Author: Marcela De Vivo

New 2020 Hours Of Service (HOS) Now In Effect

Posted on September 29, 2020 by - Hours of Service

On May 14, 2020, the FMCSA announced changes to their Hours of Service (HOS) rules for truck drivers. The new rules go into effect today, September 29, 2020.

The existing HOS rules have been in place since they were adopted by the FMCSA in 2013. The new 2020 FMCSA HOS changes have been called an overhaul of those 2013 FMCSA HOS rules.

But underneath all the legal jargon and politics, what has actually been changed, and what does it mean for you?

Below, we’ll cover everything you’ll need to know about the 2020 FMCSA HOS changes.

2020 FMCSA HOS changes

What HOS changed

There are four main updates to the FMCSA HOS changes. 

  1. The 30-minute break will be required after 8 hours of driving time instead of after 8 hours on duty. On-duty/not-driving periods can also count as the 30-minute break.
  2. The 10-hour off-duty requirement can be split into eight and two hours or into seven and three hours. Neither period will count against the 14-hour driving limit.
  3. In adverse driving conditions, two extra hours will be granted. This extends both the 11-hour driving time and the 14-hour on-duty time by two hours.
  4. Hours of service for short-haul drivers will be extended from 12 max hours to 14 max hours. The distance limit will also be expanded from 100 to 150 air miles.

How the HOS changes will affect you

These new Hours of Service rules are meant to provide truckers with more flexibility. Not as much as many have hoped for, but more than was available previously. 

However, some are worried that the changes to the off-duty split may force truckers to work longer hours since the total “active” time can now be essentially extended to 17 hours.

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It’s Almost Time To Register For The 2021 UCR

Posted on September 28, 2020 by - UCR

The 2021 Unified Carrier Registration (UCR) period will officially open on October 1!

There will be no price adjustments for 2021.

What is UCR?

The Unified Carrier Registration Act of 2005 replaced the Single State Registration System (SSRS) as the primary method for registering commercial vehicles that travel interstate.

In simpler terms, your UCR registration (along with your MC number and DOT number) grants you interstate authority.

2021 UCR fees

Fleet sizeFee
0-2$59
3-5$176
6-20351
21-100$1,224
101-1,000$5,835
1,001 and above$56,977

What you need for UCR registration

Now that the UCR registration period has opened, all you have to do is go to https://www.ucr.gov/, and enter your USDOT number to complete registration and pay your fee.

If you have been in business for the last three years, you will need to carry proof of UCR registration with you for all three years. 

That means you should have 2019, 2020, and 2021 UCR registration documents in your truck at all times.

What is a USDOT number?

USDOT numbers are required if you have a vehicle that hauls cargo or transport passengers interstate and that meet one or more of the following requirements:

  • Has a gross or combined weight of 10,001 lbs or more
  • Transports 8 or more passengers for compensation
  • Transports 15 or more passengers not for compensation
  • Transports hazardous materials.

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What You Need To Know About 3rd Quarter IFTA Rate Changes

Posted on September 24, 2020 by - IFTA fuel tax rates

IFTA tax rates change nearly every quarter. The 3rd quarter of 2020 is no different.

Several large jurisdictions have made significant changes. Some rates are up and some are down. Below we have listed everything you need to know about the 3rd quarter IFTA rate changes.

Check the list to see if your base jurisdiction has adjusted its IFTA rates.

3rd Quarter IFTA rate changes

 
  S.No.  State  Fuel Type IFTA Rate Changes 
 
 2nd Quarter 2020 3rd Quarter 2020  
 
 1. California Diesel .76 .795 
 
 2. Iowa Gasoline .305 .3 
 
 
 		 
 Gasohol .29 .3 
 
 
 		 
 Ethanol .29 .24 
 
 
 		 
 Methanol .305 .3 
 
 
 		 
 E85 .29 .24 
 
 
 		 
 M85 .305 .3 
 
 
 		 
 A55 .305 .3 
 
 
 		 
 Biodiesel .295 .301 
 
 3. Illinois Diesel .604 .611 
 
 
 		 
 Gasoline .524 .531 
 
 
 		 
 Gasohol .524 .531 
 
 
 		 
 Propane .6 .607 
 
 
 		 
 Liquid natural gas .604 .611 
 
 
 		 
 Compressed natural gas .483 .49 
 
 
 		 
 Ethanol .524 .531 
 
 
 		 
