However, some trucking companies and owner operators may find general accounting software sufficient if they have separate solutions for trucking-specific needs. For example, some ELDs and fuel cards provide automated IFTA tax reports. To help narrow down your search, we reviewed 9 of the most popular software solutions for owner operators and trucking companies. These options range from standalone accounting software to comprehensive trucking management systems that also handle dispatching, fleet maintenance, and other functions.
- Whether you’re just starting out, an experienced owner-operator, or anywhere in between, we have a service package that’s just right for you.
- Tax season is here which means it’s time to start thinking about filing your 2023 taxes.
- We understand how trucking companies operate, where to look for money-saving opportunities, and how to streamline your finances to maximize profits.
- For as low as $19 per month, you can track business expenses, fuel mileage, trips, and orders for a single truck.
Additionally, Zoho Books has no trucking-specific features, which is completely understandable. What’s more, we didn’t find any integrations that could solve this weakness, unlike QuickBooks which integrates with trucking software like RLS. Also, we deducted a few points for ease of use because the dashboard is not that organized, with some features concealed within each other, making it a bit difficult to navigate. Using software for accounting can help you manage the different components you need to determine the financial well-being of your company. For smaller or growing companies, it may allow you to operate without needing an in-house accounting department or accounting personnel.
Why You Should Work with a Professional Trucking Accountant
Quality trucking accounting software should integrate seamlessly with all other relevant company tools, like a transportation management system (TMS) and electronic logging devices (ELDs). Effective integration across the fleet facilitates smooth information flow, enhancing operations efficiency. The software offers customization to suit specific trucking companies’ needs and robust security measures to protect sensitive financial information. This dual advantage allows trucking businesses to manage finances efficiently while securing their financial data. To develop this guide, we carefully examined the features required for the efficient operation of trucking businesses. If necessary and available, we sign up for these platforms and closely study how the features work in real-world scenarios.
At the end of the year, the accounting company will send you reports and tax preparations that you can review and give to your CPA. Overall, accounting makes all the bookkeeping efforts make sense for your business. And truth be told, most truckers can’t do it independently without making costly mistakes. With a cash basis, you recognize revenues once you receive payments on your freight invoices. This basis is straightforward and easier for most truckers to maintain. In this post, you’ll learn more about trucking accounting, how to make it easier, and what mistakes you should avoid.
However, while it’s a full-fledged double-entry bookkeeping software, its accounting features are not as robust as that of QuickBooks. For instance, unlike QuickBooks, you can’t customize the chart of accounts and generate recurring invoices in Q7. Some trucking companies just use a single timekeeper and some use separate bookkeepers. Company-based trucking can be very profitable, as they are able to utilize their own fleet for deliveries and pickups while using their own equipment. This type of trucking also has benefits, such as paying no taxes or providing employees with health insurance that is not subject to payroll tax requirements. While accounting software for the trucking business is not an easy thing to make, considering the level of knowledge required, its features are pretty straightforward.
Unfortunately, many truckers have to juggle bookkeeping with driving, invoicing, and other operational tasks. Nevertheless, they go hand in hand to ensure that your business’ finances are in order. PCS offers a complete payroll system, facilitating everything from driver to back-office payments, including direct deposit and fuel card options for quicker driver payment. FreightWaves Ratings reference a list of approved sources for use of research to support editorial research and drafting. Always ensure that you adjust your monthly budget to reflect the expenses of your software as well.
It focuses on specific needs and practices related to trucking operations. Maintaining a financial record, paying taxes, and following trucking-specific regulations fall under this category. advantages of electronic filing TruckingOffice is a TMS service that helps owners and operators track their miles, manage their expenses, pay attention to their profits and stay on top of fleet maintenance.
Bookkeeping Vs. Accounting for Trucking
It has no trucking-specific features, but when you add RLS, it becomes a powerful solution for trucking management and accounting. This software helps you sell inventory, track orders, process payments, schedule drivers, generate reports, and manage your fleet. ProTransport is customizable and works with your existing technologies to suit your business needs.
What Type Of Taxes Does A Trucker File?
Regardless of the industry, specialized accounting software should include general bookkeeping features like A/P, A/R, and bank account reconciliation. Zoho Books is a complete bookkeeping solution—explaining the perfect mark in the accounting category. It also aced pricing because of its free plan for trucking companies that make $50,000 or less in annual revenue. It excelled in customer support, but we deducted a few points because its network of Zoho Advisors is not that extensive, especially when compared to QuickBooks Online’s network. We docked a few points for ease of use, as the integrated features may require a steep learning curve for some users. Additionally, we deducted some points for pricing due to the combined cost of the two software programs.
Master Trucking Accounting With PCS TMS for Carriers
Remember, it can be surprisingly hard to catch up on trucking records once you’ve fallen behind. It becomes even worse if you also neglect to separate your business and personal transactions. To comply with IFTA, https://intuit-payroll.org/ you must report your trips and fuel purchases quarterly. The IFTA office in your home state will allocate your payments to the proper jurisdictions and determine whether you owe more or deserve a refund.
Along with an inventory tracking system, choosing accounting software is one of the most important decisions you can make for your company. Trucking accounting software is the best option for trucking companies because it is designed to meet the unique needs of trucking companies, such as mile and IFTA tracking. Most trucking business owners likely don’t have accounting experience, so the best bookkeeping software for truckers should be easy to understand and use. Our rubric analysis shows that Q7’s biggest strength is trucking-specific features, which is expected from such specialized trucking software.
Software can make this analysis simpler by automatically completing calculations and filling out tax forms. When choosing the right accounting software for your trucking business, there are several factors you need to consider. As the owner of a trucking business, you need to make sure your finances are in order to maintain a profitable operation. Learn how to set up your accounting system to mitigate risks and make informed financial decisions.
TruckingOffice offers standard bookkeeping features and allows for invoicing on variable fees, such as flat, per ton, per mile, or by weight. IFTA tax reports are also generated automatically, with options to choose which trucks to include in the report. Axon also handles payroll with trucking-specific pay calculations and expense tracking. It also manages employee and contractor paperwork like W-2 and 1099 forms. Our guide below covers everything you need to know about accounting software for trucking but first, here is a quick list of our top choices. Clear communication is essential when working with a trucking accountant.