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Per Diem Plus Cloud-based App is available on the Platform Science catalog and can be integrated with additional tools

SAN DIEGO, CA and CLAYTON, MO, June 7, 2022– Per Diem Plus, the leader in mobile-enabled transportation per diem solutions, and Platform Science, a leading connected vehicle platform, today announced a new collaboration making the Per Diem Plus Fleets mobile app available as part of Platform Science’s industry-leading marketplace of solutions. The Per Diem Plus app enables motor carriers to automate trucker per diem tracking, payroll accounting, administration, and auditing. Platform Science's innovative transportation solutions make it easier for fleets to develop, deploy, and manage mobile devices and applications on commercial vehicles.

“Per Diem Plus adds to our growing number of driver-focused apps that give fleets choice and flexibility, and it represents the type of solution that fleet operators are seeking to increase efficiencies and decrease burdensome tasks for drivers,” said Joe Jumayao, VP of Business Development, Platform Science. “This new collaboration with Per Diem Plus offers fleets another solution to boost productivity and meet compliance requirements. Fleet operators can use this app in conjunction with other tools in the Platform Science catalog, providing the flexibility to tailor their in-cab platform to best fit the fleet’s needs.”

Per Diem Plus utilizes GPS to establish IRS-required “time, date and place” substantiation to prove away-from-home travel for over-the-road truck drivers. It is the only IRS-compliant solution for Special Transportation Industry per diem for solo and team drivers traveling in the USA and Canada.

The benefits of the Per Diem Plus app include:

  • Enhancing recruiting & retention by raising employee driver take-home pay
  • Saving motor carriers thousands of dollars per driver annually
  • Automating per diem payroll accounting & tax compliance
  • Eliminating the need to retain ELD backups to substantiate per diem for 3-plus years

"The Per Diem Plus for Platform Science was developed in response to growing industry demand to build integrations and is a part of our continued strategy to improve business management practices with best-in-class, IRS-compliant per diem solutions", said Donna Sullivan, CEO at Per Diem Plus.




About Platform Science

Platform Science is transforming transportation technology by empowering enterprise fleets with a unified, user-friendly technology platform. Platform Science makes it easy to develop, deploy and manage mobile devices and applications on commercial vehicles, giving fleets an edge in efficiency, flexibility, visibility and productivity. The customizable platform delivers an unlimited canvas to fleets and developers seeking to innovate and create new solutions as customers' needs, businesses and industries evolve. Platform Science was named by Fast Company as one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies for 2022. In 2021, Platform Science was ranked #2 in the FreightTech 25 Awards by industry news leader, FreightWaves. For more information, please visit www.platformscience.com  

About Per Diem Plus

Per Diem Plus was born over our 30 years of individual experience as agents and tax practitioners and a relentless pursuit to introduce efficiency to the time-consuming task of tax compliance for truck drivers, fleets, and their accounting professionals. The Per Diem Plus® Fleets enterprise platform enables motor carriers to easily implement an IRS-compliant fleet per diem program in hours that is scalable and data plan-friendly. Per Diem Plus was designed, developed, and is managed in the USA and is the only IRS-compliant mobile application that provides automatic trucker per diem for solo and team drivers traveling in the United States and Canada. For more information, contact us at info@perdiemplus.com or visit www.perdiemplus.com


Copyright 2022 Per Diem Plus, LLC. Per Diem Plus proprietary software is the trademark of Per Diem Plus, LLC.®

Per Diem Plus FLEETS Automates Per Diem For Samsara Customers

Per Diem Plus for Samsara

Per Diem Plus, the leader in mobile-enabled transportation per diem solutions, today announced the release of the Per Diem Plus Fleets application programming interface (API) integration for Samsara, the pioneer of the Connected Operations Cloud.  Now, Per Diem Plus Fleets will be available to all fleets on the Samsara App Marketplace.

The Per Diem Plus Fleets API adapter was developed in response to growing industry demand to build integrations and is a part of PDP’s continued strategy to improve business management practices with best-in-class, IRS-compliant per diem solutions. Fleets can seamlessly integrate PDP Fleets with Samsara’s Connected Operations Platform to automate the implementation and administration of an IRS-compliant accountable driver per diem plan for fleet managers.

Per Diem Plus completed months of beta testing in December with several motor carriers, including Intercity Lines. Jay Leno's favorite auto transport company is transitioning from the PDP Fleets mobile app to the API. "Setting up the API could not have been easier. It took us less than 5 minutes to configure the PDP Fleets API with our Samsara account," said Dean Wilson, Vice President at Intercity Lines. "Since introducing our driver per diem program in 2020 Intercity has achieved 85% driver participation, cut driver turnover by 10%, and saved over $3,000 per driver annually that was used to raise driver pay by several cents per mile," said Wilson.


Per Diem Plus for Samsara automates  driver per diem administration

Use our Fleet Per Diem Benefit Calculator to learn how much your fleet can save with Per Diem Plus Fleets.


Per Diem Plus FLEETS is a configurable mobile application enterprise platform that automates administration of an IRS-compliant accountable per diem plan for truck drivers and fleets managers. No matter how big or small your company is, Per Diem Plus has a solution for you.