 Methanol .524 .531 
 
 
 		 
 E85 .524 .531 
 
 
 		 
 M85 .524 .531 
 
 
 		 
 A55 .524 .531 
 
 
 		 
 Biodiesel .604 611 
 
 4. Indiana Diesel .49 .51 
 
 
 		 
 Gasoline .3 .31 
 
 
 		 
 Gasohol .3 .31 
 
 
 		 
 Propane .49 .51 
 
 
 		 
 Liquid natural gas .49 .51 
 
 
 		 
 Compressed natural gas .49 .51 
 
 
 		 
 Ethanol .3 .31 
 
 
 		 
 Methanol .3 .31 
 
 
 		 
 E85 .3 .31 
 
 
 		 
 M85 .3 .31 
 
 
 		 
 A55 .3 .31 
 
 
 		 
 Biodiesel .49 .51 
 
 5. Massachusetts Propane .136 .178 
 
 
 		 
 Liquid Natural Gas .136 .178 
 
 
 		 
 Compressed Natural Gas .136 .178 
 
 6. Maryland Diesel .3745 .3705 
 
 
 		 
 Gasoline .367 .363 
 
 
 		 
 Gasohol .367 .363 
 
 
 		 
 Propane .367 .363 
 
 
 		 
 Liquid natural gas .367 .363 
 
 
 		 
 Compressed natural gas .367 .363 
 
 
 		 
 Ethanol .367 .363 
 
 
 		 
 Methanol .367 .363 
 
 
 		 
 E85 .367 .363 
 
 
 		 
 M85 .367 .363 
 
 
 		 
 A55 .3745 .3705 
 
 
 		 
 Biodiesel .3745 .3705 
 
 7. Michigan Diesel .373 .379 
 
 
 		 
 Gasoline .338 .371 
 
 
 		 
 Gasohol .338 .371 
 
 
 		 
 Propane .373 .379 
 
 
 		 
 Liquid natural gas .373 .379 
 
 
 		 
 Compressed natural gas .338 .371 
 
 
 		 
 Ethanol .338 .371 
 
 
 		 
 Methanol .338 .371 
 
 
 		 
 E85 .338 .371 
 
 
 		 
 M85 .338 .371 
 
 
 		 
 A55 .373 .379 
 
 
 		 
 Biodiesel .373 .379 
 
 
 		 
 Hydrogen .373 .379 
 
 8. Nebraska Diesel .293 .332 
 
 
 		 
 Gasoline .293 .332 
 
 
 		 
 Gasohol .293 .332 
 
 
 		 
 Propane .293 .332 
 
 
 		 
 Liquid natural gas .293 .332 
 
 
 		 
 Compressed natural gas .293 .332 
 
 
 		 
 Ethanol .293 .332 
 
 
 		 
 Methanol .293 .332 
 
 
 		 
 E85 .293 .332 
 
 
 		 
 M85 .293 .332 
 
 
 		 
 A55 .293 .332 
 
 
 		 
 Biodiesel .293 .332 
 
 9. New York Gasoline .405 .391 
 
 
 		 
 Gasohol .231 .217 
 
 
 		 
 Propane .405 .391 
 
 
 		 
 Ethanol .405 .391 
 
 
 		 
 Methanol .405 .391 
 
 
 		 
 M85 .405 .391 
 
 
 		 
 A55 .405 .391 
 
 10. South Carolina Diesel .22 .24 
 
 
 		 
 Gasoline .22 .24 
 
 
 		 
 Gasohol .22 .24 
 
 
 		 
 Propane .22 .24 
 
 
 		 
 Liquid natural gas .22 .24 
 
 
 		 
 Compressed natural gas .22 .24 
 
 
 		 
 Ethanol .22 .24 
 
 
 		 
 Methanol .22 .24 
 
 11. Virginia Gasoline .162 .212 
 
 
 		 
 Gasohol .162 .212 
 
 
 		 
 Propane .162 .212 
 
 
 		 
 Liquid natural gas .183 .239 
 
 
 		 
 Compressed natural gas .162 .212 
 
 
 		 
 Ethanol .162 .212 
 
 
 		 
 Methanol .162 .212 
 
 
 		 
 E85 .162 .212 
 
 
 		 
 M85 .162 .212 
 
 
 		 
 A55 .162 .212

What is the 3rd quarter IFTA deadline?

The 2020 3rd quarter IFTA reporting deadline is November 2, 2020, since October 31 is a weekend.

