The Taxman Cometh

Posted in Money Saving Tips by Brian · Leave a Comment 

Yep, it’s almost that time of year again. As a woman truck driver, you may feel sure that you’re not alone if you’re already beginning to feel a knot in the pit of your stomach. Don’t feel too bad if you dread tax time, nearly everyone does unless they’re independently wealthy and have someone to do their taxes for them.

Of course, if you were able to keep your expense receipts organized by the month or by category during the year, it would make getting everything ready to do your taxes much easier because you’ll already have things together. If you aren’t that organized, you should still be able to pull your receipts together in time to get your taxes done.

Please note, although the information offered is believed to be accurate, it is best to discuss your situation with a tax professional instead of relying entirely upon this article for tax advice. This information is provided entirely based upon information you may find on the internet. To ensure your taxes are prepared properly, you may want to speak with a certified public accountant or licensed tax preparer.

Here are some things to consider when gathering receipts – both income and expense – for tax season:

• If you are employed by a trucking company, they are required by law to mail W-2s no later than January 31. They should arrive during the beginning to middle of February.
• 1099s from any company or individual, end of year statements from banks, stock information, 401K, and IRA contributions, and mortgage interest statements will also be mailed by January 31. Year end statements for unemployment, social security income, and any previous year state tax refund would also be mailed by this date.
• New equipment has a maximum of first year write off of $128,000. Look at depreciation, section 179 for further information on this write off. These write offs will phase out once your acquisitions reach $510,000.
• If you have made a charitable contribution of any type during the year, you will be required to present a receipt for each donation. Cancelled checks may also be used in lieu of a receipt.
• Don’t forget about Per Diem of $52.00 per day. In 2008, you are allowed to deduct 80% of that amount for tax purposes. This is another good reason to remember to save log sheets each month!

Remember that not everyone can pay taxes they owe by the April 15 deadline. The best way to handle this if it describes you is to pay as much as you can when you file your return or file for an extension. This will allow you to avoid a penalty for not filing at all. When you receive the IRS notice of tax due, you will be required to pay the remaining balance. You may also file Form 9465 “Installment Agreement Request” if the total amount you owe is not more than $25,000. This form must be included when you file your tax return by the April 15 cut-off.

When the taxman cometh, it’s normal to be a little bit uneasy. If you take time to keep your receipts, log sheets, and other tax related paperwork organized, you don’t have to dread tax time. In fact, taking the time to do things right the first time, especially if you’re a truck driver, will allow you to feel at ease when April rolls around.

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Trim the Trucking Expense Fat

Posted in Money Saving Tips by Brian · 2 Comments 

The song goes “Money makes the world go around . . .” but that doesn’t mean you want to watch it go out your cab window as you’re tooling down the highway. There are several ways to trim the trucking expense fat and you may be surprised at how easy it is.

With tax season soon to be here, you may want to start thinking about next year. Next year? You haven’t even taken care of last year’s taxes yet. Actually, since the new year is just beginning, it’s the perfect time to think about next year’s taxes, especially if you think you might owe money for last year.

You may want to find a tax professional to help you determine which tax deductions available for truck drivers. Here are a few deductions you may want to consider:

• Per diem is a great deduction, don’t forget to use it.
• Retirement accounts have been in the news a lot lately because of the current economic situation. However, retirement accounts still have many tax advantages to consider.
• Depreciation happens as soon as you drive that new rig off the lot. Ask your tax professional how much depreciation can help on your taxes. You may be surprised.

Every truck driver likes to relax when they have down time. If you have some time on your hands, try to stay away from video/pinball and gaming machines while you’re at the truck stop. This may help you relax, but it can also be a big drain on your cash-on-hand while you’re out on the road.

Fix your own meals as much as possible. This may be the easiest way to trim some of your expenses from your budget. Make a run to the grocery store before you leave out to stock up on food you can keep and prepare in your truck. This could save you quite a bit of money.

Pack enough clothes for a couple of weeks out on the road. Then, when you’re home next, wash everything there instead of at a laundry while you’re out. If you do happen to run out of clothes at stopping to do laundry isn’t avoidable, be sure to keep track of what you spent. This is a valid expense for tax purposes.

