Trucking
Bookkeeping and tax for owner-operators, fleets, and brokers
Trucking accounting is not generic small-business accounting. Per diem, IFTA, Form 2290, factoring, settlement statements, and DOT compliance all sit on top of normal bookkeeping. The right firm handles all of it.
What the specialist does
What a trucking specialist actually handles
- Per diem tracking and meals deduction for over-the-road drivers
- IFTA fuel tax calculation and quarterly filings
- Vehicle, trailer, and equipment depreciation (Section 179, bonus, and MACRS)
- 1099/W-2 classification for owner-operators vs company drivers
- DOT, IRP, and 2290 heavy highway use tax compliance
Common tax issues
Tax issues this specialist handles every year
Generic firms miss most of these. A specialist surfaces them in planning conversations, not on the next IRS notice.
Per diem optimization
Owner-operators can deduct 80% of the DOT per diem ($69 domestic / $74 outside CONUS for 2024). Recordkeeping must support nights away from home.
IFTA quarterly returns
Mileage and gallons by jurisdiction; underreporting triggers a 50-state audit cascade.
Form 2290 heavy highway tax
Due Aug 31 each year for vehicles 55,000 lbs+. Missed filings stop registration renewals.
Section 179 and bonus depreciation on tractors
New and used tractors qualify, but the trade-in basis rules under TCJA are commonly missed.
S-Corp election for owner-operators
Once net earnings clear ~$80k, an S-Corp can save $5–15k/year in SE tax.
Bookkeeping requirements
- Settlement statement breakdowns by load and lane
- Fuel card reconciliation (EFS, Comdata, RTS) by truck
- Maintenance and repair tracking by unit number
- Factoring company advances and reserves
- Per diem calendar and HOS log archive
Payroll issues
- Owner-operator vs company-driver classification (AB5, FAAAA preemption issues)
- Per diem pay programs and accountable plans
- Multi-state withholding for interstate drivers
- Workers' comp by class code (long-haul vs local)
- 1099-NEC issuance for lease operators
Software used
The tools a real specialist works in
Pricing ranges
What you should expect to pay
Real market ranges from active engagements. Fees scale with complexity, location, and firm size.
Owner-operator monthly
$200–$600/mo
Bookkeeping, IFTA, quarterly estimates, 2290.
Fleet 5–25 trucks
$1,200–$4,500/mo
Driver settlements, fuel reconciliation, multi-state filings, fleet P&L.
Tax return — trucking entity
$1,200–$4,500
Depreciation schedule, per diem, S-Corp comp study.
Hourly advisory
$185–$375/hr
Entity restructuring, audit defense, financing prep.
Featured professionals
Trucking accounting — vetted pros accepting new clients
Verified specialists appear here as profiles are claimed and reviewed in United States.
Questions to ask
- How many trucking clients do you serve and what fleet sizes?
- Do you prepare IFTA returns in-house or coordinate with our ELD provider?
- How will you handle our Form 2290 heavy use tax?
- What's your approach to per diem documentation in an IRS audit?
- Can you advise on S-Corp vs sole prop for an owner-operator?
Red flags
- !Doesn't know what IFTA is or how to file it
- !Treats every truck purchase as immediate Section 179 without checking limitations
- !Files the trucking entity on Schedule C when an S-Corp would save thousands
- !Skips per diem because 'it's too risky' — leaving real deductions on the table
- !No experience with factoring company entries
Local provider links
Related directories and pages
Find a trucking accountant
Browse vetted trucking professionals, compare credentials and pricing, and start a conversation in minutes.
FAQ
About trucking accounting
How much does trucking accounting cost?+
Owner-operators usually pay $200–$600/month all-in. Small fleets pay $1,200–$4,500/month depending on driver count, factoring complexity, and state footprint.
Do I need a CPA or just a bookkeeper for my trucking business?+
A bookkeeper handles settlements and IFTA monthly; a CPA prepares the tax return and advises on entity structure and depreciation. Most owner-operators benefit from both — often at the same firm.
Can a trucking accountant work remotely?+
Yes. Most modern trucking accounting is fully remote using ELD data, cloud bookkeeping, and digital settlement statements.
Take the next step
Find an industry-specialist CPA
Free matching
Get 3 free CPA quotes
Tell us what you need. Up to 3 verified CPAs reply within 1 business day. No fees, no pressure.
Request 3 quotesSide-by-side
Compare CPAs
Stack verified pros next to each other on pricing, specialties, and experience before you reach out.
Compare CPAsFree PDF
2026 CPA Pricing Guide
Real fee benchmarks for tax prep, bookkeeping, payroll, and advisory — by service and business type.
Download free guideRelated industry accounting services
Advisor-grade guides
Downloadable ebooks & templates
CPA-ready playbooks and templates you can use today — instant downloads, no signup required.
The Small Business Tax & Profit Playbook
A CPA-ready guide to deductions, quarterly taxes, S-Corp strategy, owner pay, cash flow, and year-round tax planning.
Business Tax Deduction Checklist
A CPA-curated checklist of 80+ business deductions most owners miss — organized by category so you can sweep it before filing.
The Definitive Bookkeeping Cleanup & Recovery Guide
The CPA's step-by-step playbook for diagnosing messy books, reconstructing missing history, and restoring a clean, audit-ready ledger.
The Freelancer Tax Guide
The practical tax playbook for freelancers, contractors, and solo creatives — deductions, quarterly estimates, and self-employment strategies.
The Year-End Tax Planning Guide
The CPA's December playbook — practical strategies to reduce your tax bill before the year closes.
The Premium Bookkeeping Template Pack
Automated dashboards, multi-account reconciliations, and CPA-ready reporting workbooks for serious owners and bookkeepers.
Tax & Bookkeeping Resource Library
Our complete advisor-grade collection — every premium asset an owner needs to run clean books, lower taxes, and recover messy ledgers, in one bundle.