Author: Marcela De Vivo

5 Deadly & Dangerous Trucker Routes in America

In this field, worrying about reckless driving is a constant concern. But sometimes it’s not just careless four-wheelers you need to watch out for. Sometimes, the road itself is the dangerous part. In these scenarios, instead of dodging risky drivers, your attention is focused on the dangers of your environment. At least you’ll be focused if you’re on these roads!



The Million Dollar Highway / Colorado
Located on U.S. Route 550 in Colorado, the Million Dollar Highway takes you through the Red Mountain Pass into the San Juan Mountains. Riding at 11,000 feet above sea level, you are faced with a winding road without guardrails and shoulders, so drivers need to keep their wits about them. Why the lack of guardrails? Well, when snow piles up, they need to remove it somehow. That’s right, it goes right off the edge of the road and down the mountains!



Interstate 10 / Arizona
Sure, Interstate 10 runs the entire length of the United States, but the portion that starts in Phoenix and runs to the California border is a step above the rest. While the population of the area is low, the death toll remains relatively high in comparison. And this sparsely populated desert means any hospital or emergency service coming to help you has a ways to go before they can arrive.



James Dalton Highway / Alaska
You knew we were headed to Alaska eventually—I mean, what’s more dangerous than ice road trucking? With Dalton Highway’s 414-mile dirt road stretch, supplying the local oil and gas businesses is no easy task. Also known as the haul road, this route takes truckers through the mountains of the Brooks Range, where it once fell to -80 degrees Fahrenheit, the lowest temperature ever recorded in U.S.! Now, there are occasional helicopter patrols looking out for vehicles piling up, but that does little to decrease the dangers of Dalton. While the road was designed for rigs, four-wheelers can pass through it, but not many auto rental companies will allow tourists to try—so at least we have that assurance.



Interstate 26 / South Carolina
Nothing like a little southern hospitality to keep you safe on the road, right? That counts for most of the South, but the little stretch between Interstates 26 and 95 is a magnet for auto accidents. Maybe it’s the endless trees lining either side of the road, or the steep shoulders, but many a car careen off the tarmac and into the ditches. Maybe it’s the speeding four-wheelers, or the lack of guardrails, but this road has a well-deserved reputation!



Routes 1 & 11 / Maine
Hitting a deer can scratch, ding, or dent any vehicle. But what happens when you hit a moose? Yeah, we’re gonna let you Google that on your own free time. But on both Routes 1 and 11 up in Maine, there can be a moose at any turn! With the hilly terrain, faded road signs, sharp curves, and devastating winters—Maine supplies any driver with enough danger to keep the blood pressure spiking. But hey, somebody has to transport that freight there.


Whatever takes you on these roads, keep in mind that you have a few tax deadlines that would be dangerous to miss. Your personal taxes are due by April 18th, and your IFTA deadline is April 30th. We’re still a few months away from your HVUT 2290’s deadline, but we’ll be here for you then.


If you have any questions about your deadlines, we’re available by phone at 704.234.6005. Our dedicated and friendly customer support team is looking forward to your call!

What’s the most dangerous journey you’ve made in your rig? Let us know in the comments or on Facebook and Twitter!



VIN Corrections 101: Fixing Your 2290s

So you filed Form 2290 and received your Stamped Schedule 1, but now you’ve discovered you used  the wrong vehicle identification number. What do you do?

Don’t worry, mistakes happen in the realm of tax filings, which is why we have 2290 Amendments. Let’s be real, your VIN is a scramble of 17 alphanumeric characters—sometimes you might hit the wrong key. And trust us, we’ve seen a few 5’s that look like the letter S more than once on a VIN. To err is human!

If you filed your heavy vehicle use tax with ExpressTruckTax, you can e-file a VIN correction FREE of charge. Since your original filing was with us, we think we can help you out. And if you used another service or paper filed your 2290, you can also e-file a VIN correction for a small fee.