About Samsara

Samsara is the pioneer of the Connected Operations Cloud, which allows businesses that depend on physical operations to harness IoT (Internet of Things) data to develop actionable business insights and improve their operations. Samsara operates in North America and Europe and serves tens of thousands of customers across a wide range of industries including transportation, wholesale and retail trade, construction, field services, logistics, utilities and energy, government, healthcare and education, manufacturing, and food and beverage. The company's mission is to increase the safety, efficiency, and sustainability of the operations that power the global economy at www.samsara.com.

About Per Diem Plus

Per Diem Plus was born over our 30 years of individual experience as agents and tax practitioners and a relentless pursuit to introduce efficiency to the time-consuming task of tax compliance for truck drivers, fleets and their accounting professionals. The Per Diem Plus® FLEETS mobile application platform enables motor carriers to easily implement an IRS-compliant fleet per diem program in hours that is scalable and data plan-friendly. Per Diem Plus was designed, developed and is managed in the USA and is the only IRS-compliant mobile application that provides automatic trucker per diem for solo and team drivers traveling in the United States and Canada. For more information, contact us at info@perdiemplus.com or visit www.perdiemplus.com


Copyright 2022 Per Diem Plus, LLC. Per Diem Plus proprietary software is the trademark of Per Diem Plus, LLC.®

Per Diem Plus® FLEETS, a mobile application platform that automates per diem tax compliance for motor carriers, today announced a new integration with Samsara. The deep link is a configurable integration that enables drivers to navigate between the Samsara ELD dashboard and Per Diem Plus FLEETS app creating an enhanced user experience.


Related Articles

Per Diem Plus Announces New API Integration With Samsara


Samsara ELD

With over $40 million of per diem claimed and 5 years of reports accepted by the IRS, adding an accountable, substantiated per diem program is a sure-fire way for a motor carrier to increase driver take home pay and save money.

Consider the following:

  • The typical over-the-road (OTR) driver averages 127,500 miles annually and is away from home 280 nights a year.
  • 280 nights equals $18,480 of tax-free per diem at $66/day.[1]
  • Substantiated per diem can be earned during HOS-mandated 34-hour restarts and unforeseen delays like detention, breakdowns, or weather.
  • The average driver will save thousands of dollars in taxes, equivalent to several cents per mile.

Our cloud-based platform enables motor carriers to implement an IRS-compliant fleet per diem plan that is: 

  • Easy to Setup: An IRS-compliant mobile application platform that allows for rapid deployment with minimal investment in dollars and/or IT resources.
  • Easy to Use: Just drive! Trip Summary lets drivers know when they earned per diem.
  • Flexible: Supports individual and team drivers operating both ELD-exempt and non-exempt vehicles.
  • Streamlines Tax Compliance: Say “Goodbye” to ELD backups! Receive automated IRS-compliant fleetwide per diem payroll reports.

Case Study: One fleet with 85 company drivers was able to save $255,000 in the first year and increase driver pay by $0.04 per mile by leveraging FLEETS.


[1] The Special Trucker Per Diem rate is established by the Internal Revenue Service in an annual notice. See IRS Notice 20-70


Use our Fleet Per Diem Benefit Calculator to learn how much your fleet can save with Per Diem Plus Fleets.


Per Diem Plus FLEETS is a configurable mobile application enterprise platform that automates administration of an IRS-compliant accountable per diem plan for truck drivers and fleets managers. No matter how big or small your company is, Per Diem Plus has a solution for you.


About Samsara

Samsara is the pioneer of the Connected Operations Cloud, which allows businesses that depend on physical operations to harness IoT (Internet of Things) data to develop actionable business insights and improve their operations. Samsara operates in North America and Europe and serves more than 20,000 customers across a wide range of industries including transportation, wholesale and retail trade, construction, field services, logistics, utilities and energy, government, healthcare and education, manufacturing and food and beverage. Learn more about Samsara's mission to increase the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of the operations that power the global economy at www.samsara.com

About Per Diem Plus

Per Diem Plus was born over our 25 years of experience as agents and tax practitioners and a relentless pursuit to introduce efficiency to the time-consuming task of tax compliance for truck drivers, fleets and their accounting professionals. The Per Diem Plus® FLEETS mobile application platform enables motor carriers to implement an IRS-compliant fleet per diem program in hours that is scalable and data plan friendly. Per Diem Plus was designed, developed and is managed in the USA and is the only IRS-compliant mobile application that provides automatic trucker per diem for solo and team drivers travelling in the United States and Canada. For more information, visit www.perdiemplus.com


Copyright 2021 Per Diem Plus, LLC. Per Diem Plus proprietary software is the trademark of Per Diem Plus, LLC.®

Per Diem Plus® FLEETS, a mobile application platform that automates per diem tax compliance for motor carriers, today announced a new integration with Transflo. The deep link is a configurable integration that enables drivers to navigate between the Transflo Mobile dashboard and Per Diem Plus FLEETS app creating an enhanced user experience.


