Werner Per Diem fraud

I never read so much #### in all my life.

In the first place, when attending Werner orientation you are shown a video that thoroughly explains their per diem program.

In the second place, with Werner, per diem is absolutely voluntary.

Lastly, before you get all spun up about something so unimportant you ought to take the time to do the math and determine how it affects you personally.

Per diem has been beat to death on this message board and the only thing tha everyone can agree upon is that it is not a wise long term choice. Any other recommendations made should be taken with a grain of salt. If you don't have the where-with-all to research this yourself, especially since it effects your income, maybe all you really care about is whining about things you don't understand.

Based on this thread, I doubt the credibility of any company specific thread on this message board.

 

After reading this thread I decided to try to find out more about the per diem. I am not a driver yet, so I am trying to wrap my head around all of this.

Here is what I found, maybe it will help someone else.

Section 274(n)(3) provides a special rule that increases the percentage that can be deducted for meals of persons, such as truck drivers, who are subject to the hours of service limitations established by the Department of Transportation.​

Meals Deductible Percentage Under 274(n)(3)
55% for years beginning in 1998, 1999
60% for years beginning in 2000, 2001
65% for years beginning in 2002, 2003
70% for years beginning in 2004, 2005
75% for years beginning in 2006, 2007
80% for years beginning in 2008, 2009​

Trucking associations have lobbied for several years to return the meals deduction to 100 percent for truck drivers.


And...

​

1. PER DIEM / MEAL REIMBURSEMENT
   Section 4.04 of the following revenue procedures allows a special per diem rate for meals and incidentals of drivers in transportation industry.

Rev. Proc.
Period
Limit
2007-63
10-01-07 to present
$52
2006-41
10-1-06 to 9-30-2007
$52
2005-67
10-1-05 to 9-30-2006
$52
2005-10
01-1-05 to 9-30-2005
$41
2004-60
10-1-04 to 12-31-2004
$41
2003-80
11-1-03 to 9-30-2004
$41
2002-63
10-1-02 to 10-31-2003
$40
2001-47
10-1-01 to 9-30-2002
$38
2000-39
10-1-00 to 9-30-01
$38
2000-9
1-1-00 to 9-30-00
$38

Everyone keeps saying a $59 maximum limit but on the IRS webpage it says $52 maximum. I have not found any rules about partial days, i.e. when you first leave your home or return. I do not doubt that the rules exist, I just haven't found them yet.

G10

 

When you LEAVE home is when you start your count as you will be gone over night, even if you only show an hour driving. It's the overnight that counts on the 1st day.You must show I think 8 hours on the day you return home but I'm not exactly certain on that. Also don't forget that in that list above Bill Clinton screwed us big time when he took our "3 martini lunch" deduction away from us! Per diem is what used to be called "the 3 martini lunch deduction" the liberals fought so hard to cut off, not realizing that it affected more than a few business men over eating and taxing it!
It took almost 5 years after we finally were able to convince that moron that 3 million truck drivers weren't doing the same as those overly paid businessmen! He then doled it back to us a little bit at a time "so as not to hurt the economy"! Freaking dumb arsed liberals!

 

That clears a lot up for me so thanks for the explanation. I'm going to try to find the other threads on per diem to learn more.

G10.

 

I was born on the freeway between Visalia and Bakersfield. Raised on a mayonaise farm................

 

Knight holds 2 copper, so about 12m a year.

What a racket.

 

At 2-sous per mile, you're getting screwed. Opt out quick!

 

Based on a 10,000 mile month # .30 a mile versus .29 a mile on Per Diem, single claiming zero and 24 days a month out, you would bring home about $220 a month more on Per Diem.

This is a simple calculation without considering any idiosyncrasies and figuring you got the whole $42 a day calculated as Per Diem.

As far as worrying about more important things, I would direct my concerns to the $5.00 an hour you are effectively being paid # 10000 miles a month and .30 a mile. That sounds like less than minimum wage.

Werners video stated that they did their best to make the per diem program revenue neutral for the company. I never did the math on their program but that is a pretty bold statement to make if they can't prove it. Their video also explained where the costs were for the company.

One thing you failed to address in your selective quoting was the fact that we all agree that Per Diem is not a long-term good choice. At least not if you want to maximize your income for other purposes. However, for purposes of a loan, your entire income is reported on your pay statement and clearly shows what you made and that some was not taxable. Most loan companies care about gross, not net.

Here is my opinion of Per Diem in as simple a terms as I can possibly state. Taking the Per Diem option is not a good long term choice. However, for some drivers, Per Diem can mean the difference between beans and hamburger, electricity and darkness, paying the bills or not paying the bills. Rather than ranting and raving about how you are getting screwed you really should take the time to determine HOW IT AFFECTS YOU PERSONALLY. So the company makes $6 million a year more. That doesn't affect you at all... HOW DOES IT AFFECT YOU TODAY? Not the driver next to you who has a bad attitude about everything anyway... YOU!

If you really want to whine about something, complain about the slave wages you are paid. On the other hand, maybe testosterone has won out and you just enjoy spending your life in that big purty truck.

 

10K miles a month averages out to 50 hours a week if you average 50 miles an hour. This comes to $15/hr.....if you calculate it at on a 60 hour week you still make $12.50/hr. This is much higher then minimum wage...still not good money by my standards but still not $5/hr as claimed above.