How does it work? Well, VIN corrections can be only filed for taxable or suspended vehicles, not for credit vehicles or prior year suspended vehicles. When you file a VIN correction for Form 2290, you can’t combine it with credits claimed on the same form. Also, the wrong VIN must have been paid for in the original form 2290. Otherwise, the IRS will assign penalties in addition to the actual tax.

How do you e-file your VIN correction? After logging in to ExpressTruckTax, click Start New Return and you’ll be prompted with three options. From there, you need to select Form 2290 Amendments.

After that, you are prompted to choose between a VIN Correction, a Taxable Gross Weight Increase, and Mileage Exceeded. Underneath VIN Correction, click Start.

From that point on, your options split between previous filers and new customers. If you filed your 2290 with us before, this is where you can e-file your VIN correction for free!

After that, it’s only a matter of entering the incorrect VIN and updating it to the correct VIN. For a more detailed explanation, check out this video!

So don’t forget, if you filed with ExpressTruckTax, you can e-file a VIN correction with no strings attached. Now, we do need your credit card information for verification purposes, but the service itself is free. After you correct your VIN, you will get your corrected Schedule 1 in minutes. Don’t forget, if you didn’t file your HVUT with us, you can still pay for a VIN correction.

If for any reason you have any questions about e-filing your VIN correction, our friendly customer support team can help you out! Reach us by phone at 704.234.6005, email at support@ExpressTruckTax.com, or live chat with us on our website!

5 Trucker Trends to Watch

We’re rolling into spring, leaving winter behind, and it feels good. Right now, there’s nothing on your mind—you’re just enjoying the open road. But a voice in the back of your head says, “Hey, what are you missing? You gotta be missing something!”
So just in case, we’re bringing you an update on the latest happenings in our neck of the woods. Here are some news items and events that affect you as a trucker over the upcoming months.

FMCSA Considering Sleep Apnea Rule

The FMCSA announced that they are seeking feedback about sleep apnea in commercial vehicle drivers as an initial move towards a ruling on the condition. Basically, the rule could mean transportation workers in safety sensitive positions who exhibit multiple risk factors for sleep apnea would undergo evaluation and treatment by a healthcare professional with expertise in sleep disorders.

Are you going to MATS? See ya there!

In case you missed it on social media, we’re headed to the Mid-America Trucking Show March 31st – April 2nd! We’ll be giving out FREE tickets to the show, which you can claim here. Keep an eye out for cool prizes and the inside scoop on the latest ExpressTruckTax and TruckLogics developments.

What is Alice Isn’t Dead?

There’s a new podcast shooting to the top of the iTunes charts—and it’s about a trucker! Alice Isn’t Dead follows a truck driver on a quest to find her wife, who was presumed dead. Along the way, the trucker meets unsavory characters, ghost towns, and uncovers a dark conspiracy.

Are you ready to file your Personal Taxes?

Don’t forget, Trucking Nation, your personal taxes are due Monday, April 18th. If you’re not ready to file, head over to ExpressExtension to e-file a personal tax extension! Normally, your tax deadline would be April 15th, but that is Emancipation Day, which will be celebrated as a government holiday in Washington, D.C. So, the tax deadline was moved to Monday. (Hey, it gives you more time!) And that’s okay with us. By the way, make sure you don’t miss out on any trucker specific deductions.

There’s an IFTA Deadline, and there’s a HVUT Deadline

Don’t forget, deadlines are approaching! The 1st Quarter of IFTA ends in March, so you’ll have a payment due in April. And summer is almost here, so your 2290s are only months away. Get a head start now!

There’s always something happening in the trucking world. Make sure you follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with the latest transportation news. Start planning your finances and truck taxes now, and we’ll see you at MATS later this month!

Don’t forget, our dedicated customer support team is here to answer any of your HVUT 2290 filing questions! You can reach them by phone at 704.234.6005, live chat via our website, or email at support@expresstrucktax.com.

File Like an Expert: Tax Deductions for Truckers

Would you head out on the road without any idea where you’re going? I didn’t think so. So why would you head into tax season without a plan?

Your truck isn’t just a vehicle, it’s also a place of business. It makes sense that you would qualify for multiple tax deductions for your truck use.

