Travel Expenses

• The IRS says travel expenses are "the ordinary and necessary expenses paid while traveling away from the home." These expenses aren't limited to the bare minimum of necessity, but cannot be lavish or extravagant. Some of examples of these are maps, laundry, motels, sheets, blankets, pillows, showers, tolls and parking. You can also write off a cell phone if it is only used for business and ATM charges while on the road. It is important to note, however, that the IRS only lets you claim these if you have a physical residence outside of your truck.
  
  

Truck Expenses

• The list for truck expenses is probably the largest. Keep in mind that in order to claim these, you must be an independent truck driver (sole proprietor) or incorporated. If you are an employee of a transport company who provides these items, you may not write them off on your taxes. Examples of these items are fuel, antennas, repairs, batteries, flashlights, CBs, chains, cleaning supplies, tools, insurance, permits, safety equipment and truck washes. If you lease your trailer and/or truck, write off the amount paid. If you own your truck and/or trailer, you can depreciate the value for up to three years. Depreciating means that the IRS lets you write off the "wear and tear" of the vehicle for the amount of time considered its useful lifespan. Note that some employees may not be reimbursed for these expenses. These drivers can claim a portion of this expense by filing IRS Form 2106, Employee Business Expenses with their Schedule A (itemized deductions list).
  
  

Meals

• All areas across the United States have standard meal allowances. This is a set amount for daily meals and incidental expenses used instead of records from the actual costs. These amounts can vary according to location. The IRS has an exception to this rule for individuals who are subject to "hours of service" limits. Because truck drivers are in this category, they qualify for a flat per diem rate for meals. This means that truck drivers can deduct 80 percent of the total number of days they were on the road times the per diem rate. Remember that tax deductions and credits may vary according to the individual. The above list may not be all inclusive of deductions you may have. For specific questions, contact a tax professional.