Unreimbursed Miles?

Discussion in 'Trucker Taxes and Truck Financing' started by BearGator56, Apr 4, 2007.

  1. BearGator56

    BearGator56 "The G stands for GOOD!"

    289
    52
    Apr 11, 2006
    Orlando, FL
    0
    The carrier I am leased on to does not pay hub miles. Many trips are 1-5 miles short, and some of the really off ones are as much as 30-40 miles short compared to what they list them as. So, a trip that will pay you for 285 miles actually takes 290 miles by the time you make it back to the terminal.

    So, my question is... How can we claim those unpaid miles? They are a legitimate business expense, and I am not being paid for them. The IRS has a rate for POV miles when they are business related, but what about my commercial vehicle?

    Would this just be covered in the fuel deduction?
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Tip

    Tip Tipster

    2,294
    291
    Mar 18, 2006
    ON STRIKE
    0
    Relax, brother. You could be doing a LOT worse. I remember I used to drive for companies that would short me 10% on miles as regularly as clockwork. And you could be working for Swift out of the Richmond, VA terminal. I used to take runs for Swift from Richmond to Baltimore and would get stiffed on about 30% of the miles. You're doing great compared to that.

    No, I couldn't write off those miles I had to give away, either. I needed proof that I actually didn't get paid for the miles when I actually did drive them. I didn't know how to get that proof.

    Today I'd try to see if I could get records from Q-comm, assuming I drove for a company that uses satellite tracking. Of course, I wouldn't be driving for a company that stiffed me on more than about 2% of my miles, either.

    The Q-Comm companies know exactly how far you drive thanks to the satellite system, yet they will still stiff you on some of your miles. This is something that needs to be investigated by someone like Nancy Pilosi. In three years driving, I bet I gave away 5,000 bucks in free miles, and the IRS couldn't possibly have cared less.
     
  4. TurboTrucker

    TurboTrucker Road Train Member

    861
    276
    Feb 23, 2005
    Rossville, Georgia
    0
    You can't claim "unpaid" miles. You can claim the income received and all the legitimate expenses that you had that offsets the income amount.

    It costs quite a bit more per mile to operate a class eight truck than what the IRS would allow you per mile if you took deductions on that basis, and the IRS only allows you to claim vehicle expenses for the year based on one method or the other, so even if you went to the actual mileage calculations, you'd lose out. It wouldn't begin to touch your actual expenses to operate a big truck.
     
  5. TurboTrucker

    TurboTrucker Road Train Member

    861
    276
    Feb 23, 2005
    Rossville, Georgia
    0
    Good luck on finding THAT.
     
  6. Tip

    Tip Tipster

    2,294
    291
    Mar 18, 2006
    ON STRIKE
    0
    Yeap, your right, brother TT. It'd take more than luck to find that company. It'd take about three miracles to happen all at once. Unconnected, marginalized guys like me don't get those kinds of jobs. Only those who know the right person get 'em.
     
  7. MedicineMan

    MedicineMan Road Train Member

    5,799
    6,440
    Jan 13, 2007
    Woodville, TX
    0
    I get paid off the odometer!! :yes2557:

    YA SORRY i AM BRAGING
     
  8. Brickman

    Brickman Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

    12,905
    12,201
    Sep 17, 2006
    WY
    0





    You also cannot claim payment for a load that a shipper/broker stiffed you on. Only the actually provable expenses. It sucks I know.
     
  9. martinez

    martinez Bobtail Member

    48
    3
    Jul 17, 2007
    Casa Grande, Arizona
    0
    Who do you drive for?
     
  10. BobC

    BobC Medium Load Member

    409
    57
    Jul 8, 2007
    Cincinnati, slOhio
    0
    Some years ago, a friend of mine who owned a truck & had a driver in it, was successfully sued by that driver for his unpaid miles.

    I think it was in civil court where the suit was brought.

    I don't know all the details but I continue to believe it's a possibility if you want to go that route.
     
  11. Bigray

    Bigray Road Train Member

    1,135
    383
    Nov 23, 2007
    Tampa, Florida
    0
    as far as being stiffed by shipper/broker, in my current line of bus./work if after a year's time and i have not been paid i can write that invoice off.
     
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.