Avoid getting cash advances at all costs. Not only is keeping track of everything a hassle, it can be expensive. Be sure to leave home with plenty of cash-on-hand to cover your normal expenses while you’re on the road. This will help you avoid paying ATM fees and will make bookkeeping much easier.

Slow down to save money. Your truck uses up to 8% more fuel for each extra 5 miles per hour you drive. This could end up saving you a good chunk of change, depending on whether fuel prices increase again.

Monitor the air pressure in your tires on a regular basis. Low tire pressure can greatly affect your miles per gallon. Properly inflated tires can also increase the life of the tire, so there’s no excuse for letting that task go.

You want to be able to keep more of your hard-earned paycheck. Begin by trimming some of the trucking expenses listed above. Before you know it, you’ll come up with more ways to trim the expense fat and keep more of the green for yourself and your family.

Every Driver Has Had One Of Those Experiences Only Us Drivers Can Relate To! Had An Experience On The Road You’d Like To Share? Leave your comments now and enter to win a $500.00 gas card. We give away one each month and you can be our next winner… Click Here To Enter Now!

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What to do While Stuck in Traffic

Posted in Trucker Lifestyle by Brian · Leave a Comment 

No matter whom you are or what you drive, no one likes to get stuck on an interstate without movement. Here are some things you can do when thinking what to do while stuck in traffic.

Of course, as a truck driver, you have to contend with “no idling” laws in some states. But when you’re stuck in traffic, the choice of not idling isn’t really something to be concerned with. You’re not the only vehicle on the road that’s idling when the traffic isn’t moving.

Instead of getting upset about the amount of time you’re losing sitting still, you can use that time to actually accomplish something. Can you believe it? There are a number of things you can do while the truck’s at a stand-still that may make your job a little easier.

• Do yoga to relax. Did you even know you could do yoga in your vehicle? Well, you can! In fact, yoga is one of the best exercises to lower your stress level. Can you think of a better place to reduce stress than when you’re stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic? Search online for yoga exercises you can do in small spaces or find a video for doing yoga in your car. You could adjust it to meet your needs while driving a truck.
• Make a call. People frown upon anyone driving and talking on a cell phone because the driver is distracted and not paying total attention to their driving or what’s going on around them. If you’re not moving, use that time to “reach out and touch someone”? There’s no chance you’ll cause an accident if you’re not moving, so take advantage of the time you can talk without worry. The benefit is that you’ll also be able to end your call when traffic starts to move again.
• Get a snack. Take a few minutes to reach back and get a piece of fruit or another snack. This will give you energy you need so you’ll be ready to hit the road when the traffic clears. Getting a bite to eat might help your outlook, as well.
• Check your email. If you have a laptop computer, you can use your time sitting still to check and answer your email. If you can type out a couple of emails while you’re waiting, you’ll have more time later to relax or sleep.
• Learn a new language. There are many language programs that use audio to help you learn. You may need a compact disk player for this, or if you have a laptop computer, you can use that. If you’re not going anywhere, you may as well learn something even if it’s nothing more than a phrase or two.
• Play a game. Do you have a hand-held game system? Take a mental break by playing while you wait. This may be a great way to relax so you’re not so keyed up about not going anywhere.
• Verify your route. Most truck drivers have routing software. Since you’re not going anywhere for a few minuets, why not take the time to verify that you’re headed the right direction, which exit you need to take next, and if there’s an alternate route you can take to make up time.

There’s no reason to wonder what to do while stuck in traffic. You can use one of the ideas above or think of some of your own. The point is to do something with the time you’re given rather than allowing yourself to get upset.

Every Driver Has Had One Of Those Experiences Only Us Drivers Can Relate To! Had An Experience On The Road You’d Like To Share? Leave your comments now and enter to win a $500.00 gas card. We give away one each month and you can be our next winner… Click Here To Enter Now!

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What’s a Trucker to Do for Retirement?

Posted in Money Saving Tips by Brian · 2 Comments 

Once the road has gotten in your blood, it’s not an easy thing to give up. So what’s a trucker to do for retirement when retiring is the furthest from their mind? You know it’s going to happen sooner or later, so you may want to start thinking about and planning for it now. Here are some things to consider.