Transflo Mobile Dashboard

With over $40 million of per diem claimed and 5 years of reports accepted by the IRS, adding an accountable, substantiated per diem program is a sure-fire way for a motor carrier to increase driver take home pay and save money. Consider the following:

  • The typical over-the-road (OTR) driver averages 127,500 miles annually and is away from home 280 nights a year.
  • 280 nights equals $18,480 of tax-free per diem at $66/day.[1]
  • Substantiated per diem can be earned during HOS-mandated 34-hour restarts and unforeseen delays like detention, breakdowns, or weather.
  • The average driver will save thousands of dollars in taxes, equivalent to several cents per mile.

Our cloud-based platform enables motor carriers to implement an IRS-compliant fleet per diem plan that is: 

  • Easy to Setup: An IRS-compliant mobile application platform that allows for rapid deployment with minimal investment in dollars and/or IT resources.
  • Easy to Use: Just drive! Trip Summary lets drivers know when they earned per diem.
  • Flexible: Supports individual and team drivers operating both ELD-exempt and non-exempt vehicles.
  • Streamlines Tax Compliance: Say “Goodbye” to ELD backups! Receive automated IRS-compliant fleetwide per diem payroll reports.

Case Study: One fleet with 85 company drivers was able to save $255,000 in the first year and increase driver pay by $0.04 per mile by leveraging FLEETS.


[1] The Special Trucker Per Diem rate is established by the Internal Revenue Service in an annual notice. See IRS Notice 20-70

About Transflo

Transflo®, a Pegasus TransTech company, is a leading mobile, telematics, and business process automation provider to the transportation industry in the United States and Canada.  Transflo’s mobile and cloud-based technologies deliver real-time communications to fleets, brokers, shippers, and commercial vehicle drivers, and digitize 800 million shipping documents a year, representing approximately $84 billion in freight bills. Organizations throughout the Transflo client and partner network use the solution suite and digital platforms to increase efficiency, improve cash flow, and reduce costs. Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, USA, Transflo is setting the pace for innovation in transportation software. For more information, visit www.transflo.com.

About Per Diem Plus

Per Diem Plus was born over our 25 years of experience as agents and tax practitioners and a relentless pursuit to introduce efficiency to the time consuming task of tax compliance for truck drivers, fleets and their accounting professionals. The Per Diem Plus® FLEETS mobile application platform enables motor carriers to implement an IRS-compliant fleet per diem program in hours that is scalable and data plan friendly. Per Diem Plus was designed, developed and is managed in the USA and is the only IRS-compliant mobile application that provides automatic trucker per diem and travel-related expense tracking for travel in the United States and Canada for drivers, motor carriers and owner operators. For more information, visit www.perdiemplus.com


Copyright 2021 Per Diem Plus, LLC. Per Diem Plus proprietary software is the trademark of Per Diem Plus, LLC.®

Designed by drivers, built by tax pros


Raise Trucker Pay To Attract New Drivers

Use Per Diem To Raise Trucker Pay To Recruit Drivers. A company-sponsored substantiated per diem plan can raise trucker pay to attract new drivers.

Our cloud-based FLEETS mobile app platform with flexible Service Plan Options enables motor carriers to easily implement an IRS-compliant fleet per diem plan that will:

  • Enhance recruiting and retention
  • Raise driver pay by 10% or more
  • Save a fleet several thousand dollars per driver
  • Eliminate the need to retain ELD backups for 3 years

"I still think to get new people into the industry, given the 150K-200K driver deficit and robust demand in 2021, pay is going to have to go up a lot more than 20%."

U.S Express CEO Eric Fuller told Yahoo Finance (9/30/20)

The Numbers Speak For Themselves

Adding a substantiated per diem program for employee drivers is a sure-fire way raise driver take-home pay by 10% or more while saving the motor carrier money. Consider the following:

  • The typical over-the-road (OTR) driver averages 127,000 miles annually and is away from home 295 nights a year
  • A driver would receive $19,470 of tax-free per diem at $66/day[1]
  • Unlike a cent-per-mile plan it can be earned during HOS-mandated 34-hour restarts and unforeseen delays
  • The average driver will save thousands of dollars in income and payroll taxes, equivalent to several cents per mile

Use our Fleet Per Diem Benefit Calculator to learn how much your fleet can save with Per Diem Plus Fleets


TAX LAW UPDATE - READ ABOUT 100% DEDUCTION FOR PER DIEM


Example - Driver Savings

per diem vs. no per diem married driver tax savings table
Per Diem v No Per Diem - Single Driver Tax Savings

A single driver from South Carolina could save $6,046 in taxes equal to an extra 5.2 cents-per-mile. Learn how state tax rates impact per diem in our post State Income Tax Considerations of Driver Per Diem


Example - Fleet Savings

Per diem savings to motor carrier from driver per diem
Fleet Savings From Per Diem

A fleet with 75 drivers and could raise driver pay by 10% or more and still save $206,250. Do not believe the savings are achievable? Read our Case Study. The motor carrier saved $3,000 per driver within the first year of implementing Per Diem Plus Fleets. In addition, they received a $125,000 workers compensation premium refund.

Our cloud-based FLEETS mobile app platform enables fleets to easily implement an IRS-compliant fleet per diem plan that will raise driver take-home pay by 10% or more while also saving the motor carrier money.


