I am curious as to what type of software some are using. There are several industry specific software packages available but I am talking more about other types of software, such as Quickbooks, Peachtree, Quicken, etc., There are other types of trucking software such as Truckers Helper, Easy Trucking, Trucknpro, etc., We have had brief discussions concerning some of the trucking specific software, but I would be interested in seeing how many people use other generic types of software and what you like or dislike about it.

 

I use a simple Excel spreadsheet. I have listed all the pertinent categories in a column, have another set of columns where I enter in the expenses and the totals are added up and maintained by quarter and grand total for the year. I already track my fuel in the same workbook, so that figure is automatically taken care of when I enter in my fuel information.
I used to send all of my receipts to my accountant, who would do the bookkeeping and tax filings. Problem was that this lady is getting on in years and I was afraid that at some point she’d die near the end of a tax year and I’d not have my receipts to take to another accountant. The bookkeeping is easy anyway, so I decided to save myself $75 a month and just do it myself. I just send her the totals of everything at the end of each quarter and she does the rest.
I can’t say enough about having an accountant who specializes in the trucking business. Jeanne (our accountant) has been doing trucker taxes since 1972. We have, knock on wood, never been audited and we seem to do very well with the amount we pay in taxes.
Also, Dave Ramsey’s “Endorsed Local Providers” are very good. I’ve been thinking about switching to the one in Paducah. He offers a “no audit” guarantee and will represent you at no charge if you ever are (assuming that you didn’t “forget” something to report to him).

 

An Excel spreadsheet can do the job for the most part, :thumbsup: but not everyone wants to or is able to create the macros to do the calculations or create the pivot tables to bring the information forward so it isn't user friendly for some.

I think Quicken is really more a personal finance use accounting software and is fairly user friendly. QuickBooks and Peachtree have versions with various degrees of "bells and whistles" and which version to use depends on your needs as well as your understanding of generally accepted accounting principals and tax laws.

Just acclimating yourself to some sort of software is the most difficult part, but it certainly pays off when the alternative is having to pay for that service. And..... no one takes care of your business the way you would.

 

HAHAHA...... I have not had ANY problems with ATBS, and I have been using them before he was even on XM.

I also have a 3000D on all 3 of my trucks and it actually helped with the MPG on them, other than that, it's just another write off and every little bit helps
I dont see how you can pass judgement on something you have never tried? And if you did buy one then isn't that being hippocritical?

Either way good for you

 

You'll have to explain that logic to me, how blowing money on garbage is better than paying taxes on money you can keep.

 

I guess you will understand when you jump up to the next income level bracket


Whats with this hard-on for Kevin Rutherford anyways?
Did he sleep with your wife while you were out of town or something?

 

I made a deal with one of the other o/o, we both have the same engine and he claims that the thing gave him over a mpg increase. we are going to take it off his and put it on mine for 2 months and see if either engine changes, if it doesnt make a difference, he buys me lunch, if it does work like he says and I get a least a mpg increase. I buy him lunch and keep his turbo 3000 and buy him a new one
let the games begin!!

 

Well, to quote your messiah Kevin, I'd rather pay taxes on money I can keep than spend money on a truck and never get to use it for myself.

 

1st off, i don't have a "messiah"

2nd, you don't know me or who I talk to or listen to

3rd, I think the guy has too big of an ego and I dont care for his show, and honestly I dont EVER.... and I mean EVER listen to the "Open Road" channel, I think it's stupid and a waste of space on XM.

Lastly, your quote makes absolutely no sense? if you spend money or a truck you drive everyday, isn't that "using" it for yourself?

Do you even drive a truck? You sound more like a broker to me than a fellow driver..... or maybe a dispatcher

 

Nope. That is being a slave to the truck. I'd much rather spend money on my life and pay taxes on it than waste it on my truck and not pay taxes on it. The ROI is much greater. So to claim that "oh well even if it doesn't work at least I won't have to pay taxes on the money" is simply being a slave to the truck. Throwing money away just to not pay taxes on it is a foolish business plan.