Per Diem Day Tracker

Who this tool is for

Long-haul truckers and regional drivers who take overnight trips away from home and want a simple way to tally days for per diem recordkeeping. It's useful for drivers whose ELD or dispatch system doesn't automatically calculate per diem accumulation, and for anyone who wants to estimate a year-to-date total before meeting with a tax preparer.

Why there is no default rate

The IRS transportation industry per diem rate for long-haul drivers is updated periodically, and only a portion of the rate is deductible — that percentage has also changed over time. Loading a rate that later becomes outdated could produce a misleading total. Look up the current transportation industry per diem rate in the current-year IRS Publication 463 or on the IRS website, then enter it here.

How to use the inputs

Enter the number of full days away (nights spent away from home for business) and the number of partial days (departure day and return day each count as a partial). Enter the daily rate you have verified for the relevant tax year. The tool multiplies full days by the full rate and partial days by the partial-day rate (typically 75% of the full rate — verify the current percentage), then totals both.

Using the result

The running total is a reference figure for your tax preparer discussion — not a final deductible amount. The preparer will apply the correct deductible percentage to the total, verify that your documentation is adequate, and confirm the deduction fits your overall return. A total without a supporting log is hard to defend, so maintain the day-by-day travel records alongside this tracker.

Records to keep alongside this tracker

The IRS expects a log that records each trip's dates, destination, and business purpose. For most truckers, load confirmation records, dispatch logs, or ELD reports serve as the supporting documentation. Keep those records for at least three years after the return due date. A per diem total from this tracker paired with a clear trip log is far more defensible than a per diem total with no backup.

Use the result carefully

General educational use only. This is not tax, legal, or accounting advice. Verify with IRS guidance or a qualified tax professional. The result is an estimate or checklist, not a filing instruction.

What to do next

Save or print the result with your supporting records, then compare it with the related guide pages before making a filing or tax-prep decision.

FAQ