Related Articles:

Implementing Per Diem Plus® FLEETS into Your Fleet to Ensure a Smooth Rollout

Raise Driver Take-Home Pay with Per Diem


About Per Diem Plus FLEETS

Per Diem Plus FLEETS is a configurable mobile application enterprise platform that automates administration of an IRS-compliant accountable per diem plan for truck drivers and fleets managers. No matter how big or small your company is, Per Diem Plus has a solution for you.


About the Author

Mark is tax counsel for Per Diem Plus. With nearly two decades of experience advising trucking companies on per diem issues, Mark was responsible for defining the Per Diem Plus software logic rules that automatically calculates trucker per diem in accordance with IRS regulations. He also previously served as the consulting per diem tax expert for Omnitracs.

In addition to his time working with Per Diem Plus, Mark works in private practice as an Enrolled Agent at Mark Sullivan Consulting, PLLC specializing in federal tax controversy representation and consulting. He also served as the consulting and expert witness for the Federal Defenders Office and private defense counsel in financial crimes cases in multiple federal district courts. Contact Mark W. Sullivan, EA

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only and cannot be cited as precedent or relied upon in a tax dispute before the IRS.

Copyright 2020-2022 Per Diem Plus, LLC. Per Diem Plus proprietary software is the trademark of Per Diem Plus, LLC.®

Designed by drivers, built by tax pros

Driver per diem report and trip summary
PDP Fleets Driver Report

Is trucker per diem a wage reclassification?

No. The treatment of per diem as a portion of an employee’s wages is not considered an improper “wage reclassification”. The IRS first introduced per day allowances in Revenue Procedure 90-60 as a simplified method of substantiating employee business expenses. However, the first published guidance for the transportation industry was TAM 9146003 issued in 1991. According to the IRS:

  • A driver's weekly compensation,
  • Earned on a cents-per-mile basis,
  • May be reduced by specific amounts designated as per diem for meals and incidental expenses for each day away from home overnight (i.e. $66/day).
  • Is not considered a wage reclassification

What is the special transportation industry per diem?

The Special Transportation Industry substantiated method was introduced in 2000 to ease the burden on taxpayers, who would otherwise have to meet the extensive substantiation requirements in order to claim deductions for business related travel [See Rev. Proc. 2000-39, 2000-9 Sec. 4.04, Notice 2000-48], which among other things:

  • Established a method allowing a payor to treat a specific amount as paid or incurred for employee meals while traveling away from home for work instead of substantiating actual costs (no receipts required).
  • Set $40 as the nationwide federal meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) rate for transportation employees subject to DOT hours of service. [Increased to $66 in 2018 & $69 in 2022] [i]
  • Increased the tax-deductible percentage of employee travel expenses to 60%. [Raised to 80% in 2008] [ii]
  • Approved as a transportation industry standard prior to December 12, 1989 the treatment of a portion of a driver’s wages as per diem. [iii]
  • Required a fleet using the cent-per-mile method to include a process that;
    • tracks the amount of cents-per-mile M&IE allowance paid to a driver on a per diem basis,
    • includes a mechanism to determine when allowances exceed the amount of expenses that may be deemed substantiated, and
    • treat the excess allowance over $40 per day as wages for withholding or employment tax purposes. [Increased to $66 in 2018 & $69 in 2022][iv]
  • Established that all amounts paid under a expense reimbursement arrangement that meets the requirements of business connection, substantiation, and returning amounts in excess of expenses are treated as paid under an accountable plan and are excluded from income and wages.

The Internal Revenue Code gives the IRS Commissioner discretionary authority to issue regulations, such as revenue rulings and procedures. The Revenue Procedures and Notices are updated annually and the relevant per diem provisions have remained substantially the same since 2011 [See Rev. Proc. 2011-47 ].


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IRS Issues 2024 Trucker Per Diem Rates (9/25/23)


What is a substantiated per diem program?

A substantiated per diem program reimburses drivers a fixed amount per day (i.e. $66) in place of a rate per mile for travel away from home. As a result, it eliminates the need for drivers to turn in receipts for actual meals and incidental expenses. Most importantly, it reduces a fleets administratives burden while providing additional cash to drivers on a pre-tax basis. However, companies must have an accountable plan to qualify, which would include these requirements [See KMS Transport Advisors (NAFC March 2019 newsletter]:

  • The travel must have a business purpose
  • There should be logs showing that you adequately account for the eligible amount within a reasonable period of time
  • The amount should be tested regularly to ensure that drivers are not exceeding the allowable amount
  • Employees must return any excess reimbursement or allowance within a reasonable period of time or treat the overage as compensation
  • Drivers receiving the per diem must be over the road, meaning out overnight, where they cannot reasonably be expected to complete a route without sufficient rest

Do any well-known fleets use the special trucker per diem method?

Well-known motor carriers that utilize the substantiated method include Averitt Express, EPES Transport System, TMC Transportation, G&P Trucking, Transport America and Big G Express, Danny Herman Trucking and Oakley Transport.

What documentation meets the IRS substantiation requirements?

Only Per Diem Plus FLEETS platform or DOT ELD backups with an itemized log listing "time, date & place" for each per diem event meet the IRS substantiation requirements.

