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As a truck driver, you want to always be pulling a load. This means that after you deliver a shipment, you want to be loading up a new load quickly and bringing it back home. This is truck driving 101. You know that not all loads are created equal and prices vary dramatically by state. If you are able to control more precisely where you deliver to, then it is best to pay attention to the best and worst states for outbound freight. Let’s take a look at the top and bottom 10 states in flatbed, reefer, and van over the past week (7 days), according to Truckstop . Flatbed - Top 10 04/12/2026 - 04/18/2026 Flatbed - Bottom 10 04/12/2026 - 04/18/2026 Reefer - Top 10 04/12/2026 - 04/18/2026 Reefer - Bottom 10 04/12/2026 - 04/18/2026 Van - Top 10 04/12/2026 - 04/18/2026 Van - Bottom 10 04/12/2026 - 04/18/2026 The idea here is not to boycott the low-paying states, but rather develop relationships with those who pay better than average in those states. By doing so you can guarantee that you will be hired for the job, and through patronizing those that pay better, you can encourage the industry as a whole to pay better. The data above is provided by Truckstop . Interested in learning more, get your first month of Truckstop’s Load Board Pro FREE, https://partners.truckstop.com/48if2i397cyz

You may have found yourself in a situation where you've completed your tax filing and realized that you missed something. If this sounds like you, then don’t worry. All you need to do is follow these tips on how to file an amended tax return. 1. Start with the right form. Use Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Individual Income Tax Return, to correct your tax return. Taxpayers are able to amend Form 1040 and 1040-SR returns electronically. In some cases, a paper Form 1040X may still be required. Taxpayers should follow the instructions for preparing and submitting the paper form. You can get the form on IRS.gov/forms at any time. See the Form 1040X instructions for the address where you should mail your form. 2. Amend to correct errors . You should file an amended tax return to correct errors or make changes to your original tax return. For example, you should amend to change your filing status or to correct your income, deductions , or credits. 3. Don’t amend for math errors or missing forms . You normally don’t need to file an amended return to correct math errors. The IRS will automatically correct those for you. Also, do not file an amended return if you forgot to attach tax forms, such as a Form W-2 or a schedule. The IRS will mail you a request for them in most cases. 4. Most taxpayers don’t need to amend to correct Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement, errors. Eligible taxpayers who filed a tax return and claimed a premium tax credit using incorrect information from either the federally-facilitated or a state-based Health Insurance Marketplace, generally do not have to file an amended return regardless of the nature of the error, even if additional taxes would be owed. The IRS may contact you to ask for a copy of your corrected Form 1095-A to verify the information. 5. Be aware of the time limit to claim a refund . You generally have three years from the date you filed your original tax return to file Form 1040X to claim a refund. You can file it within two years from the date you paid the tax if that date is later. See the Form 1040X instructions for special rules that apply to some claims. 6. Separate forms for each year. If you are amending more than one tax return, prepare a 1040X for each year. If you are submitting paper versions, you should mail each year in separate envelopes. Note the tax year of the return you are amending at the top of Form 1040X. Check the form’s instructions for where to mail your return. 7. Attach other forms with changes . If you use other IRS forms or schedules to make changes, make sure to attach them to your Form 1040X. 8. Know when to file for an additional refund . If you are due a refund from your original return, wait to get that refund before filing Form 1040X to claim an additional refund. Amended returns typically take up to 16 weeks to process, but in some cases may take longer depending on IRS workload. You may spend your original refund while you wait for any additional refund. 9. Pay additional tax as soon as you can . If you owe more tax, file your Form 1040X and pay the tax as soon as you can. This will stop added interest and penalties. Use IRS Direct Pay to pay your tax directly from your checking or savings account. 10. Track your amended return . You can track the status of your amended tax return three weeks after you file with ‘Where’s My Amended Return?’ This tool is on IRS.gov or by phone at 866-464-2050. It is available in English and in Spanish. The tool can track the status of an amended return for the current year and up to three years back. To use ‘Where’s My Amended Return?’ enter your taxpayer identification number, which is usually your Social Security number. You will also enter your date of birth and zip code. If you have filed amended returns for multiple years, you can check each year one at a time. 11. Don't forget about state tax return amendments. Most states utilize the information provided on your federal tax return to determine your state tax filing. If information is being corrected on your federal return, it's likely that you also need to file an amendment for your state tax return. If any of this feels complicated or overwhelming, make sure you use a qualified tax preparer from ATBS to prepare and file the amended return for you. To get started, call 866-920-2827 or click here to request a call from us .

