Trucker Per Diem Calculator
Every night in the sleeper is money off your taxable income. Count your days, see the deduction, stop leaving it on the table.
Enter your days and hit ADD UP MY DAYS
How trucker per diem works
deduction = per diem × 80% (DOT hours-of-service rule)
tax savings ≈ deduction × your bracket
Instead of saving every truck-stop meal receipt, drivers subject to DOT hours of service can use the IRS special per diem rate for each day away from their tax home. The transportation-industry catch: you deduct 80% of the rate, not all of it. The day you leave and the day you get home count at 75% of the daily rate.
An owner-operator with 220 full days out is looking at a deduction around $14,000 — real money at tax time that only exists if your logbook backs it up. This is one of the biggest deductions in trucking and one of the most commonly under-claimed.
Estimates only: rates change and situations differ — verify the current IRS rate and confirm with a tax professional before filing.
FAQ
What's the current trucker per diem rate?
$80 per full day in the continental US effective October 2025, with DOT drivers deducting 80% of it. Rates get updated — check the IRS notice for the current year or ask your preparer.
Can company drivers claim it?
Generally no on federal returns since 2018, unless the carrier runs a per diem pay program. Owner-operators and lease operators filing Schedule C can.
What counts as a partial day?
The day you leave home and the day you return — each counts at 75% of the daily rate. Your ELD log is your documentation.