So let’s look at some money saving secrets you can implement on your tax return. Whether you’re a company driver or an owner-operator, there could be a deduction in your future. Basically, your deductions should be for items that help you complete your driving job.

So What Can I Deduct?

Well what are some items that can be deducted? Cleaning supplies, office supplies, and miscellaneous supplies all count. As long as the supplies help you run and maintain your business, you can claim them.

But it doesn’t stop there! Electronics equipment like your CB radio, power boosters, GPS units (including map updates) can be counted as deductions. Tractor supplies like bunk heaters, coolers, de-icers, and window screens are all fine for deductions, too.

Really, you can apply this to a lot of items that come into use. Bungee cords, load chains, locks, and wide load flags are all vital load securement tools that are required for your work. Tools like electrical tape, tire irons, and flashlights can count, too. Safety clothing like gloves, boots, and thermals can be a necessity for the job.

Your personal hygiene is a vital part of your job, so that can even factor into your deductions! Whether you’re going to a tax professional or working with a family member familiar with tax code, make sure you go over every possible deduction at hand.

I Have a Lot of Deductions… I Need More Time!

Instead of worrying about filing time, head over to ExpressExtension and e-file for an automatic tax extension. With personal extension Form 4868, you can extend your personal filing deadline to October 17th. If you’re a fleet owner, there are plenty of options for you at ExpressExtension. You can e-file business extension Form 7004 and extend your deadline up to 6 months. And if you need more time to file 1099s, W-2s, and ACA Form 1094/1095, e-file Form 8809 with ExpressExtension for a 30 day extension!

When it comes time to file your taxes, professional help is best. And when it comes time to file your HVUT 2290s, call our dedicated, bilingual customer service team at 704.234.6005. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter to keep up with upcoming tax deadlines and the latest trucking news.

What are some other trucking expenses you could claim as tax deductions?

Sold a Vehicle? This Is How You Get Credit

So you bought a new truck this year, and you sold your old one. We know you love riding around in that brand new shiny rig—I mean, who wouldn’t?

But the ghost of your old truck is still hanging around, haunting you at every turn. All that time and money you spent, gone. Oh wait, that’s not a ghost, that’s just the old heavy vehicle use tax you paid before you sold that truck. Can you get that back?

Sure, in a sense—you can claim a credit with ExpressTruckTax. How do you go about claiming credit for a sold vehicle? Just e-file Form 8849, Claim for Refund of Excise Taxes!

What is Form 8849?

If you filed Form 2290 on a vehicle you’ve since sold, filing Form 8849 Schedule 6 will get you credit for the sold vehicle. If your truck was stolen, or destroyed, or maybe you didn’t realize it was exempt, you can file Form 8849.

What do you need for Form 8849?

Anybody who needs to claim a refund can claim it with Form 8849. Remember, you need to have already paid your heavy vehicle use taxes before selling the vehicle to qualify. First, you need your correct name and address. Next, you need your EIN and the vehicle information you are claiming a refund for. Since you are filing because the vehicle was sold/stolen/destroyed, you will need the date the event occurred.

Say it in English

Well, when you sell a vehicle that already has the HVUT paid, the vehicle is covered until the end of the month of purchase. From then on, it’s up to the new owner to pay the vehicle’s HVUT. But as the seller, you simply need to e-file Form 8849 to claim your credit.

Remember to remind the buyer that heavy vehicle use taxes DO NOT transfer from one owner to another. They’re required to file Form 2290 and pay taxes on any qualifying rig.

Basically, as a seller you can be credited for the taxes you paid before you sold the vehicle, and the buyer owes the difference. As a seller, there are two ways to approach the credit. You can get the credit for the tax paid on your next Form 2290 filed, or the refund can be claimed through Form 8849, if you don’t want to wait until the tax period ends. If you’re reading this, something tells me you want your credit now!

If you’re confused, our legendary customer support team is here to answer your questions. Remember to follow us on Twitter and Facebook to keep up with the latest trucking news and upcoming deadlines!