PDP Fleets "time, date & place" substantiation

Conclusion

Thirty years of IRS guidance and legislative history specifically reference an employer paying a driver in the transportation industry under the substantiated method and, therefore, contemplate that some portion of a driver’s wages will be treated as per diem. While, both the substantiated and cent-per-mile per diem methods are IRS-compliant, neither method has been considered an improper wage reclassification for over 30 years. However, a motor carrier that adopts the substantiated per diem method that is built into Per Diem Plus FLEETS will realize the most benefit for both the fleet and their drivers.


Get in touch with the experts at Per Diem Plus today to discuss a smooth rollout for your system.


About Per Diem Plus FLEETS

Per Diem Plus FLEETS is a proprietary mobile software application that was designed by truckers and built by tax pros. It is the only IRS-compliant mobile app for iOS and Android that automatically tracks each qualifying day of travel in the USA & Canada and replaces ELD backups (logbooks) to substantiate away-from-home travel.

About the Author

Mark is tax counsel for Per Diem Plus. With nearly two decades of experience advising trucking companies on per diem issues, Mark was responsible for defining the Per Diem Plus software logic rules that automatically calculates trucker per diem in accordance with IRS regulations. He also previously served as the consulting per diem tax expert for Omnitracs.

In addition to his time working with Per Diem Plus, Mark works in private practice as an Enrolled Agent at Mark Sullivan Consulting, PLLC specializing in federal tax controversy representation and consulting. He also served as the consulting and expert witness for the Federal Defenders Office and private defense counsel in financial crimes cases in multiple federal district courts. Contact Mark W. Sullivan, EA


Copyright 2020-2022 Per Diem Plus, LLC. Per Diem Plus proprietary software is the trademark of Per Diem Plus, LLC.®

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only and cannot be cited as precedence or relied upon in a tax dispute before the IRS. Additional information can be found at IRS.gov


[i] The 2019 per diem rate for travel in the USA is $66 and $49.50 for a partial day.

ii] The raised the deductible percentage of employee travel related expenses to 80% in 2008

iii] Federal Register-1989-12-12 Vol 54 Page 51038 pursuant to “Family Support Act of 1988”

[iv] Rev. Ruling 2006-56, 2006-2 CB 274

[i] Updated annually IRS Notice 2019-55, 2018-77, 2017-54, 2016-58, 2015-63, 2014-57, 2013-65, 2012-63, Rev. Proc. 2011-47, 2010-39, 2009-47, 2008-59, 2007-63, 2006-41, 2005-67, 2004-60, 2003-80, 2002-63 and 2001-47.

per diem plus owner operators
Designed by drivers, built by tax pros

2019-2020 Special Trucker Per Diem Rates

The 2019-2020 special trucker per diem rates for taxpayers in the transportation industry remain unchanged from 2018-2019 and are $66 for any locality of travel in the continental United States (CONUS) and $71 for any locality of travel outside the continental United States (OCONUS). See section 4.04 of Rev. Proc. 2019-48 (or successor).


Introducing Per Diem Plus Small Fleets, an affordable, customizable per diem solution for solo and team operators

This annual notice provides the 2019-2020 special per diem rates for taxpayers to use in substantiating the amount of ordinary and necessary business expenses incurred while traveling away from home, specifically (1) the special transportation industry meal and incidental expenses (M&IE) rates.

Information on the 2020-2021 per diem rates can be found HERE

BACKGROUND
Rev. Proc. 2011-47, 2011-42 I.R.B. 520 (or successor), provides rules for using a per diem rate to substantiate, under § 274(d) of the Internal Revenue Code and § 1.274-5 of the Income Tax Regulations, the amount of ordinary and necessary business expenses paid or incurred while traveling away from home.

The special M&IE rates for taxpayers in the transportation industry remain unchanged from 2018-2019 and are $66 for any locality of travel in the continental United States (CONUS) and $71 for any locality of travel outside the continental United States (OCONUS). See section 4.04 of Rev. Proc. 2011-47 (or successor).

  • Furthermore, it is section 4.04 that allows an Owner-Operator or a motor carrier that offers a company-sponsored per diem plan to deduct 80% of per diem. 
  • The tax deductibility of per diem is limited to 50% for the other substantiated per diem options governed by Section 4.01 and 5 of Rev. Proc. 2011-47.

IRS issues Notice 2019-55

Are you unsure what per diem is or which drivers can claim travel-related expenses? Our tax experts answer the most common question in a prior post, Trucker Per Diem Simply Explained


Drivers, try Per Diem Plus or Small Fleets absolutely free for 30 days!

PDP Small Fleets requires users to complete the account setup HERE before using the app.


About Per Diem Plus

Per Diem Plus was born over our 30 years of experience as agents and tax practitioners and a relentless pursuit to introduce efficiency to the time-consuming task of tax compliance for truck drivers, fleets and their accounting professionals. The Per Diem Plus® Fleets enterprise platform enables motor carriers to easily implement an IRS-compliant fleet per diem program in hours that is scalable and data plan-friendly. Per Diem Plus was designed, developed and is managed in the USA and is the only IRS-compliant mobile application that provides automatic trucker per diem for solo and team drivers traveling in the United States and Canada. For more information, contact us at info@perdiemplus.com or visit www.perdiemplus.com

About the Author

Mark is tax counsel for Per Diem Plus. With nearly two decades of experience advising trucking companies on per diem issues, Mark was responsible for defining the Per Diem Plus software logic rules that automatically calculates trucker per diem in accordance with IRS regulations. He also previously served as the consulting per diem tax expert for Omnitracs.