It’s actually better to start planning for retirement while you’re young rather than waiting until retirement is on your doorstep. The saying goes, “you’re never too young to start planning for retirement,” and it’s true. By starting young, you will be able to put more money aside for retirement so your golden years aren’t tarnished by a lack of money.

Start to compare retirement plans. Do you want an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) or does your company offer a 401K plan? Decide how much money you think you’ll need to live on during retirement, and then plan accordingly. Speaking to a licensed financial professional may help you make the best decisions for the age you are and the type of life you want to live.

Do you have long-term care insurance? You may want to think about this as there are a large number of older Americans that have to spend their retirement years in nursing homes. By having the long-term care insurance, this is one expense you won’t have to worry so much about.

Don’t wait too long before making decisions about how you’ll live after you stop driving for a living. Where will you live? How will you pay for your living expenses if you haven’t properly prepared? Will you be able to live off of Social Security if it’s even available for you when you reach retirement age? These are things you probably want to start thinking about now.

Maybe you don’t want to give up driving when you reach retirement age. Well, if you think about it, there’s no reason that you can’t continue your love of the road. Instead of driving for a company and having to be away from your spouse, why not take them with you as you travel the country together in a motor home? It’s something a lot of drivers are doing these days; you may want to consider it, as well.

Some owner-operators can’t bear the thought of giving up their rig and now they don’t have to. Truck drivers can pay to have their rig converted into a motor home. You can add a box onto the back, extend the cab to include whatever you think you need, or pull a trailer behind you. The choice is yours.

If you see a converted big rig on the road, it’s a good chance they still have their CB radio. Give them a holler and find out who converted their truck or you can go to the internet and search for “convert trucks to motor homes” and you may find someone who can do the job for you.

Retirement is something that’s going to happen whether we want it to or not. Instead of fighting it tooth and nail, begin to plan for it now by setting money aside and then by creating a great motor home from your rig. You’ll see retirement isn’t so bad after all.

Every Driver Has Had One Of Those Experiences Only Us Drivers Can Relate To! Had An Experience On The Road You’d Like To Share? Leave your comments now and enter to win a $500.00 gas card. We give away one each month and you can be our next winner… Click Here To Enter Now!

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Biodiesel: All It’s Cracked Up to Be?

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Thankfully diesel prices have come down in recent months, but there’s no reason to believe they will stay down indefinitely. In fact, it’s almost guaranteed that the prices will increase. To combat the high cost of diesel fuel, many people are pushing biodiesel instead. But is it all it’s cracked up to be?

One of the great selling points for biodiesel is that it is a renewable energy source, unlike petroleum. Once petroleum reserves are gone, it will take too many years to think about in order for more to be created by natural means. In comes biodiesel, which is comprised mainly of used oils from restaurants.

Used vegetable oil, most often used for frying foods like French fries or fried fish, is passed through a process called transesterification. This creates glycerin, which can be used to make soap, and diesel fuel which can be used to run vehicles. This fuel can be used alone or combined with traditional diesel fuel to reduce the call for petroleum-based fuels.

Besides helping to stretch current petroleum fuel reserves (usually it is used in a 20% mixture of biodiesel with 80% petroleum), biodiesel doesn’t release aromatics or sulfur into the atmosphere. It also greatly cuts down on the carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, and particulate emissions of any vehicle using it.

Biodiesel also has a higher flash point which means that it is much less combustible than diesel or gasoline fuels. In fact, according to OSHA, it is classified as a non-flammable liquid which means that it is much safer in case the vehicle running it has an accident.

So, what, you may ask, is wrong with it? Actually there are a few reasons why biodiesel isn’t all it’s touted to be.

1. Biodiesel is extremely sensitive to cold weather. It also has a higher cloud point than fuel made from petroleum. This means you’ll still need anti-freeze treatments to run your truck in when thermometers plummet.
2. Biodiesel may require modifications to your engine, although some people think modifications won’t be necessary. Since biodiesel has a solvent effect, it may release accumulated deposits from the tank walls or pipes from when the truck was run entirely on petroleum-based fuel which may cause blocked fuel lines and filters.
3. Biodiesel, for all of its great selling points, isn’t cheap to produce. In fact, it’s actually more expensive right now to produce one gallon of biodiesel fuel as it is to produce that made from petroleum. Hopefully the price to produce biodiesel will be reduced which will make it cheaper for the user, as well.