After years of a struggling freight market, 2026 appears to be a turnaround year, getting off to a strong start. At the same time, spiking fuel prices are colliding into trucking’s momentum. It’s shaping up to be a very interesting year. In this article, we’ll dig into the latest numbers and answer questions, including: What does the crackdown and enforcement on illegal capacity really mean? What are the latest trends for owner-operator miles, rates, fuel costs, maintenance, and net income? What attracts owner-operators to run for a fleet, and why do they leave? Will the rise in spot rates attract more drivers into the own authority market? What will the trucking recovery look like? Interested in learning more? Check out our full 2025 Owner-Operator Trucking Trends Webinar , where we give a more in-depth recap of how owner-operators performed in 2025! Freight Rates From May 2020 through April 2022, we saw one of the biggest increases in spot market load volumes and rates in the history of trucking. However, in April 2022, while contract rates remained somewhat stable, spot market rates and load volumes began falling dramatically. Here are some numbers to illustrate this shift in the market: Peak- November of 2021 Loads: 240 loads per 1 truck looking for a load. Rates: $2.74 per mile (without fuel surcharge). April 2025 Loads: 91 loads per 1 truck looking for a load. Rates: $2.13 per mile (without fuel surcharge) September 2025 Loads: 88 loads per 1 truck looking for a load. Rates: $1.88 per mile (without fuel surcharge) April 2026 Loads: 175 loads per 1 truck looking for a load. Rates: $2.40 per mile (without fuel surcharge) We are currently seeing a very strong load-to-truck ratio, with approximately 175 loads available per truck. At the same time, rates have climbed to $2.40/load. This imbalance has pushed rates to their highest levels since the COVID era. For context, over the past three years the rates have hovered around $1.86, creating a challenging environment for independent contractors who rely heavily on the spot market to generate revenue. That dynamic has clearly shifted. Spot rates have risen significantly since the beginning of the year, signaling improving market conditions. The spot market is often one of the best indicators of overall industry health, and right now it is pointing in a positive direction. If this trend continues, trucking could become a much more attractive opportunity for new and returning drivers. That said, stronger rates alone do not guarantee profitability. Operators who remain disciplined with their expenses and are strategic in how they select loads will be in the best position to take full advantage of this market. Miles Miles are down year over year by approximately 3.8%, with the average independent contractor running about 95,000 miles annually. Historically, when the economy is strong, drivers tend to run fewer miles. When conditions tighten, drivers often compensate by driving more to maintain income. We saw this during the COVID era and the dip in mileage during that time. However, 2025 did not follow that typical pattern. While it was not considered a recovery year for the industry, miles still declined. This suggests the issue was not a lack of willingness to run, but a lack of available freight. Simply put, many drivers could not increase miles even if they wanted to because the loads were not there. Revenue Revenue per mile increased by 2.9% year over year, driven primarily by rate improvements in the back half of the year, especially in the fourth quarter. Most importantly, this gain was the result of positive rate adjustments rather than fuel prices. While fuel costs were lower early in the year, they trended slightly higher in the second half compared to 2024. As a result, fuel had minimal impact on the overall increase in revenue per mile. Despite stronger revenue per mile, gross revenue declined by approximately 1.3%. As mentioned earlier, reduced load availability in 2025 was the primary driver of this year-over-year decrease. Fuel It is important to note that this graph reflects fuel data from 2025, when pricing looked very different from what we are seeing today. Fuel was actually net positive year over year by $0.01 per mile, bringing the average to $0.50 CPM. While that was a favorable trend at the time, conditions have shifted significantly in recent weeks. As fuel prices change, it becomes more important than ever for independent contractors to focus on fuel efficiency and to fully understand how fuel surcharge works. When fuel spikes, it can create a unique opportunity to increase revenue through higher surcharges. However, that opportunity only translates into profit when your truck is running as efficiently as possible. Maintenance Maintenance remains one of the largest expenses for owner-operators, increasing year over year by $874 to a total of $14,222. Several factors are driving this rise, including higher labor costs, more expensive parts, and a limited supply of new trucks. As a result, many independent contractors are holding onto older equipment longer, which typically requires more upkeep. At the same time, some drivers are delaying maintenance due to cash flow constraints, often leading to more expensive repairs down the road. The key takeaway is simple: maintenance planning is no longer optional. Operators who proactively budget for repairs, fixed expenses, and potential downtime are far better positioned to protect their income and stay on the road when unexpected issues arise. Net Income Overall, owner-operator net income is up 0.5% to $71,808 year over year. Looking ahead in 2026, as mentioned earlier, we are seeing rates go up. Although we see fuel rising, that does not mean you cannot increase your bottom dollar. The drivers who focus on all expenses and dial in their fuel economy are the ones who will profit the most from these increased rates.  After several challenging years, we are beginning to see meaningful signs of recovery. Capacity is tightening, rates are improving, and the overall environment is becoming more favorable for owner-operators. At the same time, rising fuel costs, increased maintenance expenses, and ongoing cost pressures continue to separate those who are prepared from those who are not. Success in this market will not come from rates alone. It will come from discipline. The operators who understand their numbers, control their expenses, run efficiently, and make strategic decisions about the freight they haul will be the ones who take full advantage of this cycle. As conditions improve, opportunity will grow, but so will the gap between those who are operating a business and those who are simply driving a truck. Rest of 2026 Outlook Illegal driver capacity has become a major focus across the industry, with increased pressure from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) to identify and remove non-compliant operators in an effort to improve roadway safety. While several factors have pushed this issue to the forefront, the key takeaway is the expected reduction in overall capacity. Estimates suggest that enforcement efforts could remove 5–12% of drivers from the market. When capacity tightens at that level, rates typically respond upward. This creates a favorable environment for carriers that have remained compliant and operational, positioning them to benefit from stronger pricing and improved demand. The best businesses and owner-operators are still doing well. The bottom line is that owner-operators control their own destiny, and they can make changes today to ensure profitability and success!

