Your truck is your biggest deduction. Depreciation on the tractor and trailer, whether you take Section 179 to deduct it all in year one or spread it over several years, typically saves more than any other single item. Interest on truck loans is deductible too. If you finance equipment, you’re deducting both the depreciation and the interest payments.

Fuel is the most obvious ongoing expense and fully deductible. Save receipts or use a fuel card that tracks everything automatically. DEF fluid, oil, coolant, and other fluids count as well. Maintenance and repairs including tires, brakes, engine work, and preventive maintenance are all deductible when you pay them.

Per diem for meals is where many owner-operators leave money behind. When you’re away from your tax home overnight, you can deduct meals using the DOT per diem rate instead of tracking every receipt. The current rate is $69 per day for most areas. Even better, truckers get the DOT exception that allows 80% deductibility instead of the standard 50% that applies to most businesses. Over 200 days on the road, that adds up to real money.

Insurance premiums are deductible. Truck insurance, cargo insurance, liability coverage, and occupational accident insurance if you carry it. Health insurance premiums for yourself and your family can be deducted as a self-employed health insurance deduction, which comes off your adjusted gross income.

Operating costs that seem small individually add up over a year. Tolls, scale fees, parking fees, lumper fees, and permit costs are all deductible. IFTA taxes you pay quarterly, registration fees, and your CDL renewal count. Drug testing and DOT physical exams are deductible business expenses.

Communication and electronics keep you connected and compliant. Your cell phone bill for the business portion, ELD subscription, GPS service, and CB radio are deductible. If you use a tablet or laptop for load boards, dispatching, or tracking, those costs count too.

Sleeper berth expenses often get overlooked. Bedding, small appliances you use in the truck like a microwave or refrigerator, and supplies for living on the road are legitimate business expenses. You’re running a mobile operation and equipping that operation is deductible.

Trucking businesses have specific deductions that general accountants sometimes miss. Deadhead miles, bobtail insurance, trailer interchange coverage, and authority renewal fees all count. Association dues for OOIDA or similar organizations are deductible. Factoring fees if you use a factoring company come off your revenue.

Home office deduction applies if you have a dedicated space for administrative work. Dispatching yourself, managing paperwork, and handling the business side from home qualifies. The simplified method gives you $5 per square foot up to 300 square feet.

The deductions only work if you track them. Missing fuel receipts, forgotten tolls, and unlogged per diem days cost you at tax time. A bookkeeper for small business who understands trucking can set up systems that capture everything throughout the year instead of scrambling to reconstruct it in April.

Most owner-operators pay more in taxes than they should because they don’t track expenses consistently or don’t know what qualifies. The truck, the fuel, and per diem are obvious. The dozens of smaller deductions that add up to thousands over a year are where good recordkeeping makes the difference.