Quick Tips to Reduce Trucker Stress

When you’re on the road, things can get pretty stressful. You’ve got crazed four-wheelers darting around your rig, dispatchers asking you to bend some rules, and some upcoming tax forms you’ve been avoiding. You can’t get rid of all those stressful factors, but you can find creative outlets to help you reduce how they affect you.

Stress happens for different reasons, and there are an assortment of ways to combat it. Here are a few tips we suggest.

Reduce Stressful Paperwork

Want to ditch the stress of tax filing? Well, just e-file your HVUT 2290s with ExpressTruckTax! We’re known as the easiest way to e-file your heavy vehicle use taxes, and we pride ourselves on our helpful customer support team. Best of all, after filing with us you will get your Stamped Schedule 1 within minutes! That way you can get back on the road.

Eat. Sleep. Lift.

Alright, alright. You’re tired of us hammering this point home. But we’re gonna stick with it, because your health is important! In short, you need to sleep more, eat better, and exercise regularly.

Does it sound like we’re constantly telling you to sleep more? Well, we are! Sleep recharges your body and helps you sort things out in your life. When you get more sleep, you’re going to be a more alert, safer driver. Your moods will also be more positive as a whole. And we’re not saying you’re eating unhealthy, but most truckers have a reputation for eating some bad foods. The solution? Avoid fast food and junk food and eat healthy foods! And of course, find time to exercise. You can store away weights or use your resources.

Stay on Time with Reminders

Tired of deadlines looming over your head? With RigMinders, you simply download the free app and let it run its course. As deadlines approach, RigMinders will remind you so that you don’t fall behind and get smacked with late penalties. The last thing you want is to pay a late fine, right?

Reduce Stress with a Hobby

You’re all over the country, seeing more of the United States than most people ever will. If you’re looking for a good hobby to help you relieve stress, try photography! Come on, you come across all those open skies and lonely roads—perfect for a camera lens. Not much of the visual artist type? Perhaps you could bring a guitar and try your hand at a good old fashion traveling song.

You already know how to stay entertained with your phone, tablet, and laptop computer. But not many truckers know that using these tools for stress relief is another great option! By using these same gadgets, you can connect to loved ones back home, run truck management software like TruckLogics, maintain a truck driving YouTube channel, or even educate yourself with free online courses.

And if you ever get stressed filing, reach out to our dedicated, bilingual support team! We’re available by phone at 704.234.6005, email at support@expresstrucktax.com, and by live chat on our website!

How do you reduce stress while on the road? Let us know in the comments, or on Facebook!

4 Trucker Life Hacks: Simplify Your Life

Let’s face it, Trucking Nation. You want life on the road to get easier. Heck, we can’t blame you. You’re only making sure every piece of merchandise every American buys gets to its proper location.

So we’re here to offer you some of the best ways to simplify your life in the rig! Check out these 4 trucker hacks designed to streamline your burden.

Deadlines for Days

We’re sure you have a phone—but not everybody has a smartphone. Our main encouragement for getting a fancy smartphone is automation! RigMinders is a free reminder app that keeps you up to date on your trucking deadlines. You don’t want to miss this one, Trucking Nation.



RigMinders: Stay Alert!

Head in the Cloud

Have you heard of TruckLogics? Whether you’re an owner-operator or you run your own fleet, there’s something there for you with TruckLogics. What kind of features do they offer? First off, their new LTL feature lets you dispatch multiple loads to one truck while automatically generating separate invoices for each client.

They also offer multi-user access, which grants permission and levels of access for your employees to streamline your transportation business. With these dispatch tools, you can dispatch loads with just a few clicks and track them in real-time! We’re telling you, you gotta check out TruckLogics today!

TruckLogics On-the-Go: Mobile App for Trucking Nation

Gadgets and Gizmos Aplenty

When you want to improve your life on the road, there’s always a technological solution you can look into. Speaking of TruckLogics, they recently published a list of the 10 must-have gadgets for the modern trucker. Maybe you’re in the market for a new tablet? Check out the Durabook. These military grade tablets are waterproof, can operate at 0° F, and are shock proof! Check out the link for more awesome gadgets.