As an independent contractor, it's important to file your taxes on time to avoid penalties and interest charges. However, sometimes unexpected circumstances can cause you to miss the tax deadline. If this happens, and you didn’t file an extension, there are a few steps you can take to minimize the damage. If you haven't filed or paid your taxes yet, don't worry, ATBS can help you get caught up! Click here to request more information or get started. File as Soon as Possible Even if you miss the tax deadline, it's important to file your taxes as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more penalties and interest charges you'll accrue. If you owe taxes, the IRS charges different penalties for filing and paying taxes after the deadline. The failure to file penalty is 5% of the unpaid tax for each month, with a cap of 25% at five months. The failure to pay penalty is 0.5% of the unpaid tax for each month. This penalty also caps at 25%, which can take up to 50 months (4.2 years). Another thing to keep in mind is that the IRS also charges interest. The interest rate the IRS applies to a balance due is determined by the IRS each quarter and may vary. Pay What You Can If you can't pay your full tax bill by the deadline, it's important to pay as much as you can as soon as you can. As mentioned earlier, the IRS charges interest on the unpaid taxes, so the quicker you pay, the less interest you'll owe in the long run. You can make a payment online, by phone, or by mail using the payment voucher that came with your tax bill. If you can't pay your full tax bill, you can consider setting up a payment plan with the IRS. This allows you to make smaller payments over time to pay off your tax bill. To set up a payment plan, you'll need to file Form 9465 with the IRS. You can choose from several different payment plans, depending on your financial situation and the amount of your tax bill. Don’t Let This Become a Habit If you have failed to file your taxes, you will eventually be sent a series of notices once a tax return is determined to be delinquent. Do not ignore these notices! The best chance of getting off this path is by working towards a solution as soon as possible and filing your taxes. Letters from the IRS will not go away, and they will increase in severity. Ignoring these letters may eventually lead to garnishment of wages or settlements. Do not let it get this far! Getting out of trouble with the IRS is a difficult thing to do. If you’re behind on your taxes, the sooner you work to file your taxes and get compliant, the better the options available will be. Then, make sure you continue to file your taxes on time in order to avoid getting in trouble again down the road. Seek Help From a Tax Professional If you're unsure about how to proceed or you need help navigating the tax system, consider seeking professional help. A tax professional or accountant can advise you on the best course of action and help you file your taxes correctly and on time. At ATBS, we have an experienced team of experts in all things related to truck driver taxes and the IRS. We can work with you to get caught up on your past-due taxes and help you stay in compliance throughout the rest of your trucking career. We will help you avoid worsening any potential tax problems that you might have and get you back on the road to success. These issues are common and can happen to anyone, but that’s why we’re here. So What Should You Do if You Miss the Tax Deadline? Missing the tax deadline can be a stressful experience, but it's important to take action as soon as possible to minimize the damage. The key is to file your taxes and pay as much as you can as soon as you can. And if you're feeling overwhelmed or uncertain about what to do, seeking professional help can be a wise decision. By taking these steps, you can avoid further penalties and interest charges and get back on track with your taxes.

Missing a tax deadline can happen, especially for owner-operators who are busy running their businesses. However, what matters most is what you do next. Filing your tax return as soon as possible after the deadline can significantly reduce the penalties and interest that build up over time. The longer you wait, the more expensive the situation becomes. When a taxpayer misses the deadline and owes taxes, the IRS generally applies two different penalties: the failure to file penalty and the failure to pay penalty. Understanding how these penalties work can help drivers minimize the financial damage and make smarter decisions when they fall behind. The Failure to File Penalty The failure to file penalty is the most severe of the two penalties. If you owe taxes and do not file your return by the deadline, the IRS charges a penalty equal to 5 percent of the unpaid tax for each month or part of a month that the return is late. This penalty continues to grow until it reaches a maximum of 25 percent of the unpaid tax, which typically happens after five months. For example, if an owner-operator owes $10,000 in taxes and does not file their return for three months, the failure to file penalty alone could reach $1,500. If the return remains unfiled for five months, the penalty would reach its maximum of $2,500. This is why tax professionals almost always recommend filing your return on time, or filing an extension, even if you cannot pay the balance owed. Filing prevents the larger failure to file penalty from accumulating and limits your exposure to additional charges. Another important rule to understand is that if your return is extremely late, the IRS may apply a minimum penalty. In some cases, if a return is more than 60 days late, the minimum penalty can be a set dollar amount or the total tax owed, whichever is smaller. The Failure to Pay Penalty The failure to pay penalty applies when you file your return but do not pay the taxes you owe by the deadline. This penalty is smaller but still adds up over time. The IRS charges 0.5 percent of the unpaid tax for each month or part of a month that the balance remains unpaid. Like the failure to file penalty, this charge continues to accumulate until it reaches a maximum of 25 percent of the unpaid tax. Because the monthly rate is much lower, the failure to pay penalty can take much longer to reach the 25 percent maximum. In fact, it could take around 50 months (about 4.2 years) before it reaches that cap. While this penalty grows more slowly, it still adds up over time. On top of that, the IRS also charges interest on the unpaid balance, which compounds daily and increases the total amount owed. When Both Penalties Apply If a taxpayer both files late and pays late, both penalties can apply at the same time. However, the IRS does not charge the full 5 percent plus 0.5 percent simultaneously. Instead, the penalties are adjusted so the combined charge is generally 5 percent per month while the return remains unfiled. Once the failure to file penalty reaches its maximum after five months, the failure to pay penalty continues until the balance is paid. This structure reinforces an important point: not filing is far more expensive than not paying. Why Filing Quickly Matters For owner-operators and independent contractors, missing a tax deadline does not mean the situation is hopeless. The key is to take action quickly. Filing your return as soon as possible stops the failure to file penalty from growing. Even if you cannot pay the entire balance right away, filing the return reduces the total penalties and shows the IRS that you are making a good faith effort to stay compliant. In many cases, the IRS also offers payment options such as installment agreements that allow taxpayers to gradually pay off their tax balance. While penalties and interest may still apply, these options can make the situation more manageable. The Best Strategy for Owner-Operators The best way to avoid these penalties is simple: stay ahead of your tax obligations. For owner-operators, this often means setting aside money throughout the year and making quarterly estimated tax payments. Quarterly payments help reduce the risk of a large tax bill at the end of the year and prevent penalties from building up. They also provide a clearer picture of how your business is performing financially. But if you do miss a deadline, the most important thing to remember is this: file as soon as possible. Acting quickly can significantly reduce penalties and help you get back on track faster. For drivers who feel overwhelmed or unsure about their tax situation, working with a tax professional who understands the trucking industry can make a major difference. The sooner you address the problem, the easier it is to limit penalties and protect the income you worked hard to earn.

