O/O newbie tax question. Per diem expenses?

2008 was my first full year as an owner operator and I have a question about claiming per diem expenses. I drive local within a 250 mile radius and rarely spend the night in my truck except for one month during the summer. I do work long hours though, typically 6 hours freeway driving and 8 hours of making drops and pickups. Can I even claim them as a non-OTR driver? And if I can, do you think it would be fair to ask for $12 a day per diem costs. Should I ask for more?

 

Well I do work all night and morning long. Most of my time, including meals, are spent in the truck 150 miles away.

 

Oh well, it was an option worth exploring. I guess I will only tell my accountant to deduct the per diem expenses for the one month I am OTR. Anyway, this is one year I don't really want to bring my net income down so much that it makes the lenders nervous because I am already house shopping and plan on buying soon.