Ultimately, the choice to run biodiesel in your truck instead of diesel fuel made from petroleum products is entirely up to you. Whether or not you can find biodiesel may be another factor in whether or not you choose to use it.

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GPS and Other Routing Software

Posted in Trucker Lifestyle by Brian · 1 Comment 

Long gone are the days when a truck driver had to pull off the side of the road to read a map or atlas to find out where they were going. They no longer have to worry about getting lost because GPS (Global Positioning System) and other routing software is available that can keep them on-route to reach their destination.

Thankfully, if you’re a truck driver, prices for a GPS has come down in recent years. Instead of having to pay between $500 and $1,300, prices have now been reduced quite a bit. In fact, you can now find GPS and other routing software starting at less than $100. Of course, if you’d like to spend over $1,000 for your GPS device, you can still find them on the market.

Most truck drivers are pleased with the smaller GPS devices. Not only can they help a driver maneuver their way through unfamiliar territory, they can also help you prepare your route ahead of time, decide upon scheduled stops along your route, and even help you find the quickest way to reach your destination. Best of all, they can help you get around traffic problems on major highways and interstates across the country.

All-in-all, having a GPS in your cab can help you cut operating costs, improve your delivery schedule, and help you be more efficient. Common GPS device manufacturers include Garmin, Cobra, Magellan, Pharos, and TomTom. Some drivers, however, prefer to use a laptop computer and their favorite mapping software such as Delorme, CoPilot, Microsoft Streets and Trips. Owner-operators may choose either of these types of routing systems because of the prohibitive cost of specialized software.

The routing and scheduling software that is specifically designed for the trucking industry may cost considerably more than anything available for the general public. They may also be provided by a trucking company for their drivers as long as the truck is company-owned.

If you aren’t sure about which GPS device or software is best for you as a truck driver, there are a few options to consider.

• What can you afford? If your budget is limited, one of the GPS devices might be what you need. They do a great job and won’t break your budget.
• Do you already have a laptop computer? If you have a laptop already, it might be easiest to purchase the software. These can usually be purchased for around $100, so they’re not too expensive.
• Does your company provide the software for you? If this is the case, all you have to do is ask them about having it installed on your truck.

You can compare prices of different systems online or look through consumer reporting magazines. No matter which you choose to buy, there’s no doubt that GPS and other routing software can make your job as a truck driver much easier.

Every Driver Has Had One Of Those Experiences Only Us Drivers Can Relate To! Had An Experience On The Road You’d Like To Share? Leave your comments now and enter to win a $500.00 gas card. We give away one each month and you can be our next winner… Click Here To Enter Now!

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Help for Truck Drivers with Sleep Apnea

Posted in The Healthy Trucker by Brian · Leave a Comment 

Sleep apnea; you’ve probably heard a lot about it in recent years. It’s characterized by loud snoring, depression, restless sleep, and struggling to breathe while sleeping. If you suffer from sleep apnea, it could very well affect how alert you are during waking hours. Thankfully, there is help for truck drivers with sleep apnea.

Maybe you’re not sure if you have sleep apnea or not. Do you sleep for a full eight hours and yet feel like you need a nap? How often do you become drowsy while you’re driving? Have you ever nodded off while driving? Have you found yourself on the side of the road and don’t remember how you got there? These could be signs that you have sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea affects more than 30 million American. If you’re an adult male who is overweight, there’s 50% likelihood that you’ll develop sleep apnea. Most people with this condition also have high blood pressure. If you already have some breathing problems while you sleep, the chances increase further. Sleep apnea has a tendency to run in families so it may be a genetic condition.

Obviously, if you’re not sleeping well during the night, you’re going to be tired and fatigued during the day. But this isn’t enough to determine if you do, in fact, have this condition. If you sleep with a partner, they may be able to help you decide if you exhibit the most serious symptom – loud snoring accompanied by brief periods where the person stops breathing entirely.

