The owner-operator library
Free guides for running a trucking business.
No fluff — just what you need to know. IFTA, invoicing, bookkeeping, compliance, taxes, and the operational stuff nobody tells you when you get your authority. For semis, hotshots and box trucks.
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IFTA & Taxes
6 guidesIFTA Filing Guide for Owner-Operators (2026)
Step-by-step guide to filing IFTA for owner-operators: what counts, how to compute tax per state, what paperwork to keep, and the deadlines that matter.
IFTA Calculator — How the Math Works
Understand the IFTA math: miles per state, fuel purchased, fleet MPG, tax owed vs. tax paid. Worked examples and common mistakes.
Every Owner-Operator Expense You Can Deduct
The full Schedule C line-by-line deductions list for owner-operators: fuel, per diem, truck depreciation, insurance, phone, and the rare ones most drivers miss.
Trucker Per Diem 2026: Rates, Rules & How to Claim It
2026 per diem rates for truck drivers, who qualifies, full-day vs partial-day rules, 80% deduction limit, and how to document it for your Schedule C.
Form 2290 Heavy Vehicle Use Tax — Filing Guide
How to file Form 2290 (HVUT): who owes it, how much, when it's due, how to e-file, and how to get your stamped Schedule 1 the same day.
Box Truck Fuel and Tax Basics: IFTA, 2290, CDL and Deductions
Which fuel and road taxes a box truck owes, by weight: why a 26,000-lb truck stays under the IFTA, 2290 and CDL lines, and how fuel and truck costs are deducted.
Business
7 guidesOwner-Operator Bookkeeping: The Simple Method
A practical bookkeeping system for owner-operators — what to track, how to categorize, and how to keep records organized for your tax professional.
Cash Flow for Truckers: Fixing the 30-Day Gap
How to manage the 30-day gap between delivering a load and getting paid: factoring trade-offs, QuickPay options, and forecasting the next 14 days.
Owner-Operator vs Company Driver: The Real Math
Honest comparison of owner-operator and company driver earnings, costs, risk, and lifestyle. What the industry won't tell you — and when each makes sense.
How to Find Direct Shippers (Cut Out the Broker)
Practical playbook for finding direct-shipper freight: warehouse cold outreach, shipper databases, broker-margin math, and what brokers don't want you to know.
LLC vs Sole Proprietor vs S-Corp for Truckers (2026)
Which business structure makes sense for owner-operators: sole proprietor, LLC, or S-Corp election. Tax math, liability, and when each breaks even.
Hotshot vs Semi Cost per Mile: The Formula and Worksheet
How to work out cost per mile for a hotshot or a semi with your own numbers — fixed costs, fuel, tires, upkeep — and which lines differ between the two.
Box Truck Business Back Office: Invoicing, Mileage and Per Diem
Running the paperwork for a box truck business: invoicing final-mile and contract work, keeping a mileage log, receipts, and when per diem applies to local routes.
Invoicing
2 guidesTrucking Invoice Template (Free Download)
Free trucking invoice template with all the fields brokers expect: load number, rate, detention, lumpers, PODs. Works for factoring or direct-pay.
Best Trucking Factoring Companies (2026 Comparison)
Honest comparison of Triumph, RTS, Apex, OTR Solutions, eCapital, and TAFS. Real fee ranges, recourse vs non-recourse, and when NOT to factor.
Getting Started
5 guidesTrucking Authority Checklist — Steps, Costs & Timeline
Every filing to activate a new trucking authority: insurance (BMC-91), BOC-3, UCR, IFTA, IRP, ELD, Form 2290 — with costs, a week-by-week timeline, and an interactive tick-off checklist.
What Is Over-the-Road (OTR) Trucking? Pay, Home Time & How It Works
Over-the-road (OTR) trucking explained: what it means, OTR vs regional vs local, how OTR drivers are paid, hours-of-service rules, and running OTR as an owner-operator.
How to Start a Trucking Company (2026 Step-by-Step)
Complete step-by-step guide to starting a trucking company: LLC formation, CDL, buying a truck, MC/DOT authority, insurance, and your first load.
MC Number vs DOT Number: What's the Difference?
DOT number, MC number, and when you need each. Clear explanation for owner-operators: what they cost, how to apply, and which one brokers actually check.
Hotshot Startup Costs: The Checklist and Expense Worksheet
Every cost of starting a hotshot business, line by line — truck, trailer, authority, insurance, plates, permits — with a worksheet for your own numbers.
Compliance
4 guidesDOT Compliance Checklist for Trucking Companies
Every DOT compliance item and deadline — driver files, ELD/HOS, drug testing, inspections, record retention, and the tab-by-tab compliance binder.
CSA Score Explained: How It's Calculated & How to Improve It
What your CSA score actually measures, how FMCSA's 7 BASICs work, and the concrete steps owner-operators can take to bring a bad score down.
DOT Inspection Levels (1-6) Explained
What each DOT inspection level actually checks, what you must present, how long each takes, and which violations trigger an out-of-service order.
Does a Hotshot Need a CDL, IFTA, Form 2290 or a DOT Number?
The weight lines that decide it: USDOT and medical card over 10,000 lb, CDL at 26,001 lb GCWR, IFTA over 26,000 lb or 3+ axles, Form 2290 at 55,000 lb.
Comparisons
2 guidesOverTheRoad.AI vs. QuickBooks: Which One Should Owner-Operators Use?
Head-to-head comparison for owner-operators: broker transparency, IFTA, compliance, load profitability, invoicing, and when QuickBooks still makes sense.
OverTheRoad.AI vs. Spreadsheets: Saving 5+ Hours a Week
Why spreadsheets break for growing owner-operators — and a concrete migration plan from a patchwork of Excel/Google Sheets to one place.