You need to generate your IFTA report before the deadline, file it with your jurisdiction, and pay your tax owed to avoid penalties.

Generate your report with ExpressIFTA

Our sister-product ExpressIFTA makes IFTA reporting easy! Their system takes all your mileage and fuel information and generates automatically calculated reports and/or worksheets that you can use to file with your base jurisdiction.

They take into account all IFTA rate changes for your base jurisdiction and calculates your owed tax for you. Plus, ExpressIFTA accepts bulk data upload from spreadsheets and GPS units, cutting down on your manual data entry!

Their cloud-based solution makes it possible to start entering your data now! Your data will be saved to your account so you can come back and finish at the end of the month.

FMCSA Extends HOS Waiver For Essential Goods Through Years End

Posted on September 17, 2020 by - Coronavirus, HOS

At the end of last week, the FMCSA extended its COVID-19 HOS waiver until the end of the year for essential items. The waiver is intended to help transportation companies bring essential items to the areas of greatest need during the pandemic. 

The previous extension was set to expire on September 14. Here’s what is and is not covered under the new HOS waiver.

New HOS waiver 

The latest extension to the HOS waiver exempts drivers from certain HOS rules until December 31. You can find more information in the FMCSA announcement here.

Exempted cargo and products include:

  1. Livestock and livestock feed
  2. Medical supplies and equipment related to the testing, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19
  3. Supplies and equipment necessary for community safety, sanitation, and prevention of community transmission of COVID-19 such as masks, gloves, hand sanitizer, soap and disinfectants
  4. Food, paper products and other groceries for emergency restocking of distribution centers or stored.

The FMCSA was careful to say that “routine commercial deliveries, including mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief added to obtain the benefits of this emergency declaration”, are not covered under the waiver.

Drivers are also cautioned to follow traffic laws and carriers are reminded that they cannot force drivers to continue working if they need a break.

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How to Make the Most of Driver Appreciation Week 2020

Posted on September 15, 2020 by - driver appreciation week

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is this week! We’re celebrating our American truck drivers from September 13-19, 2020.

If you’re a truck driver, we want to take this moment to thank you for all that you do to continuously move this country forward, especially this year during the pandemic.

Keep reading to find some awesome deals that will be offered during Truck Driver Appreciation Week.

If you’re a loved one or a family member of a truck driver, we’ve got some great gift ideas for truckers for you to check out. We’ll help you show appreciation for the truck driver in your life. 

National Truck Driver Appreciation Week 2020

Truck Driver Week Deals

Truck drivers haul more than $10.4 trillion worth of merchandise every year.

That’s no small feat.

Certain places will be offering deals throughout Driver Appreciation Week to say thank you.

T.A. Petro is running a “Swipestakes” all month.

Simply use your UltraONE card at a T.A. Petro card to enter. There are some great prizes.

Keep an eye out for other deals and specials as the week progresses.

Gift Ideas for Truckers

If you’re here as a friend or loved one of someone in the trucking industry, we’ve put together a list of gifts for truck drivers for you to help show your appreciation.

1. Check out the ATA Online Store

Tons of trucker gear for your favorite truck driver. Plus they even have some stuff with this year’s Driver Appreciation Week 2019 logo on it.

2. Stainless Steel Insulated Tumblers

Keeps drinks cold, fits in the cup holder and is sealed tight to prevent spills.

Plus, it keeps truck drivers from accumulating a bunch of disposable cups. It’s perfect!

3. Cooler

It’s no secret that food on the road is one of the toughest challenges of being a truck driver.

Surprise your driver with an insulated cooler bag full of his/her favorite goodies this year for National Truck Driver Appreciation Week.

4. Toiletry Bag

Truck sleepers aren’t always the cleanest or roomiest places, and truck stop bathrooms aren’t much better.

One of the best gifts for truck drivers is a hanging toiletry bag.

It saves space, makes it easy to organize things for quick use, and is portable.

5. Multi-tool

You never know what you’ll need on the road!

A new multi-tool could be the perfect gift for your truck driver this year.

There are tons of options to choose from, and you could even consider getting it customized!

6. Wool Blanket

Fall is approaching fast. Consider gift ideas for truckers that provide comfort in the cooler months.

One perfect gift is a wool blanket, lightweight and durable, with great heat-trapping capabilities.