Try Being Paperless

Now, we know you may have a visceral reaction to hearing “paperless,” with the FMCSA pushing e-logs on you, but there are plenty of great paperless advancements out there. Like taxes, for example. Do you really want to sit behind a stack of tax forms at home, a truck stop, or even worse—crammed in the back of your cab? Instead of filing your 2290s by hand, e-file your HVUT with our simplified, secure IRS authorized system.

Whatever you do to make your rig life easier, we can’t blame you. And when you e-file your HVUT 2290 forms, know that our dedicated, bilingual customer support team will be here to answer any of your questions. You can reach us by phone at 704.234.6005 or email at support@expresstrucktax.com.

What are your trucker life hacks?

4 Types of HVUT Exempt Vehicles

Do you need to file HVUT Form 2290 for your rig? 

Probably. Unless your vehicle is exempt, that is. And if you don’t know, you’re gonna have some issues come deadline day.

So how do you know if your vehicle is exempt from your heavy vehicle taxes?

Just ask the IRS! I’m sure they’ll get back to you with a straight answer right away. Yeah right! But that’s what we’re here for—streamlining your truck tax filing process. So we’ll break things down for you.

Suspended Vehicles

Some vehicles that count as exempt include suspended vehicles. These are based on the number of miles driven, like commercial vehicles traveling fewer than 5,000 miles annually and agricultural vehicles traveling fewer than 7,500 miles annually.

Logging Vehicles

The taxes are lower for logging vehicles—vehicles used for transporting products harvested from the forest and registered with the state agency as such. What counts as a logging vehicle? First off, the truck is used exclusively to transport a harvest from a forested site, or the truck is used exclusively to transport harvested materials from one forested site to another forested site. Even if you use a public highway between sites, your vehicle can still be considered a logging vehicle. You also need to register your truck as a logging vehicle in your base state.

Exempt Groups

I’m sure you’re not surprised to find out that federal, state, and local governments are exempt from HVUT. Sounds like Washington to watch out for themselves! Of course, this privilege extends to the American Red Cross, nonprofit volunteer fire departments, rescue squads, Indian tribal government vehicles, and mass transportation authorities.

Exempt Vehicles

Vehicles not considered highway motor vehicles are also exempt, like mobile machinery for non-transportation functions, vehicles designed for off-highway transportation, and non-transportation trailers and semi-trailers. This also extends to qualified blood collector vehicles used by qualified blood collector organizations, and non-transportation mobile machinery.

If you’re an exempt carrier, you may be required to file tax forms with the IRS or notify your local DMV of the exempt status being claimed. Does your truck fit into one of the above categories? Then it’s time to celebrate, because you won’t need to file heavy vehicle use tax!

Not sure about the status of your vehicle? We’re here to help! You can reach us by phone at 704.234.6005 or email them for 24/7 assistance at support@expresstrucktax.com. We’re here to put your mind at ease!

What is the New Trucker Coercion Rule?

You’ve been driving for hours, the sun long vanished behind the horizon, and you know you’re almost out of hours. That E-Log is ticking away, after all. But your dispatcher kept pushing forward, wanting you to get the freight there a bit faster. Between your lack of time and heavy eyelids, you know that feat is impossible.

You could stop now, or press on and keep driving. While you know you need to follow the rules, the dispatcher made it clear that you’re gonna start missing out on jobs if you don’t make this delivery in less hours than you have.

This is known as driver coercion.

Now thanks to the FMCSA’s trucker coercion rule, drivers can now report dispatchers, shippers, and other workers who encourage truckers to violate federal regulations to meet deadlines. With the new rule, financial penalties for shippers who coerce drivers into breaking the laws can reach up to $16,000. Basically, instead of risking your life, income, and future, the companies will now risk the coins that line their coffers.

