxes is accomplished more easily with simplified recordkeeping. This old-school file-folder process can easily be adapted to the digital world.
January 1, 2026
Business Management
Fuel surcharges 101: Skinny on common per-mile structure, building profit
Some owner-operators make a healthy per-mile profit from fuel surcharges because good fuel economy practices allow them to average better than their leasing fleet's or customer contract's mpg basis.
January 1, 2026
Equipment and Maintenance
Getting that first OTR truck: Purchase or lease?
Will you purchase or lease the truck? If purchasing, where will you get the money? Here, find information about financing, how to find a good lender and more.
January 1, 2026
Equipment and Maintenance
Move equipment financing terms to your favor
When purchasing a truck and seeking a loan, you have several options for negotiating with lenders to help get the terms to more favorable footing. A few percentage points on an interest rate can yield thousands in savings -- or the opposite -- over the loan's term.
January 1, 2026
Equipment and Maintenance
Used trucks: How to evaluate a rig to protect long-term value
In short, match specs for the job. Used market conditions have stabilized since the COVID-19 pandemic -- good news for a market where most owner-operators source equipment, particularly early in their careers. Here's a lot to consider when evaluating a used purchase.
January 1, 2026
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