:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

Steve, which load boards are you using now? By the way, what are you doing about your bookkeeping? Are you using a spreadsheet, trucking software or manually?

 

I'm using 123loadboard and getloaded. I've found that a lot of my business comes from email and not so much the phone although today I'm sure my phone will start ringing around 10am. Most of those calls are the result of my truck being posted as available and the loads they are calling about are not posted. Sorry, I'm not trying to educate you GMAN, for the benefit of other people also.

My bookkeeping has been a pad of paper and I think it's going to take me 2 weeks to get my taxes ready and to do my IFTA. How do you do IFTA? Do you actually record on the odometer how many miles you run through the states or do you use some other method? I have a feeling that with my PrePass I need to be right on the money with mileage or at least very close.

 

Not a problem, Steve. I was curious and also thought some of the new people might find it interesting to know how you are getting your loads.

There are a couple of ways in which you can calculate your miles. You can use a map and add all of the miles listed or write your mileage down as you cross the state lines. They will accept either method of calculations. There is software that will accept those numbers and automatically calculate the fuel taxes for you. Basically, you will need to add all miles driven in each state and put them on the form that they send you. I received my form this last week. You will also need to add all fuel purchased by state and put that on the form. If you are like most of us, you don't purchase fuel in each state, so you may have a credit in some states and deficit in others. Based upon your miles per gallon, you will use a certain amount of fuel in each state. Taxes are based upon the mpg and miles driven.

I designed a sheet to use on each load. I can will put the number of miles driven, mileage in each state and amount of fuel purchased. It makes it easier to do by the load. That is the way that they will match up the numbers when they do your audit. On my form, I have the deadhead miles and loaded miles. I also use the same form for maintenance costs. There is a log book which has a form on the page you can find at Pilot and some other truck stops. If you don't want to buy software to do this for you, it is possible to set up a spreadsheet and import the fuel tax tables from the Federal website. There is some software just for doing the fuel taxes, but if you plan on buying software I would suggest getting something which will do all of your bookkeeping for you. There are some available where you can put in all of your revenue and then all of the expenses. You put in the fuel purchases, miles driven per state and everything is calculated for you. At the end of the quarter, you print out a report and put the numbers on the sheet sent to you for the fuel taxes. Most of these automatically calculate your mpg and revenue by mile including the deadhead miles. It is quicker than always having to do it manually. Most of these packages are less than $200 for a single truck operation. Most have on line demo's you can either see or try for about 30 days. It is a good way to check them out before you buy.

 

If you all are finished bashing Steve, could we just get back to the discussion? :roll:

 

Yeah, Steve - are you all finished bashing?

 

:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

WOW !!!

 

I just put down odometer reading on entering and exiting every state.

 

I didn't know if there was some easy way. I used the Truckstop directory which lists all the miles if you travel a particular highway the whole way and another piece of paper for the fuel I bought.

Thanks for the big WOW TF. I know I'm doing good but didn't expect such praise from you!!! I feel special.

 

For someone who has worked in the IT field and is using a notepad for their bookkeeping.... Unfortunately, our truck driving tourist does not understand the idea of being a BUSINESSMAN first, a driver second, and a tourist 15th.