As of January 1, 2018, employee drivers are no longer allowed to claim unreimbursed employee business expenses, like meals per diem, as a tax deduction on their federal income tax return. Arka Express is introducing an accountable, company-paid per diem plan in response to this tax law change.

What is per diem?

A per day travel expense allowance paid to an employee as an expense reimbursement under an accountable per diem plan.

Which drivers receive per diem?

• Only drivers who participate in a company sponsored per diem program, like Per Diem Plus for Samsara, can take advantage of the substantial tax benefits that come with per diem.
•  A driver must be away from home overnight where rest or sleep is required, i.e. 10-hour HOS reset.
• A driver who starts and ends a trip at home on the same DOT HOS 14-hour clock cannot receive per diem.

Is company-paid per diem taxable to an employee driver?

No. It is considered a non-taxable reimbursement that is deducted from taxable wages.

• Amounts paid under the per diem plan are tax free, not reportable as wages on Form W-2, and are not subject to income or employment taxes.
• Be aware that the program reallocates your income; the non- taxable reimbursement is not in addition to your base wages.

How can I review the per diem earned for the current payroll period?

• Open the web browser on your mobile device
• Enter: fleets.perdiemplus.com/perdiemplus_fleets/login (copy or click this link)
• Select "Drivers Login HERE"
• Select "Claim Account"
• Enter fleet code arkaexpress (all lower case)
• Enter your Samsara Driver ID
• Request & Enter verification code
• Create & Save an easy-to-remember password
• Re-enter the password to login to view per diem for the current payroll period

You only have to register once

Note: The Trip Summary will display the "last trip" up to 24hrs after entering the halo. After that it will no longer display.

Who do I contact if the per diem for the current Saturday-Sunday payroll period is incorrect?

Contact Per Diem Plus Support by phone/text at (314) 488-1919 by no later than Noon ET on Monday.

Will per diem move you to a lower federal income tax bracket?

It depends. For example, a married driver filing a joint return earning $100,000 of joint wage income that received $17,595 of per diem would drop down to the 12% tax bracket ($22,000-$89,450) from the 22% tax bracket ($89,451-190,000).

Will per diem reduce my vacation pay?

No. Vacation pay is still computed as before off gross wages.

How will per diem affect my Social Security?

The per diem pay plan will reduce social security benefits. However, you still come out ahead because you could save thousands in taxes each year under the per diem program and only lose out on $4 to $11 per month in social security benefits. Speak with a tax advisor for more information about your situation.

Do I have to login to Per Diem Plus for Samsara?

No.

How do I track a truck driving trip?

• Simply drive
• Per Diem Plus for Samsara will begin tracking your trip automatically when you exit the tax home halo defined by your company and record per diem daily
• Per diem is posted the next afternoon, which includes 34-hour restarts and unforeseen delays
• The software ends a trip automatically when you return home

How much per diem will I receive?

Drivers traveling in the USA

• $69 / day for each FULL day you are away from home (Start your trip BEFORE noon or return home AFTER noon).
• $51.75 / day for each PARTIAL day you are away from home (Start your trip AFTER noon or return home BEFORE noon).

Drivers traveling to Canada

• $74 / day for each FULL day you are away from home (Exit the tax home halo BEFORE noon or enter the tax home halo AFTER noon).
• $55.50 / day for each PARTIAL day you are away from home (Exit the tax home halo AFTER noon or enter the tax home halo BEFORE noon).

Does a driver have to spend all the per diem?

No.

Will Per Diem Plus for Samsara record per diem if I sign out of Samsara ELD during a 10-hour HOS reset?

No. Per Diem Plus uses the Samsara ELD gateway to record location. When a driver uses "Off Duty Sign Out" the gateway ceases sending hourly location data and prevents Per Diem Plus from processing the logic rules used to calculate per diem.

Note: Use of "Off Duty Sign Out" is required to allow yard moves when you are broken down. Contact Per Diem Plus Support at (314) 488-1919 to have missed per diem corrected.

Will I receive per diem when I experience unforeseen delays, like weather, detention and breakdowns?

Yes. Per diem is also earned during 34-hour restarts undertaken away from home.

Is participation in the per diem plan optional?

Yes.

What does it cost to participate in the per diem plan? 

Per Diem Plus for Samsara is provided at no cost to the driver.

Questions? Contact us at Support@Perdiemplus.com or  (314) 488-1919