It is important to get your tax return to the IRS by the April 15th deadline. But what happens when meeting that deadline is just not possible? Filing an extension is a great option to avoid penalties and late fees. Each year nearly eight million Americans file for an extension on their taxes. This represents nearly eight percent of all taxpayers in the United States. It’s important to remember that just because you file a six-month extension it doesn’t mean you have an extension on paying any taxes that you owe. You’ll need to pay the estimated amount of taxes you owe no later than April 15th to avoid penalties. Here are some things you should know about working with ATBS to file an extension Extensions for individual returns MUST be filed by April 15th. If you are currently utilizing our monthly business services and are in need of an extension, we will automatically file your extension on April 15th, whether you request one or not, at no additional charge to you. Not using our monthly services? Just call and talk to us about filing an extension. It only takes about five minutes and costs $50. While the $50 is not refundable, we will apply it to your tax preparation fees. When will your tax return be done? While the IRS extension period lasts until October 15th, ATBS is dedicated to completing your return as quickly as possible. We complete each return in the order it was received. If you need your tax return done very quickly for any reason such as a mortgage, a business loan, an IRS matter, or applying for college financial aid we have payment options available to discuss accommodating that request. We can expedite your taxes and have your return filed within just five to seven business days as long as your tax organizer is completed and on file. No matter when you file your taxes you should know that... Owner-operators have an obligation to pay quarterly taxes If you did not pay your estimated quarterly taxes this past year, it is doubtful that you will receive a refund. However, if you paid the recommended estimates in each quarter, you will have most likely paid close to what your required annual payment will be. This means you likely will avoid penalties for underpayment of estimates. Company drivers’ employers withhold taxes for them throughout the year For many drivers, this will result in a refund each year if you are having the proper amount of taxes withheld. If you are due a refund, the IRS will not penalize you for filing your return after the April 15th deadline. If you expect to owe taxes, an extension of time to file your return is NOT an extension of time to pay You are still required to pay your tax liability by April 15th. How do I send payment to the IRS with my application for an extension? You can download a blank application for a tax extension here. If you'd prefer to have a completed extension voucher emailed to you, ATBS can provide you with a copy of the extension we are filing on your behalf upon request. Remember, ATBS is here to help you with the tax extension filing process! If you need any additional assistance, please contact your ATBS business consultant or tax professional or give us a call at (866) 920-2827. What happens after the extension is filed? Once you have filed your extension you will have until October 15 to file your actual return. At ATBS, we begin working on tax returns in the order that we receive completed tax organizers from clients. We are dedicated to completing your taxes as quickly and accurately as possible. For those who want to file their own tax extension, download Form 4868 from the IRS website . Simply fill it out, send it in, and make sure you have paid the estimated amount that you owe for the first quarter of the year. Are my chances of a tax audit higher? There are a lot of rumors out there about what can trigger a tax audit . Some people you talk to claim that filing an extension is one of those triggers. That is not the case. The reality is that the IRS is pretty tight-lipped about what they are looking for when they decide to audit an individual. On the other end of the spectrum, some people believe that if you file an extension you have a lower chance of being audited by the IRS. By the time the October 15th deadline approaches, they have already reached their yearly quota for audits. Is that a true statement? No one is really sure since it’s purely speculation. Just remember that as we get closer to the tax deadline, ATBS is here to help you through the process. If you have any questions make sure to give us a call at (866) 920-2827.

Per Diem (per day) is one of your largest tax deductions as an owner-operator, but what is it exactly? The Per Diem deduction is a tax deduction that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows to substantiate ordinary and necessary business meals and incidental expenses paid or incurred while traveling for business while away from home. In this article, we address the specific rules around using this significant tax deduction. As a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, W-2 employees, sometimes referred to as company drivers, are no longer eligible to claim the Per Diem deduction. The IRS allows contractors and self-employed transportation workers, subject to the hours of service regulations, to deduct their meal expenses while traveling for business. The Per Diem rate is set by the IRS. The Per Diem rate, effective October 1, 2024, is $80 per full day and $60 per partial day in the Continental United States. You may see the deduction amount quoted as $64 per full day and $48 per partial day. That is because the IRS only allows you to deduct 80% of the Per Diem rate. Non-CDL riders who are performing other duties (bookkeeping, dispatching, assisting with loading, and unloading) may deduct 50% of the $80 rate which comes out to $40 per full day. For travel outside the Continental United States, the Per Diem rate effective October 1, 2024, is $86 per full day and $64.50 per partial day. You may see the amount of the deduction quoted as $68.80 per full day and $51.60 per partial day. Non-CDL riders who are performing other duties (bookkeeping, dispatching, assisting loading, and unloading) may deduct 50% of the $86 rate, which comes out to $43 per full day. If you need help calculating your Per Diem deduction and filing your taxes, please click here . In order to qualify for these deductions, IRS Publication 463 states that you are traveling from home if: Your duties require you to be away from the general area of your tax home substantially longer than an ordinary day's work, AND You need to sleep or rest to meet the demands of your work while away from home. It further states that taking a nap does not satisfy the requirement. However, “you do not need to be away from home for a whole day, as long as your relief from duty is long enough to get necessary sleep