In addition to his time working with Per Diem Plus, Mark works in private practice as an Enrolled Agent at Mark Sullivan Consulting, PLLC specializing in federal tax controversy representation and consulting. He also served as the consulting and expert witness for the Federal Defenders Office and private defense counsel in financial crimes cases in multiple federal district courts. Contact Mark W. Sullivan, EA



Copyright 2023 Mark Sullivan Consulting, PLLC; Per Diem Plus, LLC. Per Diem Plus proprietary software is the trademark of Per Diem Plus, LLC.®


Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only and cannot be cited as precedent or relied upon in a tax dispute before the IRS.

Designed by drivers, built by tax pros

driver per diem report and trip summary
Driver Report IRS "time, date & place" substantiation

Our tax expert responds to a common question we receive from drivers and fleets.

Substantiated per diem provides the largest benefit to both a driver and fleet over the old cent-per-mile method. Decades before the advent of TMS software, telematics and ELD's fleets adopted cent-per-mile per diem. Why? Because it was easy to calculate and substantiate using trip sheets[i]. However, there is no correlation between the miles a driver travels and frequency of meal breaks.

Under the cent-per-mile method a driver is paid only for miles driven and not nights away from home. Although, a driver may travel 500 miles one day they may only clock 200 miles the next. In the end, the distance traveled does not affect the need to eat 3 meals a day. 

The special transportation industry per diem

The IRS introduced the Special Transportation Industry substantiated per diem to simplify tax compliance for fleets by relying on days away from home instead of miles traveled. This method accurately reflects the number of meals a driver eats and resolved the problem that driver’s regularly travel away from home and stop during a single trip at localities with differing federal M&IE rates.

  • The most beneficial aspect to a driver is that substantiated method at $69/day yields on average 25% more per diem than cent-per-mile.
  • Substantiated per diem can be earned during a 34-hour restart and unforeseen delays like detention, breakdowns, or weather.
  • A typical driver will save an additional $2,300 - $3,600 in income and payroll taxes over cent-per-mile.
  • Well-known motor carriers that utilize substantiated per diem include Averitt Express, TMC Transportation, Transport America and EPES Transport System.
  • Fleets that implement the Per Diem Plus FLEETS platform will save about 27% or $1,000 more per driver in reduced payroll and income taxes and workers compensation than cent-per-mile.

Use our Fleet Per Diem Benefit Calculator to learn how much your fleet can save with Per Diem Plus Fleets.


[i] 1-274-5T(c) Rules of substantiation, Rev. Proc. 2011-47 § 4.02(5)


Subtantiated Per Diem vs. Cent-Per-Mile

Both the substantiated and cent-per-mile per diem methods are IRS-compliant. However, a motor carrier that adopts the substantiated per diem method that is built into Per Diem Plus FLEETS will realize the most benefit for both the fleet and their drivers.

Get in touch with the experts at Per Diem Plus today to discuss a smooth rollout for your system.

Per Diem Plus FLEETS is a configurable mobile application enterprise platform that automates administration of an IRS-compliant accountable per diem plan for truck drivers and fleets managers. No matter how big or small your company is, Per Diem Plus has a solution for you.



About Per Diem Plus FLEETS

Per Diem Plus FLEETS is a proprietary mobile software application that was designed by truckers and built by tax pros. It is the only IRS-compliant mobile app for iOS and Android that automatically tracks each qualifying day of travel in the USA & Canada and replaces ELD backups (logbooks) to substantiate away-from-home travel.


This article was written by Mark W. Sullivan EA, Tax Counsel for Per Diem Plus, who has over a decade of experience advising trucking companies on per diem issues. Prior to starting a private practice in 1998, Mr. Sullivan was an Internal Revenue Officer with the New York, NY, Saint Louis, MO and Washington, D.C. offices of the Internal Revenue Service. 

Questions? Contact Mark W. Sullivan, EA.

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only and cannot be cited as precedence or relied upon in a tax dispute before the IRS.

Copyright 2019-2022 Per Diem Plus, LLC. Per Diem Plus proprietary software is the trademark of Per Diem Plus, LLC.®

Designed by drivers, built by tax pros

Driver per diem report and trip summary

Which per diem method saves a fleet more money? Substantiated per diem saves a motor carrier the most money, since the fleet benefits are directly proportional to total per diem paid to drivers.  So how did cent-per-mile per diem become so popular in the trucking industry? Decades before the advent of telematics fleets adopted cent-per-mile per diem for because it was easy to calculate.  However, there is no correlation between the miles a driver travels and meal breaks.

Which per diem method do drivers prefer?

Drivers prefer substantiated special trucker per diem. Why? They eat 3 meals a day regardless of whether they drive 200 or 600 miles. The IRS introduced the Special Transportation Industry substantiated per diem to remedy this issue. In addition it simplified tax compliance for fleets by relying on nights away from home instead of miles traveled. It is also a more accurate reflection of anticipated meal expenses for drivers.