American Truck Drivers

At ExpressTruckTax, we work hard every day to make the lives of truck drivers easier.

Happy Driver Appreciation Week 2020! We appreciate everything you have done this year especially for our nation, and we will continue to serve you as best we can.

We’re here to help. If you ever need us, feel free to give us a call at 704.234.6005.

The 2290 Deadline Has Passed! How To File Your Return Now

Posted on September 14, 2020 by - 2020 Form 2290 Deadline

The Form 2290 deadline was August 31!

We understand that life happens and sometimes deadlines slip by. It’s OK, there are still ways to file. 

Unfortunately, late filing does mean that the IRS will tack on penalties and possibly even interest. So it’s best to not wait any longer.

How to file Form 2290 after the deadline

With ExpressTruckTax, filing Form 2290 is quick and simple. You can get back on the road in less than 5 minutes. Simply log in to your ExpressTruckTax account and file for the 2020-21 tax year!

If you have filed with us before and you are filing for the same truck, you can use our Ready Return feature to auto-populate your return! ExpressTruckTax will pull the information from your last return and use it to fill out your return for you. All you have to do is pay the filing fee!

Even if you have not filed with us before, you can still file Form 2290 in less than 5 minutes. All you have to do is enter your business information, vehicle information, and choose how you will pay your HVUT. 

We offer an interview-style filing process with step-by-step instructions, US-based customer support, and free VIN corrections to make things easier for you.

Plus, with our ExpressGuarantee, we guarantee that your Form 2290 will be accepted by the IRS and you will receive your stamped Schedule 1 or your money back! We will help you correct any IRS errors.

How To Prepare For The 2020 Roadcheck Inspection Blitz

Posted on September 4, 2020 by - CVSA inspection blitz

Next Wednesday through Friday (September 9-11), the CVSA Roadcheck Inspection Blitz will be stopping truckers everywhere.

Last year they focused primarily on Level 1 and Level 2 inspections of commercial motor vehicles.

This year, however, they have a new focus: Level 3 inspections of driver credentials and Hours of Service (HOS). Here’s what you need to know to be ready.

2020 Roadcheck Blitz Breakdown

According to the CVSA, some of the things they look for during a Level 3 inspection include:

“Driver’s license; Medical Examiner’s Certificate and Skill Performance Evaluation (SPE) Certificate; driver’s record of duty status; hours of service; seat belt; vehicle inspection report(s); and carrier identification and status.” 

The record duty status and hours of service points mean that you need to be able to pull up information from your ELD. According to Overdrive.com, you are also required to have at least a week’s worth of paper logs as a backup, among other items related to your ELD.

The best way to avoid an inspection altogether is to have a well-maintained, pre-tripped truck and trailer. If your vehicle looks like it’s in rough shape, this can increase the likelihood of inspections. 

Just be safe, smart, and forthright with inspectors and you’ll be fine!

File your 2020 Form 2290 today

One important piece of information you may need to make sure your driver credentials are current is a stamped Schedule 1 for 2020. If you missed the 2290 deadline, you need to file today!

ExpressTruckTax makes that process quick and easy. You’ll be back on the road in less than 5 minutes!

How To Correct A VIN Error After The Form 2290 Deadline

Posted on September 1, 2020 by - 2290 VIN Correction

The 2020 Form 2290 deadline was August 31! If you entered the wrong VIN on your return, we’ve got you covered!

We know paperwork isn’t the most interesting thing in the world. When you sit down to fill out forms sometimes it’s easy to get distracted and make mistakes. That’s why ExpressTruckTax offers free Form 2290 VIN corrections to our clients.

Here’s what you need to know to correct your VIN after the deadline.

What’s My VIN?

Your VIN is your vehicle identification number. It’s a 17-character-long combination of numbers and letters in a font that is usually small and hard to see.

Therefore, unfortunately, it’s incredibly easy to make typos when entering your VIN on your Form 2290. If you put the incorrect VIN on your 2290 now, there will be hassles and headaches with the DMV later.

ExpressTruckTax wants to save you that trouble. That’s why we work with the IRS as a trusted and secure source to offer free Form 2290 VIN corrections to our clients. And you’ll get your Stamped 2290 Schedule 1 in a matter of minutes.

Why do I need to correct my VIN on Form 2290?

If you accidentally file your Form 2290 with an incorrect VIN, it will cause problems down the line. Since the VIN on the return doesn’t match the VIN on your truck, the DMV and carriers will not accept your stamped Schedule 1.