or rest.” What does this mean to a driver? If you are an owner-operator, the rule is simple: you get to claim the tax deduction for each day that you are away from your “tax home.” On the days that you depart and the days that you arrive at home, you must claim a partial day allowance instead of a full day allowance. The partial day allowance is 75% of the full day allowance. Things become a little more complicated if you are a local driver. Local and regional drivers are frequently away from their home much longer than an average eight-hour workday. Therefore, fulfilling the first part of the requirements is simple. However, notice the “AND” between the two requirements? This means that you must meet both conditions in order to claim the deduction. Another way to think of it is, drivers who start and end a trip at home on the same Department of Transportation (DOT) Hours of Service (HOS) work day cannot claim Per Diem. Easily keep track of your days away from home with the ATBS Per Diem Tracker! Furthermore, IRS Publication 463 states that you must have a “tax home”. There are three tests to determine your tax home. In order to meet the requirements, you must satisfy at least two of the three following items: You perform part of your business in the area of your main home and use that home for lodging while doing business in the area. You have living expenses at your main home that you duplicate because your business requires you to be away from that home. You have not abandoned the area in which both your historical place of lodging and your claimed main home are located; you have a member or members of your family living at your main home; or you often use that home for lodging. So what does this all mean? In a nutshell: You must be away from home for 'substantially longer than a normal work day', per the IRS. You must have a home from which to be away. If you meet both requirements above, for any days on or after October 1, 2024, you can deduct $64 for each full day away from home as a driver and $40 as a ride-along that assists in business functions. You can deduct $48 per partial day as a driver. At ATBS, we believe that a good way to track is by using the ATBS Hub . That way you can determine exactly how many full and partial days you have to report to your tax preparer . In order to substantiate your Per Diem, you may need to provide DOT electronic logging device information with time, date, and location. It is good practice to keep all documentation for this Per Diem deduction for at least three years. If you have any questions on Per Diem, please contact ATBS by clicking here or giving us a call at 866-920-2827.

We wanted to take a moment to thank clients for the valuable feedback you've shared with us regarding the new ATBS Hub . Your insights have been instrumental in shaping the user experience, and we are thrilled to announce some exciting new features that have been added based on your suggestions. Here's a brief overview of the enhancements we've made so far: 03/17/26 Updates General Enhancements Backend Updates 08/26/25 Updates Updates to QTE language Added resubmission feature 12/04/24 Updates Added a message center to allow the ATBS team to request documents or information from clients in a streamlined format. Added a link to a brand new process for clients to complete their annual Tax Organizer. 08/20/24 Updates Added resources for ATBS Ride Clients Fixed bugs relating to the mileage tracker and ATBS Ride client data 07/23/24 Updates Improvements for analytics tracking Improvements to per diem notes Improvements to the Open Banking connection Add YTD Savings info and summary info for clients in the Rideshare industry Fix minor bugs and install patches and updates 06/29/24 Updates Updates to tools for clients with business entities. A mileage tracking tool for clients in the rideshare and gig driver industries. Optional Trip Notes: Users can now add an optional note to each trip. CSV Export: Users can easily download a summary of all trips in CSV format for their records. 04/02/24 Updates Added "What If" sections to Profit Plan 02/23/24 Updates The 2023 Personal Tax Organizer is now available to clients as a DocuSign Powerform that clients can launch themselves directly from their client Hub. 02/06/24 Updates Links will now open in the app if it is installed on your device Fixed multi-page navigation on small screen sizes Fixed Per Diem calendar auto-returning to the current month Fixed "Upload File" button not working on first tap in mobile on Safari 01/22/24 Updates Fixed P&L / Balance sheet table scroll Added P&L / Balance sheet download Updated language on the home page  Updated login page language Added the app version number to home page menu 12/21/23 Updates Login Experience The Hub now includes a “keep me logged in” feature so that the user can choose to stay logged in on trusted devices for an extended period of time. Username and Password can be saved. This is dependent upon the OS, device, browser, and user settings/options. Documents Increased file size limits. Access your device’s Camera Roll from directly within the Hub. Share documents/files to the Hub from other apps on your device. For example, share a PDF file in your device’s Email app directly to the ATBS Hub. Improved usability of the cropping tool. Profit & Loss Statements and Balance Sheets Added charts for YTD Miles and YTD Expenses. P&L and Balance Sheet drill-downs now show images of documents sent from any source (app, email, and physical documents). Previously, only documents that originated from the mobile app were displayed in the drill-downs. Fixed bugs related to the display of some P&L information, including Fuel Surcharge Revenue displaying correctly in the YTD Charts and some categories that errored for certain clients. Per Diem Added a “Year” option that allows clients to view/update the per diem for any year. When the “Year” is selected, the Per Diem Summary tile and the Calendar automatically display the selected year. Profit Plan Personal Obligations section added. Tax Updated language on the Quarterly Tax Estimates to make it easier to pay estimates. Added Tax Returns for clients who have multiple Returns in a single year. For example, business entity and personal returns, and married filing single returns for husband and wife. General Fixed numerous back-end items to improve stability, speed, usability, security, reporting, automations, and various other items. We believe these additions will greatly enhance your overall experience with the ATBS Hub and provide solutions to the challenges you've shared with us. We will continue to update this page as new updates continue to be rolled out. Thank you once again for being an integral part of our user community. Your feedback is invaluable to us, and we look forward to continuously improving our services to meet your expectations.

