Per Diem Archives

What We Don’t Do (And Why): A Different Approach to Trucking Payroll

Published: August 17th, 2026 Executive Summary Choosing a payroll company usually means asking what the provider does. But sometimes the better questions are about what they won’t do. At Superior Trucking Payroll Service, we provide payroll for trucking companies, which means we have deliberately decided not to do certain things that are common in the payroll industry. We […]

Is Truck Driver Per Diem Legal? The Most Common Questions Trucking Company Owners Ask

Is Truck Driver Per Diem Legal? The Most Common Questions Trucking Company Owners Ask Published: August 10th, 2026 Executive Summary Truck driver per diem is one of the most misunderstood payroll topics in trucking. Many fleet owners have heard about it but aren’t sure whether it’s legal, who qualifies, how much it saves, or what

Truck Driver Per Diem FAQ: The Questions Drivers Ask Most (Answered)

Truck Driver Per Diem FAQ: The Questions Drivers Ask Most (Answered) Published: August 7th, 2026 Executive Summary Truck driver per diem remains one of the most misunderstood topics in trucking. Many drivers worry that it is a trick, that it will hurt their retirement, or that it will make it harder to buy a house.

Why Your Truck Driver’s Tax Refund May Shrink After Starting Per Diem (And Why That’s Usually Good News)

July 20th, 2026 Executive Summary Every January, trucking companies receive the same phone calls: “My W-2 is wrong.” “My tax refund is smaller than last year.” “Did payroll make a mistake?” If your company offers a compliant truck driver per diem program, these questions are completely normal. In most cases, nothing is wrong. Per diem

Truck Driver Per Diem Audits: The IRS Isn’t the Problem. Bad Per Diem Programs Are.

July 22nd, 2026 Executive Summary Many trucking companies avoid implementing a truck driver per diem program because they’re afraid of an IRS audit. Ironically, that fear is often misplaced. The IRS did not prohibit per diem. In fact, the IRS created the rules, published the rules, and updates those rules regularly. Companies that follow those

How Per Diem Helps Trucking Companies Recruit and Keep Drivers

Executive Summary Most trucking companies think of per diem as a payroll tax strategy. While it absolutely reduces payroll taxes for both drivers and carriers, it also does something even more valuable: it helps recruit better drivers, retain them longer, and build trust. Today’s drivers aren’t simply comparing cents per mile. They’re comparing the total

When Truck Drivers Say No to Per Diem: The Real Reasons (and Why You Shouldn’t Force It)

Executive Summary Rolling out a truck driver per diem program is rarely the hard part. The challenge comes when one or two drivers say, “No thanks.” Many trucking companies assume those drivers simply don’t understand per diem. In reality, they often understand it very well. They’re protecting something they believe is more important, whether that’s

How to Roll Out Per Diem Without Losing Driver Trust

Executive Summary Implementing truck driver per diem should be one of the easiest wins for a trucking company. Drivers usually take home more money, companies reduce payroll taxes and workers’ compensation costs, and everyone benefits. So why do some fleets experience angry phone calls, frustrated drivers, and even turnover after introducing it? The answer is

The 3 Ways Trucking Companies Pay Per Diem (Only One Maximizes Savings and IRS Compliance)

Published: June 22nd, 2026 Last Updated: August 5th, 2026 Executive Summary Many trucking companies offer driver per diem, but surprisingly few understand that there are multiple ways to calculate it. Some fleets pay per diem based on miles. Others use a percentage of driver wages. A smaller group calculates per diem based on qualifying travel

How Much Money Does Per Diem Save a Trucking Company?

Published: June 16th, 2026 Last Updated: August 6th, 2026 Executive Summary Truck driver per diem is one of the few payroll strategies that can improve driver take-home pay while simultaneously reducing costs for the trucking company. For many fleets, a properly implemented per diem program can save between $2,000 and $2,500 per driver per year