Out of Pocket Money

you may initially pay for things out of pocket; scale tickets, light bulbs, oil, etc.

But save your receipts and turn them in to be reimbursed. That's how things have always been for me anyway.

And ALWAYS make copies of your receipts too.

Otherwise, for big ticket items, you will likely get a comdata or TCH or some other form of cash transfer to you.

 

You should be re imbursed for money spent like scale tickets, tolls, if you don't have pikepass

 

keep $1000 on you in singles at all times...for scales, light bulbs, Food, Lot Lizards, Strip Clubs, etc. The cashiers at Loves with 3 teeth will do anything for $3 BTW....



Just kidding, keep $20 on you, $10, $5, and five $1's and like the other guys said keep your receipts and turn them in to get your money back.



American Trucker

 

It would suck to get up to a toll booth and only have like $2 lol.

 

Occasionally I'll have to pay a toll if I'm in a state where my ipass won't work. What I do when I know I'll have a toll to pay is get a hundred bucks with my debit card at the atm or in a cash advance when I get fuel.

A month or so ago I broke down and was in a hotel for the better part of a week. I had to pay for that initially but was reimbursed on my check.

Like has been said, save your receipts and your company will pay you back for most anything you buy for the truck or trailer. If you're in doubt about something though, call and ask if they would rather reimburse you, issue a comchek, or have you go to a shop they have an account at to get something.

 

Could somebody explain how this driver per diem thing works?

 

well you see, first then bend you over and tell you to relax and that it wont hurt....then they ram it in without lube.


But seriously, the are ripping you off, you get screwed on your taxes, and they keep more money in their pocket all the while makeing it LOOK like your makeing more, yes you'll take home a little more per pay check but your Year End Earning will be alot less, your W2 WILL NOT show your per-diem so getting a loan will be harder since it'll show a much lower income level, and you will not get a big fat refund every spring from the gov when you do your taxes like every other Company OTR driver....

Summery DO NOT WORK FOR A COMPANY THAT REQUIRES YOU TO BE PAID ON PER-DIEM...or if you have the option like at Millis Transfer take the straight pay and screw the Per-Diem...





American Trucker

 

It's a tax deduction. It reduces your taxable income. I think last year it was $59/day. You can take 80% of that I believe.

So basically if you are on the road for 200 days, and you made $50,000, you multiply 200x59 which is 11,800. Then you figure 80% of that which is 9,440. Now you subtract 9,440 from $50,000 leaving you a taxable income of 40,560. You still have your other deductions such as mortgage interest, etc.

I'm not really sure of the intricacies of tax law so obviously you should consult a tax expert before taking my word on it.

If you're talking about a company automatically figuring your per diem so that you bring home more each week, beware, as that can greatly affect your social security contributions.