The End's Not Near It's Here: Last Minute IFTA Filing Tips

Well Trucking Nation, just like that, the IFTA quarter has come and gone, and your time to file is almost up! But don’t fret fellow procrastinator, we’re here to help truckers just like you.

So without further ado, let’s get onto some useful filing tips for those of you that like to file at the last minute!

IFTA Tip #1: Have Your Mileage Ready

The first (and also the most important) thing you’ll need is your mileage information on hand and organized. This should include the total taxable miles you traveled in each participating IFTA jurisdiction.

But what if you don’t know what taxable miles are??

That’s no problem, a lot of folks don’t! If you have any questions about your mileage, just check out this helpful blog on taxable and non-taxable IFTA miles.

IFTA Tip #2: Have Fuel Reports and Receipts

In addition to your mileage information, you’ll also need to be sure that you have all of your fuel information. You’ll need to have the:

• Address of each fuel purchase 
• Type of fuel purchased 
• Amount of fuel purchased 
• Total sale amount 

IFTA Tip #3: Don’t File IFTA (Yourself)

The third and most useful tip? Don’t file IFTA -- that is, by yourself anyway.

That’s right, if you need to file at the last minute, what’s easier than having someone do it for you? Exactly.

So if you’re in a crunch for time to get that IFTA report filed before the deadline on May 2nd, just give us a call at 803.386.0320 and see just how easy it is!

Read More »

Warning: Make Sure You Have These 3 Things Ready for IFTA

Once again, the first quarter of the year has come and gone in a hurry, and now (believe it or not) we’re less than 10 days away from deadline day.

With only days left to get your reports together, if you haven’t already filed, congrats, you’re a professional procrastinator. But those are our favorite kind! So don’t worry, keep reading and we’ll tell you exactly what you need to file your IFTA return.

What You Need to File IFTA

Mileage:

The first (and also the most important) thing you’ll need to have is your mileage information. This should include the total taxable miles you traveled in each participating IFTA jurisdiction.

If you have any questions about your mileage, you can check out this helpful blog on which miles are taxable and which are not.

Fuel Information:

In addition to your mileage information, you’ll also need to be sure that you have all of your fuel information. You’ll need to have the:

• Address of each fuel purchase 
• Type of fuel purchased
• Amount of fuel purchased 
• Total sale amount

Records of Mileage and Fuel Purchases:

The last thing you’ll need, and this can be especially helpful in the event of an audit, is to have copies of your fuel receipts and your mileage records.

You are required by law to hold onto your previous receipts for three years after filing, and if you do face an audit, let’s just say it isn't going to end well unless you have those records.

Need some help keeping up with yours? Well with TruckLogics, not only can you get unlimited ProMiles usage and routing, but you can even take pictures of your fuel receipts and upload them into your account for safekeeping!

So now that you all know what you need, what are you waiting for? Someone to file your IFTA return for you?

Well, if you are, you’re in luck because that’s exactly what we do! Just give us a call at 803.386.0320 and see how easy it is!

Read More »

How Safe is Your Truck From Cargo Thieves?

OK, so you’re the type of trucker that always plays it safe. You always lock your truck up when you’re going inside a truck stop for a bite to eat, you roll your windows up, and make sure your cargo in the back is safely secured and locked.

But even if you do everything in your power to prevent something from happening, is your truck safe from cargo thieves?

The Growing Issue of Cargo Theft

Unfortunately, cargo theft is a growing problem throughout the US, and it’s one that isn’t slowing down. Just last year in the United States, cargo theft increased 30%, further proving that something needs to be done, and fast.

But the real question, what do we do to combat the issue?

Many think increased security will help cease the problem, as countries like the Netherlands and the UK have already implemented increased security, and in turn, have seen cargo theft decrease dramatically over the last few years. So maybe we need to start taking cargo theft as seriously as they do, before the problem becomes worse. 

But since you can’t really control the amount of security the US decides to allot towards cargo theft, there are a few things you can do yourself in order to keep yourself safe on the road.

How to Protect Yourself and Your Cargo

While there is no sure-fire way to thwart all cargo thieves, here are a couple preventative measures that will help keep both you, your truck, and your precious (or not-so-precious) cargo safe on the road:

Keep it moving: As common sense would tell you, cargo theft is significantly easier for thieves if you stop and leave your trailer unattended. Well, that is, unless you’ve got the crew from The Fast and the Furious coming after your cargo. So be sure to keep your truck moving and on the road as much as possible, and when you do stop, NEVER leave your trailer or cab unlocked or unattended.