In the words of the FMCSA:

“[The rule] addresses three key areas concerning driver coercion: procedures for commercial truck and bus drivers to report incidents of coercion to the FMCSA, steps the agency could take when responding to such allegations, and penalties that may be imposed on entities found to have coerced drivers.”

How did this rule start? Well, some commercial drivers reported pressure from shippers to violate federal safety regulations with threats of job termination, denial of future loads, reduced pay and hours, or even decreased future job opportunities.

How were drivers being coerced? The way most drivers faced it included ignoring driver hour limits, CDL requirements, drug and alcohol testing, and hazardous material transportation rules, among others.

“Any time a motor carrier, shipper, receiver, freight-forwarder, or broker demands that a schedule be met, one that the driver says would be impossible without violating hours-of-service restrictions or other safety regulations, that is coercion,” said FMCSA Acting Administrator Scott Darling. “No commercial driver should ever feel compelled to bypass important federal safety regulations and potentially endanger the lives of all travelers on the road.”

What should you do if you’re feeling coerced to break or bend a rule? First, you need to head to the National Consumer Complaint Database and file a report. While the FMCSA says the burden of proof is on the shippers, the truckers still have to provide evidence needed to sustain the fees against the violators. This means, make sure you have documentation of any incident you report, as the FMCSA will have to investigate these claims.

How does this affect you as a driver? Well, you know your limits and boundaries better than anyone else. Even if you disagree with these rules, your best call is to follow the new coercion rules, and to be upfront with the dispatchers and loaders.

Wait, still confused? Basically, the agency will now issue fines to companies who coerce drivers to break and bend laws to make deadlines.

While we can’t help you with pushy dispatchers, we can help you when it comes to filing your HVUT 2290s. If you have any questions, send us an email at support@expresstrucktax.com or give us a call at 704.234.6005.

What do you think about the new driver coercion rule?

2290 Amendment Form: Fix Your Filing

In the year 1919, Washington politicians decided the United States had enough to drink and passed the Eighteenth Amendment—also known as Prohibition. About 13 years later, the US Congress saw the failure of Prohibition, and repealed it in its entirety with the Twenty-First Amendment. Hey, we all make mistakes!

These days, it seems like everybody has something to say about amendments. While we know you have opinions about who can bear arms, let’s stay focused here, Trucking Nation.

Jokes aside, there’s a chance you might make a mistake when you file your heavy vehicle use taxes this year. For this reason alone, you can file a Form 2290 Amendment with ExpressTruckTax. What are these amendments for? They are for increased taxable gross weight, exceeded mileage for suspended vehicles, and vehicle identification number corrections.

Increased Taxable Gross Weight

If the maximum load your truck customarily carried increased, the taxable gross weight probably changed. When this happens, you need to calculate and report the additional tax for the remainder of the period on Form 2290. When filing, you just choose the Amended Return option, and document the month or date the taxable gross weight increased. This should occur on the last day of the month following the month in which the taxable gross weight increased.

Suspended Vehicles Mileage Exceeded

When a suspended vehicle exceeds the mileage use limit, you need to file this amendment. The mileage use limit applies to the total mileage a vehicle is on the road during a period, regardless of the number of owners. Mileage use limit for a heavy vehicle on public highways is 5,000 miles or less (7,500 miles or less for agricultural vehicles).

Vehicle Identification Number Correction

If you filed a 2290 and somehow entered an incorrect VIN, you can file a VIN Correction Amendment to fix it. Now, VIN Corrections can only be filed for taxable or suspended vehicles and not for credit vehicles or for prior year suspended vehicles. When you file a VIN Correction, you must have already paid for the taxes due on the original Form 2290, or the IRS will assign penalties in addition to the actual tax. The good news is, VIN corrections are free if you filed your original 2290 with ExpressTruckTax!

With ExpressTruckTax, we make it easy to file Form 2290 Amendments. Not only do we make it easy, but you will also get your Schedule 1 for the new weight category in minutes!

While you may not need a 2290 Amendment, we’re here to answer any questions about 2290 filing you come across. Reach our dedicated, bilingual customer support team by phone at 704.234.6005, live chat, or by email.