The most beneficial aspect of substantiated per diem to a motor carrier is that: 

  •  Substantiated method yields on average 27% more per diem savings than cent-per-mile or $1 for every $8 of per diem paid to driver over cent-per-mile.
  • The average fleet saves about $3,700 per driver in income and employment taxes and workers compensation.
  • A fleet employing 5 OTR drivers would save about $5,112 more with substantiated per diem than a $0.11 cpm per diem plan.

Use our Fleet Per Diem Benefit Calculator to learn how much your fleet can save with Per Diem Plus Fleets.


Will adding a per diem program enhance driver recruiting?

Adding an accountable per diem program for employee drivers is a sure-fire way to enhance driver recruiting and retention. Consider the following:

  • The typical over-the-road (OTR) driver averages 127,500 miles annually and is away from home 280 nights a year.
  • A driver would receive $18,480 under the substantiated method, but only $12,750 under a cent-per-mile.
  • Substantiated method yields on average 45% more per diem than cent-per-mile.
  • Substantiated can be earned during a 34-hour restart and unforeseen delays like detention, breakdowns, or weather.
  • The average driver will save an additional $1,126 - $1,467 in taxes over cent-per-mile.
driver annual tax savings from per diem

Both substantiated and cent-per-mile per diem must comply with the IRS substantiation by adequate records rules. According to the IRS, "a motor carrier must maintain lrecords to establish "time, place and location" for each per diem event". The Per Diem Plus FLEETS platform satisfies this requirement since it is maintained in such manner that each recording of an element of an expenditure is made at or near the time of the expenditure.

Document retention rules:

  • Per Diem Plus FLEETS utilizes a 4-year retention policy.
  • A motor carrier must retain driver ELD data for a minimum of 3 years from the filing date of the corporate tax return.

The transportation industry has been unique in its treatment of driver per diem for over 30 years. The substantiated per diem method saves a motor carrier more money than cent-per-mile method. While, substantiated and cent-per-mile per diem methods are IRS-compliant, both require a motor carrier to comply with the adequate records and document retention rules. 

Get in touch with the experts at Per Diem Plus today to discuss a smooth rollout for your system.

Per Diem Plus FLEETS is a configurable mobile application enterprise platform that automates administration of an IRS-compliant accountable per diem plan for truck drivers and fleets managers. No matter how big or small your company is, Per Diem Plus has a solution for you.




About Per Diem Plus FLEETS

Per Diem Plus FLEETS is a proprietary mobile software application that was designed by truckers and built by tax pros. It is the only IRS-compliant mobile app for iOS and Android that automatically tracks each qualifying day of travel in the USA & Canada and replaces ELD backups to substantiate away-from-home travel.


This article was written by Mark W. Sullivan EA, Tax Counsel for Per Diem Plus, who has over a decade of experience advising trucking companies on per diem issues. Prior to starting a private practice in 1998, Mr. Sullivan was an Internal Revenue Officer with the New York, NY, Saint Louis, MO and Washington, D.C. offices of the Internal Revenue Service.  Questions? Contact Mark W. Sullivan, EA.

Copyright 2019-2022 Per Diem Plus, LLC. Per Diem Plus proprietary software is the trademark of Per Diem Plus, LLC.®

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only and cannot be cited as precedence or relied upon in a tax dispute before the IRS.

Designed by drivers, built by tax pros

Per Diem Plus Fleets

Our tax experts jotted down some common questions customers have asked us about trucker per diem rules for fleets.

What is per diem?

The term"per diem allowance" means a payment under a reimbursement or other expense allowance arrangement that is — (1)

  • Paid for ordinary and necessary business expenses incurred, or that the payor reasonably anticipates will be incurred, by an employee for meal and incidental expenses, for travel away from home performing services as an employee of the employer.
  • Paid at or below the applicable transportation industry per diem rate.  

Trucker per diem rules for fleets eliminate the need for proving actual costs for meals & incidental expenses incurred.


Related Articles:

Beware: Firms Promoting Illegal Trucker Per Diem Programs

IRS Orders Immediate Stop To New Employee Retention Claims

2024 Trucker Per Diem Rates Released


Under the 2017 Tax Cuts & Job Act can motor carriers still offer per diem to employee drivers?

Yes. Drivers that receive a non-taxable per diem reimbursement from their employer (trucking company) do so under IRC Sec 62(2)(a).

Which employee drivers qualify for per diem?

Under the trucker per diem rules for fleets a motor carrier can offer per diem only to drivers who are:

  • Subject to DOT HOS,
  • Who travel away from home overnight where sleep or rest is required, and
  • Do not start and end a trip at home on the same DOT HOS 14-hour work day.

Can all truck drivers receive per diem?

No. Drivers who start and end a trip at home on the same DOT HOS 14-hour work day cannot receive per diem. 

  • Per Diem Plus automatically detects truck driving trips that do not meet the IRS per diem requirements.
  • As of January 1, 2018 employee (company) drivers can no longer claim per diem on their Form 1040, US Income Tax Return, as an itemized deduction on Schedule A.

Will a motor carrier save money by implementing a company-paid per diem plan?