Tax season makes a lot of people nervous.  They are worried that they might owe money or that they haven’t done their taxes properly .  They worry about whether or not they will get a notice that says they are being audited.  The truth is that most people can relax.  Even if you did make a mistake, most aren’t severe enough to trigger an audit.  However, as you do your taxes this year, pay attention to these seven red flags that may lead to a  tax audit , or if not an audit then the letter from the IRS that states you made a mistake or forgot something and they changed the return and you owe them money. High Income The biggest red flag that may trigger an audit is having a high income.  The reason is simple: the IRS is not going to waste their resources pursuing someone who is cheating them out of a few hundred dollars.  It would cost far more to investigate than they would get back.  However, those who pay hundreds of thousands in taxes every year are the ones who make the IRS more money. Audit rates are still relatively low for most taxpayers, but they increase significantly at higher income levels, especially above $1 million.   Keep in mind that sudden increases in income can also trigger those audits.  It might look a little odd to the IRS if you make $100,000 one year and the next year you are only reporting $25,000 in taxable income. Failure to Report Income This should be a no-brainer.  If you receive a W-2 or a 1099 form , and you don’t report that as income, then you are going to be caught.  It might take a few years for the IRS to catch up with you, but when they do you won’t have a leg to stand on.  Report all of your income and don’t take the chance. Not Using Fair Market Value This one is a bit trickier, and harder to catch (unless those who are doing their reporting are blatantly careless).  Let’s suppose you need to buy a new piece of equipment for your truck.  When brand new, the equipment might be $10,000, and used it could be $5,000.  You might be tempted to buy the used piece, and write off on your taxes the amount for a new piece.  This could trigger a red flag and cause the IRS to come knocking.  Be sure to keep all receipts for major items to back up your deductions . Typos and Entry Errors Let’s face it, mistakes happen.  No matter how careful you are, your tax return may end up with a typo, or worse you could put the decimal point in the wrong place and cause your numbers to be off by thousands.  Make sure you double-check your tax return carefully. Simple mistakes won’t usually trigger a full audit, but inconsistencies or mismatches with IRS records can raise flags. Missing Forms As an owner-operator, you know there are a lot of forms that go into filing your taxes.  You don’t get the luxury of a simple W-2 (but you also don’t have the restrictions that come with being an employee).  If you do your taxes on your own, then you run the risk of missing necessary forms.  Usually it is worthwhile to  hire an accounting firm  to do your taxes to make sure that everything is done correctly. High Charitable Giving Charitable giving is a great way to help others and reduce your tax burden.  But if you are making $75,000 per year, and claiming that you give away $50,000, you are going to raise some flags at the IRS offices. There is nothing wrong with giving away vast amounts of money.  Just be aware that doing so could trigger an audit, and you want to make sure to have a perfect tax return if that happens. It is necessary to have documentation of all charitable gifts. Ask for a receipt when you give something. Business Owner The simple fact that you are a business owner puts you at a higher risk of being audited.  Why?  It is because it’s easier for business owners to cut corners than a W-2 employee. Employees can’t write off miles driven for work (generally speaking).  Employees don’t get to deduct business expenses.  Employees don’t have marketing consultants, business lunches, insurance to pay for, and a whole host of other expenses that a business owner does.  So when it comes to tax season, the employee’s tax return is pretty straightforward.  But as a business owner, you have more opportunities to cut corners (not that you would), and thus are thrust into a higher risk category. Audit is just a big scary word to say that the IRS will double check your return to make sure that you didn’t lie or cut corners.  If you take the time to do your taxes properly, and make sure you’re following the rules, then you really have nothing to worry about.  Even if you are audited you will be able to prove everything is legit. By working with a  reputable tax company like ATBS  you will be able to rest easy knowing that your taxes will be done properly and the risk of an audit will be decreased significantly.

Why is the Price of Fuel Going Up? Fuel prices have begun rising sharply in recent weeks, and many analysts expect the trend to continue. A major reason is growing instability in the Middle East, particularly conflict involving Iran and potential disruptions to the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the most important oil shipping routes in the world, with roughly a fifth of global oil supply passing through it each day. When access to this route is threatened or restricted, oil markets react quickly, and prices often rise. At the same time, tensions in the region are creating uncertainty around Middle Eastern oil production and exports. Because oil is traded on a global market, disruptions in supply anywhere can quickly push prices higher worldwide. As crude oil prices rise, gasoline and diesel prices typically follow. For the trucking industry, this is especially important. Fuel is one of the largest expenses for owner-operators, and rapid increases in diesel prices can quickly impact profitability. Industry expectations are that prices may continue climbing in the coming weeks, making it important for drivers to stay aware of how rising fuel costs can affect their business. Owner-operators should be prepared to adapt and pivot in their businesses to compensate for the higher expense. What is a Fuel Surcharge? A fuel surcharge is a mechanism in the trucking industry that helps balance the fluctuations in the cost of fuel. Incorporating a fuel surcharge into transportation pricing became a widely accepted practice years ago. For those who have been in the transportation industry for a while, you may remember that fuel spiked above $4.00/gallon for the first time in U.S. history after Hurricane Katrina. This spike in fuel prices may have put the trucking industry out of business if fuel surcharges hadn’t offset the additional cost of fuel. In today’s world, there are a variety of sources for fuel information, and the fuel surcharge is calculated in many different ways . For simplicity, we will look at one of the most common methods to calculate fuel surcharge based on today’s numbers. An example of a common formula is listed below: Fuel Surcharge = [the current price of a gallon of fuel - the base price of a gallon of fuel in a shipping contract] / the average miles per gallon of a truck Example Price per Gallon = $5 Base Price = $1.25 $5 - $1.25 = $3.75 $3.75 / 6.5 mpg = $0.58 CPM fuel surcharge This surcharge helps owner-operators offset the costs of high fuel prices, especially in times like these. Read more about how Fuel Surcharge works here . How Can You Make More Money with the Fuel Surcharge? You often hear Independent Contractors who say they “make money” off of fuel surcharge. The higher the price of fuel, the more they make! How can that be? To win this “game” you have to get better fuel economy than the miles per gallon (“mpg”) the fuel surcharge is based upon. Let’s look at these examples of a 1000-mile load: As you can see from the chart above, the better your miles per gallon, the more you save on fuel, and in most cases, you actually make a profit from the fuel surcharge. Please keep in mind that the calculations above depict just one example of how fuel surcharge could be calculated - actual calculations may vary significantly. How Can You Modify Driving Habits to Save on Fuel? As a truck driver, you actually have a lot of control over how much money you spend on fuel. There are several ways you can modify your driving habits right now that can put extra money in your pocket. Slow down - generally, 10 mph equals 1 mpg Find the “sweet spot” - lower RPMs burn less fuel Be smart with braking Stay in higher gears when possible Think about and use your tractor’s momentum when possible Utilize cruise control when it is safe to do so Cut out of route miles Minimize idling To learn more about each of these topics and put these practices into action, read our article here . How Can You Manage Cash Flow with Rising Fuel Costs? As an owner-operator, one of the most important pieces of your business that you need to manage is your cash flow. How much money (cash) you have coming in, versus how much money you have going out for your business and home expenses. When fuel prices are high, this becomes even more important. Read more about when you should fill up your tank, the dangers of cash advances, and how to plan your fuel-ups accordingly by reading our article here . How Can You Optimize Fuel Using Discount Networks and Fuel Cards? If you’re hauling freight for a carrier, stay within their fuel network to take advantage of their negotiated discounts. If they offer a fuel optimizer program, take advantage of that too. Thanks to the ever-growing list of fuel cards and smartphone apps, owner-operators have the tools needed to ensure they are paying the lowest price possible for fuel during their next fill-up. Fuel cards are designed to offer carriers and drivers per-gallon discounts on fuel and other services specific to trucking. There are many different types of fuel cards offered by a variety of companies. Some fuel cards are offered by truck stops, some are offered by fuel providers/oil & gas companies, some by trucking and driver associations, and others by companies whose only service is their fuel card. Based on conversations our team has had with our owner-operator clients, ATBS is able to list a few fuel cards that we often hear about: NASTC Quality Plus Network P Fleet CFN Fuel Card EFS Fleet Card RTS Fuel Card Program Axle Fuel Card A to B Greenlane For more information about fuel card discounts, check out our article here . The Bottom Line There is no denying that fuel is going up, and you will need to adjust how you do business. As fuel rises, you might need to take an extra load to compensate for the lag in fuel surcharge, but the best operators will do just as well, if not better, with the high price of fuel!

When it comes to diesel fuel, you may have control over how much fuel you use or how efficiently you use it but you don’t have very much control over exactly how much you have to pay for it. However, thanks to the ever-growing list of fuel cards and smartphone apps, you now have the tools you need to ensure you are paying the lowest price possible for fuel during your next fill-up. In this article, we will go over some of the fuel cards and apps you can use to help reduce how much you are actually paying for fuel. What Kinds of Fuel Cards Are There? There are many different types of fuel cards offered by a variety of companies. Some fuel cards are offered by truck stops, some are offered by fuel providers/oil & gas companies, some are offered by trucking and driver associations, and some are offered by companies whose only service is their fuel card. Each fuel card will offer its own discount amount, partner with its own truck stops, and have its own additional discounts and benefits. Some fuel cards are better for different types of truckers, some are better for those who live in certain areas of the country, some are better for individual drivers, and others are better for small fleets. These are all things you will have to consider if you want a fuel card for the first time or are looking to switch cards. What Fuel Cards Do We Recommend? Based on conversations we’ve had with our owner-operator clients, we’re able to recommend a few fuel cards that we often hear about. NASTC Quality Plus Network P Fleet CFN Fuel Card EFS Fleet Card RTS Fuel Card Program Axle Fuel Card A to B Greenlane These are just a few of the many fuel cards and programs that are available to you. The fuel programs listed above provide a variety of options and services. When beginning your search, feel free to start with our recommendations and use them to find the fuel card that best fits your specific needs. What Can I Use as an Alternative or in Addition to Fuel Cards? There are a few types of alternatives to fuel cards that can help get discounts on fuel. Most of these alternatives are simply apps you can download on your phone. Greenlane  is a strategic fueling app that offers deep diesel discounts. Save an average of 50¢ per gallon and as much as $1.30 off the cash price at their growing network that includes: Love’s, TA, Petro, Speedway, Sunoco, Stripes, Maverick, and Kum & Go. Greenlane is free to use with no applications, credit checks, or fees, ever! Mudflap  is an app that focuses on independent Mom & Pop truck stops. These truck stops are usually 20 cents cheaper than major chains and paying for fuel through Mudflap saves you an extra 25 to 50 cents per gallon. They do all of this while charging no fees. Fuelbook  is another free app that automatically looks up fuel prices for you to see where it's being sold at the lowest price. They look at over 7,000 truck stops nationwide and update the app six times daily. They make it easy to compare prices and decide where to stop for fuel. GasBuddy  and Fuelio  are other apps similar to Fuelbook that help you compare prices and find the cheapest places to stop. How Do Fuel Cards Work? Fuel cards are designed to offer carriers and drivers per-gallon discounts on fuel and