Having sleep apnea could be life-threatening and should be brought to your doctor’s attention. If you do have sleep apnea, and it goes undiagnosed, you could suffer a heart attack, stroke, impotence, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Daytime sleepiness, besides being a health risk, can lead to daytime sleepiness which may result in accidents, loss of productivity, and affect your personal relationships.

To confirm a diagnosis of sleep apnea, your doctor will ask that you attend a sleep study overnight. If you do have sleep apnea they may recommend changes in your diet to help you lose weight, a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine, or medication. Some doctors recommend a pillow that encourages you to sleep in a position other than lying on your back.

A study conducted in during the 1990s showed that truck drivers develop sleep apnea in the same degree that the general public does. They also found that how often a driver was able to sleep in their own bed and sleep for more than six hours. Age, sex of the driver, and their body weight seemed to be the biggest factors in whether or not they developed sleep apnea.

Even though commercial drivers have sleep apnea as often as the general public, that doesn’t mean that the condition in drivers isn’t something to be concerned about. Sleep apnea is the most common sleep disorder and is considered to be treatable. With some changes to your lifestyle, no surgery, and a little time, you may find your sleep apnea is actually reversible, which is a very good thing. Once your sleep apnea is cleared up, you may also find that other health concerns you have are reduced or cleared up, as well.

Every Driver Has Had One Of Those Experiences Only Us Drivers Can Relate To! Had An Experience On The Road You’d Like To Share? Leave your comments now and enter to win a $500.00 gas card. We give away one each month and you can be our next winner… Click Here To Enter Now!

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No Rest for the Sick DRIVER

Posted in The Healthy Trucker by Brian · Leave a Comment 

It’s inevitable. At one point or another, while you’re doing your job as a truck driver, you’re going to get sick with a cold or flu. Unfortunately, it’s not likely that you’ll be able to take the time off to recuperate because when you’re not on the road, you’re not making money. When you’re a truck driver, there’s no rest for the sick.

If you’re like most truckers, you will keep doing what you have to do until you merely can’t go on. And, like most drivers, you most likely have a first aid kit filled with your normal first aid items, but also a variety of cold and flu medicines.

What is the common cold and what is the best way to combat it? Colds are the result of a mild viral infection. While it usually affects the nose and throat, you may also feel run down. Here are the symptoms that most often go along with the common cold:

• Stuffy or runny nose, quite often with a colored discharge
• Coughing
• Sneezing
• Fever, inevitably it could reach up to 102 degrees
• Muscle aches
• Headache
• Watery eyes
• Sore throat

You can expect to feel bad anywhere from three to ten days. Unfortunately, some of the symptoms such as coughing, can last much longer. Hopefully, since you spend so much of your time in your truck, you can avoid some of the extra germs that are airborne, especially during the winter months.

To avoid getting sick, be sure to wash your hands often. If you can, avoid going into truck stops where drivers from all over the country spend time, this will reduce your risk of picking up someone else’s bug. The fewer people you come in contact with, the lesser chance you’ll get sick.

The flu, or influenza, is a respiratory disease also caused by a virus. It is spread in much the same way as the common cold, but the symptoms appear suddenly. They include:

• A fever over 102 degrees
• Nausea
• Chills and sweating
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches in the lower part of the body
• Loss of appetite
• Headache

Besides staying away from others who are sick and washing your hands often, you can also reduce the chance of getting sick by getting plenty of sleep, eating healthy foods, staying away from alcoholic drinks, and reducing as much stress as possible. Drinking plenty of fluids can also help you get rid of mucous and keep you hydrated.

Over-the-counter treatments may help reduce the symptoms, and may even help you feel a little better, but you’ll still feel rough until the virus is out of your system. If you still feel bad after ten days, have temperatures over 102 degrees, or if you have other health issues, go see your doctor.

Cold and flu season is in full swing. Take care of yourself by getting plenty of rest, washing your hands often, and avoiding others that are sick can go a long way to keeping you healthy, as well. Since there’s no rest for the sick, staying healthy is your best bet. It will keep you on the road and making money.

Every Driver Has Had One Of Those Experiences Only Us Drivers Can Relate To! Had An Experience On The Road You’d Like To Share? Leave your comments now and enter to win a $500.00 gas card.

We give away one each month and you can be our next winner… Click Here To Enter Now!

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