A fleet will save approximately $3,000 annually or $0.03/mile/driver as the payroll tax and worker compensation savings exceed the tax on the 20% nondeductible portion of per diem. 

Use our Fleet Per Diem Benefit Calculator to learn how much your fleet can save with Per Diem Plus Fleets.

Will a per diem plan raise driver pay?

Yes. On average driver pay will increase from $0.03 - $0.04/per mile.

What documentation is required to substantiate driver per diem?

A motor carrier must substantiate the “time, date, and place” for each day of travel.  Here is how the IRS-friendly Per Diem Plus FLEETS web services portal output report handles this requirement:

Driver per diem report and trip summary

What documentation meets the IRS substantiation requirements?

Only Per Diem Plus FLEETS platform or DOT ELD backups with an itemized log listing "time, date & place" for each per diem event. Per Diem Plus automatically records per diem for travel in the USA and Canada for solo and team drivers.

Is company-paid per diem taxable as income to an employee driver under an accountable fleet per diem plan?

No. Per diem is classified as a non-taxable reimbursement to an employee driver and is not reported under wages on Form W-2.

What are the current per diem rates for travel in the USA & Canada?

IRS increased per diem rates effective October 1, 2018 (Revised 10/01/2021)

USA $69 from $66

Canada $74 from $71

Can a driver receive per diem for partial days of travel?

Yes. A partial day is 75% of the per diem rate.

  • Partial per diem rate USA $51.75, Canada $55.50
  • Per Diem Plus will record 3/4 per diem when a driver departs their tax home AFTER noon or returns to their tax home BEFORE noon.
  • Per Diem Plus - Owner Operators and Fleets platform are the only telematics-based solutions that can calculate partial per diem. [See IRS Rev. Proc. 2011-47 Sec 6.04]

How much per diem can a fleet deduct on the corporate income tax return?

A fleet can deduct 80% of per diem on their income tax return. However, the payroll tax and worker compensation savings ordinarily exceed the tax on the nondeductible portion of per diem.

  • Congress increased the deductibility of per diem to 100% for tax years 2021 and 2022

What documentation is required to prove other expenses?

Paper or electronic receipts that identify what, when and the amount are required. Drivers can upload and store receipts on the Per Diem Plus FLEETS app.  Watch Run IRS Compliant Reports with Receipts video to see how easy drivers can send an itemized expense reports with receipts to payroll or accounting.

Can a fleet pay per diem for lodging?

No. There is no published guidance from IRS that allows a fleet to pay a lodging per diem.

A self-employed driver (owner operator) falls under the related party rules of IRC 267(b) & Rev. Proc 2011-47.6.07 and, therefore, cannot use per diem substantiation that includes a meals and lodging per diem.

How long should tax records be retained?

No less than 3 years from the filing date of an income tax return.  Per Diem Plus FLEETS customers have instant access to itemized per diem tax records for four years.

ELD backups used to substantiate "time, date and place" are considered tax records.

What published guidance has the IRS issued that explains trucker per diem?

Refer to IRS Revenue Procedure 2011-47.  Or, use the Per Diem Plus FLEETS platform that automates administration of a company-paid per diem plan and takes the guesswork out of tax-related record keeping.  Our How it Works video demonstrates just easy the app is to use.


Get in touch with the experts at Per Diem Plus today to discuss a smooth rollout for your system.

Per Diem Plus FLEETS is a configurable mobile application enterprise platform that automates administration of an IRS-compliant accountable per diem plan for truck drivers and fleets managers. No matter how big or small your company is, Per Diem Plus has a solution for you.


Per Diem Plus Software Platform

  • ELD-Integrated: Per Diem Plus API for Samsara
  • Native Android & iOS Mobile Apps: Per Diem Plus - Owner Operators and Per Diem Plus Small Fleets
  • Deep Link for Platform Science and Transflo Mobile
  • APK to distribute via MDM

Per Diem Plus Fleets is also available on the Truckstop Marketplace, Samsara App Marketplace and Platform Science Marketplace

About Per Diem Plus

Per Diem Plus is a proprietary mobile software application that was designed by truckers and built by tax pros. It is the only IRS-compliant mobile enabled solution that automatically tracks each qualifying day of travel in the USA & Canada for solo and team drivers and replaces ELD backups (logbooks) to substantiate away-from-home travel.


About the Author

Mark is tax counsel for Per Diem Plus. With nearly two decades of experience advising trucking companies on per diem issues, Mark was responsible for defining the Per Diem Plus software logic rules that automatically calculates trucker per diem in accordance with IRS regulations. He also previously served as the consulting per diem tax expert for Omnitracs.

In addition to his time working with Per Diem Plus, Mark works in private practice as an Enrolled Agent at Mark Sullivan Consulting, PLLC specializing in federal tax controversy representation and consulting. He also served as the consulting and expert witness for the Federal Defenders Office and private defense counsel in financial crimes cases in multiple federal district courts. Contact Mark W. Sullivan, EA

Disclaimer: This article is for information purposes only and cannot be cited as precedent or relied upon in a tax dispute before the IRS.

Copyright 2019-2022 Per Diem Plus, LLC. Per Diem Plus proprietary software is the trademark of Per Diem Plus, LLC.®

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