other services specific to trucking. Companies that offer fuel cards set up partnerships with truck and fuel stops in order to drive sales through discounts. Then when the fuel card provider sends one of its member drivers to a partnering truck or fuel stop, the fuel card provider receives a percentage of the fuel sale. The discounts offered usually vary depending on location and change daily. These cards function exactly the same as a credit card except they provide you with a discount on fuel. There is very little effort that goes into creating savings on fuel for yourself. How are Fuel Savings Calculated? Per-gallon fuel discounts are negotiated between the truck stop and the fuel card provider. The two models of savings that are most commonly offered by fuel card providers are “retail-minus” and “cost-plus.” Retail minus is a fairly simple concept. A certain amount of money is deducted from the per-gallon price of fuel every time you use the card. Those savings are passed directly to the fuel card user. Cost-plus is a little more complicated as it’s based on the Oil Pricing Information Service’s base price of fuel for each location. Added to the base price are taxes, transportation costs, and other fees. However, this price is lower than the retail price being offered at the truck stop and most of the time ends up being cheaper than the retail minus price as well. Some fuel cards will offer a “better of” option where it will provide the card user the better discount between retail-minus and cost-plus. What are Other Reasons to Use a Fuel Card? Fuel cards often have more benefits other than discounts on fuel. As previously mentioned, some fuel cards offer discounts on other services such as maintenance, tires, document scanning, lodging, and other common expenses. If you use a fleet card for your small fleet, you can control who uses the card, what the card can purchase, how much it can purchase, etc. This leaves you with much more control than a normal credit or debit card. When you use a fuel card, it will automatically keep track and provide you with important information and documentation that will help you with things like IFTA filing . This will save you a lot of time not having to gather this data and information yourself. When it comes to reducing the price you’re paying for fuel, you have many different options. If you aren’t taking advantage of any of these cards or apps, now would be a good time to start. Driving with fuel efficiency in mind while using these different options to save on the price of fuel will really help you reduce the amount you are spending on your biggest cost as an owner-operator. --- Sources https://www.rtsinc.com/guides/how-does-trucking-fuel-card-work#:~:text=Fuel%20cards%20are%20basically%20partnerships,%25%2C%20of%20the%20fuel%20sales . https://www.tcsfuel.com/blog/how-a-fuel-card-works/ https://fleetlogging.com/fuel-cards-for-truckers/

A fuel surcharge is a mechanism in the trucking industry that helps balance the fluctuations in the cost of fuel. Incorporating a fuel surcharge into transportation pricing became a widely accepted practice in 2005 after fuel spiked above $4.00/gallon for the first time in U.S. history after Hurricane Katrina. This spike in fuel prices would have put the trucking industry out of business if the fuel surcharge hadn’t offset the additional cost of fuel. In today’s world, there are a variety of sources for fuel information and the fuel surcharge is calculated in many different ways. For simplicity, we will look at the most common method to calculate a fuel surcharge. The Fuel Surcharge Equals: The current price of fuel: $5/gallon The base price of fuel in a shipping contract: $1.25/gallon The increased cost of fuel: $5.00 - $1.25 = $3.75/gallon Divided by the average miles per gallon of a truck = 6.5mpg The fuel surcharge is $3.75 divided by 6.5 = $0.58 cents per mile. So if a shipping contract offers to pay $2.00/mile base rate, plus a fuel surcharge, you would get paid $2.58/mile based on today’s cost of fuel. You often hear Independent Contractors who say they “make money” off the fuel surcharge. The higher the price of fuel, the more they make! How can that be? To win this game, you have to get better fuel economy than the mpg the fuel surcharge is based upon. Let’s say we are hauling a load 1,000 miles, and the fuel surcharge is paying us $0.58 cents per mile based on the calculations we did above. That means we will get $580 to pay for the higher fuel cost. Let’s compare what we get with 7mpg versus what we get with 6mpg. At 7 MPG If we need to travel 1,000 miles at 7 mpg, we will need to buy 143 gallons of fuel This means the cost of fuel at the pump is 143 gallons times the price of fuel at $5.00, which equals $715. But our fuel surcharge compensation is $0.58 per mile times 1,000 miles, which equals $580 So the net cost of fuel after our fuel surcharge is $715 minus $580, which equals $135. Where we save money is with our base rate built on the cost of fuel being $1.25 times the amount of gallons needed to travel 1,000 miles at 6.5 miles per gallon, which is 154 x $1.25. This equals $192. So we only paid $135 when the base price was $192, which means we “made” $57 in profit. At 6 MPG If we need to travel 1,000 miles at 6 mpg, we will need to buy 167 gallons of fuel This means the cost of fuel at the pump is 167 gallons times the price of fuel at $5.00, which equals $835. But our fuel surcharge compensation is still $0.58 per mile times 1,000 miles, which equals $580 So the gross cost of fuel after our fuel surcharge is $835 minus $580, which equals $255. Where we lose money is with the base price of fuel being $1.25 times the amount of gallons needed to travel 1,000 miles at 6.5 miles per gallon, which is 154 x $1.25. This equals $192. So we paid $255 net for fuel when the base price was $192, which means we “lost” $63 in potential savings The chart below shows this scenario at different Miles per Gallon where 6.5 miles per gallon is the average miles per gallon of a truck. One thing to keep in mind is that fuel prices typically adjust faster at the fuel pump than fuel surcharges adjust in shipping contracts or the spot market. This means that in a falling fuel market, you will pay less for fuel than the fuel surcharge is paying until fuel levels off. This can mean a windfall of cash during falling fuel prices. On the contrary, when fuel prices rise, you will be left with a cash deficit until fuel prices level off. This is something to be prepared for with extra cash in your savings account so you can weather the fuel cost increases. Overall, the fuel surcharge is a fair mechanism to level the playing field and take the risk away from truckers during times of fluctuating fuel prices. The fuel surcharge can be a difficult thing to understand when it comes to calculating rates and what is fair. So, make sure you take time to read and understand how you will be compensated for the excess cost of fuel!