Owner-operator truckers file IRS Schedule C (or Schedule F for certain agricultural operators) and can deduct virtually every legitimate operating expense from their gross revenue. Smart deduction tracking can reduce taxable income by 40% to 70% of gross — making a CPA who specializes in trucking one of the highest-ROI professional services you can hire.
Vehicle and equipment
Truck depreciation (Section 179 or bonus depreciation can allow first-year write-off of the entire truck cost up to current limits); truck loan interest; truck insurance (cargo, liability, physical damage, bobtail, occupational accident); truck maintenance and repairs; truck washing; tires; APU fuel and maintenance; ELD subscription; ELD device cost.
Fuel and fuel-related
Diesel fuel (the largest single deduction); DEF; oil and lubricants; fuel taxes paid through IFTA; fuel additives; idle-reduction equipment.
Per diem and travel
Standard transportation-industry per-diem (80% deductible in 2024); lodging when not in the truck; tolls; parking at truck stops; showers when claiming actual rather than per-diem; laundry on the road.
Permits, licensing, and compliance
IFTA decals and quarterly tax payments; IRP cab card; UCR registration; HVUT (Heavy Vehicle Use Tax, Form 2290); state operating permits; oversize/overweight permits; CDL renewal fees; DOT physical exam costs; drug-test fees; FMCSA Clearinghouse query fees.
Office and administrative
Cell phone (business-use percentage); satellite TV/radio; trucker GPS subscription; load board subscriptions (DAT, Truckstop.com); accounting software; CPA fees; legal fees; bank fees on business accounts; PO box; postage and shipping.
Personal items used for business
Work boots and work-specific clothing (not regular street clothes); CB radio and antenna; tools and equipment for road repairs; gloves; rain gear; safety equipment.
Health insurance (if self-employed)
Self-employed health insurance premiums are deductible above-the-line on the front page of Form 1040, not on Schedule C — but they reduce taxable income just the same.
Recordkeeping discipline
Open a separate business bank account and credit card; run all truck-related expenses through them; reconcile monthly; keep receipts in a folder organized by month. Pay a CPA to do your taxes — the savings from a competent trucking CPA almost always exceed their fee. Read our per-diem guide for the largest single deduction category.