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Down the Perdeim Rabbit HOLE ️

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Brake Fade, Oct 23, 2025 at 11:00 PM.

  1. Oct 23, 2025 at 11:00 PM #1
    Brake Fade

    Brake Fade Bobtail Member

    6
    1
    Jun 22, 2022
    Lexington KY
    0
    Good Evening Fellow Pro Drivers. Just wanted to make a quick thread about falling down the Perdeim Rabbit Hole searching for understanding of taxes & Non Taxed Deductions that you end up having to readjust your tax withholding amount to cover the non taxes perdeim in the first place!? Not to be confused with actual perdeim ( PER - DAY ) reimbursements for food and lodging from your employer. But a Legally Slick way to lower there tax burden while turning yours into complete Sh!tz at the end of the tax year. So My company takes out perdeim from my wkly pay. Not to reimbursing me for that straight 6 hr non stop run to get that load delivered on time. Or the Double stk Burger from Pilot the night before. But to make it look like A beneficial addition to your pay structure. Only to find out that it's not what you really think it is! Attached is just the end of the hour embarkment I had with Google Gemini & The Reality behind "PERDEIM"
    & how I Really miss being a Dedicated Hourly & not Percentage Ba$ed" Comments & Criticism Welcomed"
     

    Attached Files:

    Brake Fade, Oct 23, 2025 at 11:00 PM
    Brake Fade, Oct 23, 2025 at 11:00 PM
    #1
    blairandgretchen Thanks this.
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  3. Oct 24, 2025 at 3:20 AM #2
    Flat Earth Trucker

    Flat Earth Trucker Road Train Member

    4,199
    15,833
    Nov 19, 2018
    0
    Zero sum gain, not game.
     
    Flat Earth Trucker, Oct 24, 2025 at 3:20 AM
    Flat Earth Trucker, Oct 24, 2025 at 3:20 AM
    #2
  4. Oct 24, 2025 at 11:40 AM #3
    blairandgretchen

    blairandgretchen Road Train Member

    13,521
    73,157
    Dec 9, 2011
    South west Missouri
    0
    It also reduces what you're paying into Social Security - and when you go to the bank for a loan on a house, your tax returns will confuse them too.

    A smart man would take the per diem portion and invest it wisely to overcome the SS shortfall, and have a decent sized cash downpayment for a house - but, well - you know, most folks just see the "Tax free Income" part of per diem and think it's a great idea.
     
    blairandgretchen, Oct 24, 2025 at 11:40 AM
    blairandgretchen, Oct 24, 2025 at 11:40 AM
    #3
    Oxbow Thanks this.
  5. Oct 24, 2025 at 1:33 PM #4
    Cdemars316

    Cdemars316 Heavy Load Member

    778
    4,607
    Nov 10, 2018
    0
    It is their way of having to pay less in payroll taxes, and putting the burden solely on the driver, kind of a dirty little trick. There is lots of dirty little tricks in this game, the other one I don't see pop up to much but is perfectly legal is to put your workers on hourly and not pay overtime, as long as the fall under ifta and have one truck out of home state per day they do not have to pay overtime.
     
    Cdemars316, Oct 24, 2025 at 1:33 PM
    Cdemars316, Oct 24, 2025 at 1:33 PM
    #4
  7. Oct 25, 2025 at 2:46 AM #5
    snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

    20,576
    13,298
    Jul 6, 2009
    0
    Agriculture is also exempt from overtime.

    Per diem went bye bye in 2017.
     
    snowwy, Oct 25, 2025 at 2:46 AM
    snowwy, Oct 25, 2025 at 2:46 AM
    #5
  8. Oct 25, 2025 at 6:36 AM #6
    Long FLD

    Long FLD Road Train Member

    12,209
    50,507
    Mar 4, 2015
    0
    The federal meal allowance went bye bye in 2017. Actual per diem as part of your wage is still perfectly legal for employees.
     
    Long FLD, Oct 25, 2025 at 6:36 AM
    Long FLD, Oct 25, 2025 at 6:36 AM
    #6
    Oxbow Thanks this.
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