How do I make a Form 2290 VIN correction?

E-filing a Form 2290 VIN correction is incredibly simple. All you need to do is sign-in to your account and click “Start New Return” then click the “Form 2290 Amendments” option to complete your free VIN correction.

*If you did not file your 2290 with ExpressTruckTax, you can still make a VIN correction, it just will not be free.

Then, simply fill out the Form 2290 VIN correction information and transmit your form to the IRS. You can resubmit your forms as many times as necessary to make VIN corrections for free. The next step is to relax because you’ll receive your updated 2290 Schedule 1 in a matter of minutes!

However, keep in mind that VIN corrections can only be made for taxable and suspended vehicles. They can’t be made for credit vehicles or for prior year suspended vehicles. Also, when filing a free VIN correction you can’t combine it with credits that have been claimed on the same form.

Remember that the original form with the incorrect VIN on it must be paid for by the due date before you submit a correction or the IRS will assess penalties on top of the tax that you actually owe.

E-Filing 2290 VIN Correction With ExpressTruckTax

There’s no way around it, you have to file your taxes. Form 2290 isn’t going anywhere. So, why not make the process of filing your taxes and returns incredibly easy with ExpressTruckTax?

When it comes to Form 2290 Filing we offer step-by-step instructions. Plus you’ll receive your Stamped Schedule 1 by email in a matter of minutes. You can also submit free VIN corrections when you file with us.

Plus, we have an outstanding local support team that’s always standing by to answer your questions. If you need any help please don’t hesitate to contact us via phone or email.

This Is It! The Form 2290 Deadline Is Here!

Posted on August 31, 2020 by - Form 2290 Deadline

The 2020 Form 2290 deadline is today! There’s no more time to procrastinate.  Failing to file by midnight will mean serious IRS HVUT penalties and could even mean the suspension of your IRP registration.

If you fail to file, an additional 4.5% of your owed tax amount will be tacked on. And since an up-to-date stamped Schedule 1 is required for IRP registration, your IRP could be suspended if you wait too long.

Meet your 2290 Deadline with ExpressTruckTax

We make it possible for truckers to file Form 2290 on time. With ExpressTruckTax, you can file anytime and anywhere.

It takes less than 5 minutes to file with us, and we provide step-by-step instructions along the way.

Our returns are usually accepted by the IRS within minutes, meaning you will get the stamped Schedule 1 almost in minutes. By comparison, paper filing can take weeks.

And, with our ExpressGuarantee, you can be sure your 2290 will be accepted by the IRS, or we will refund your filing fee. Our US-based customer support team will also do everything they can to fix any errors you might have. 

They are working extended hours until midnight tonight, so you can be sure to get your 2290 filed correctly. Call 803.234.6005 to have your questions answered in English or Spanish.

Pricing starts at just $9.90 for a single truck.

Form 2290: Last Minute Filing Guide

Don’t miss the deadline. File now!

How To Avoid Form 2290 Penalties?

Posted on August 30, 2020 by - Form 2290 Penalties

There is one big secret to avoiding IRS HVUT penalties on your Form 2290: filing on time. 

The 2020 Form 2290 is August 31, 2020. You need to file before midnight on August 31st to avoid 2290 penalties! 

What are the 2290 penalties?

If you miss the deadline, you will incur a penalty equal to 4.5% of the total tax amount you would have owed. Plus, for each additional month, you are late, you will incur another .5% in interest.

That might not sound like much, but don’t forget, failing to have a current stamped Schedule 1 will impact your other licenses. You need a current stamped Schedule 1 to stay up-to-date on most licenses. If you don’t file Form 2290, you could end up being grounded. And if you can’t drive, you can’t make money.

Access our helpful resource to know more about HVUT 2290 penalties.

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about 2290 Penalties.

File Form 2290 today with ExpressTruckTax in Minutes

Filing with ExpressTruckTax is simple and secure and you can do file from anywhere! Our software is cloud-based and fully compatible with mobile devices.

Plus, if you have filed with us before, our Ready Return feature makes it possible for you to copy the details from a previous return with a single click. 

All your saved business and vehicle information will auto-populate your Form 2290 for 2020 automatically. All you have to do is update your IRS payment information and transmit your return to the IRS. 

And with our ExpressGuarantee, you will receive your stamped Schedule 1 or your money back!

Get Started Now with ExpressTruckTax