Keep an eye on high-theft areas: Yeah, after all it is 2016 now, so you don’t have to look around and make an educated guess as to whether or not you think you’re in a safe area to stop or park for the night. Just do a little research; trust me, Google is your friend. Just look for states, cities, areas, and even truck stops that have a high rate of crime, and then avoid those places like the plague (if you can). And if that inevitable load comes and you do have to travel through an area you aren’t comfortable with, be on high alert.

So now that you know how to keep your cargo safe, don't forget that IFTA is coming soon. And do you know who does IFTA returns for truckers? WE DO! That’s right, no adding up miles and worrying about all those annoying calculations. Just give us a call at 803.386.0320 and see how easy it is!

Read More »

The Shocking Truth About E-Logs: What They Don't Want You to Know

OK, so with all the recent (and not-so-recent) coverage on ELDs, you’re probably sick and tired of hearing about them by now.

And you’re also probably well aware that these ELDs are set to become mandatory by 2017.

But there’s something you probably haven’t heard much about, and it’s because they don’t want you to know. What is it and who are they? Keep reading and we’ll explain.

What’s wrong with the new ELD mandate?

Well, the main issue is that it violates your 4th amendment rights. Don’t believe me? Take a look.

“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

Yep, sounds like a violation to me, too. It’s pretty clear the e-logs don’t advance highway safety and also clearly violate your constitutional rights as an American.

What about driver harassment from e-logs?

Another worry from drivers is that they’ll be harassed by their carriers. Is that a valid complaint?

OOIDA sure thinks so, and that’s why they’ve been fighting the e-log mandate since it was announced, claiming that the law didn’t contain adequate safeguards to be sure that trucking companies are not going to be able to use these logs to harass their drivers.

So while we can’t say for certain if these logs are going to be used to harass you, there sure are a lot of folks out there that think they will be. 

And even if they aren't, they still violate your constitutional rights as both a trucker and an American. But hey, on a positive note, OOIDA was able to push back the last e-log mandate, so let's see if they can do it again!

And don’t forget Trucking Nation, IFTA is right around the corner and we can complete your IFTA return for you! That’s right, no adding up miles and worrying about all those annoying calculations. Just give us a call at 803.386.0320 and see how easy it is!

Read More »

What Are Non-Taxable and Exempt IFTA Miles?

Now that the IFTA first quarter has officially come and gone, it’s time to start getting those IFTA reports together. And when you’re doing those reports, figuring out which miles are taxable and which aren’t can be a daunting task.

So check out the guide below to non-taxable IFTA miles to see which of your miles are going to cost you and which miles you don’t need to report!

What Do I Need on my IFTA Report?

On your IFTA report, you will need to include the following information:

• Total Miles- The total miles traveled in each jurisdiction for each fuel type
• Total Taxable Miles- Total miles traveled in each jurisdiction minus the non-taxable miles
• Total Gallons Consumed- Divide your total taxable mileage by your estimated mpg 
• Total Gallons Purchased- Enter the total gallons purchased for all qualified motor vehicles
• Net Taxable Gallons- The difference between net gallons consumed and net gallons purchased 

What Are Non-Taxable IFTA Miles?

So what are non-taxable IFTA miles exactly? Well, non-taxable miles are miles that you drove that do not need to be included on your IFTA report. Why do these miles not need to be included on your report? Take a look.

Do you use fuel permits at all when driving? Well if you do, any mileage driven while using fuel permits is not taxable. Now, you’ll still want to include any mileage driven in your total miles section, it just won’t be included in the taxable miles section for the jurisdiction where you purchased the permit.

But what about toll miles? Are toll miles taxable? Another good question, and one would think (incorrectly, that is) that toll miles wouldn’t be taxable, since you’re basically already paying taxes on those miles, right? Wrong. Even though you have to pay to drive on toll roads, the amount you pay doesn't go towards fuel taxes. Those fees are just paid in exchange for using a particular road. So make sure you're including all toll mileage in your taxable miles.

Some other states have other rules for specific areas, vehicles, or roads that are non-taxable areas, and remember, if a state doesn’t participate in IFTA, those miles are non-taxable, too!

So hopefully now you know exactly which miles you need to include as taxable on your IFTA report, and which miles you don’t. But if you have any other questions or are still a bit confused, just give us a call at 803.386.0320 and we’ll help you out. And don’t forget, we can file your IFTA reports for you!

Read More »