Calculating a Per Diem
Per diem is a daily allowance for living expenses a company gives its employees who are traveling for work. For truckers, it typically covers meals from the first to the last day of travel.
Understanding the per diem rate for truck drivers can significantly simplify budgeting for on-the-road expenses. Our easy-to-use calculator helps truck drivers to estimate their per diem based on the number of full days and partial days worked.
Formula Used
Total Per Diem = (Number of Full Days Worked * Full Day Rate) + (Number of Partial Days Worked * Partial Day Rate)
In this formula:
- Number of Full Days Worked is the total number of full days the trucker worked.
- Number of Partial Days Worked is the total number of partial days the trucker worked.
- Full Day Rate is the fixed daily rate provided to the trucker for a full day’s work.
- Partial Day Rate is the fixed daily rate provided to the trucker for a partial day’s work.
- To calculate the total per diem, you multiply the number of full days worked by the full day rate and the number of partial days worked by the partial day rate, then add the two results together.
It’s important to note that as of January 2024, the per diem rate for travel inside of the continental United States is $69 per day and $74 per day for official travel outside of the continental U.S.
Truck Driver Per Diem Rate Examples
| Number of Full Days Worked | Number of Partial Days Worked | Full Day Rate | Partial Day Rate | Total Per Diem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 2 | 69 | 51.75 | 741.5 |
| 20 | 3 | 69 | 51.75 | 1438.25 |
FAQs
How do I calculate per diem for a truck driver when I have a mix of full and partial travel days?
Use this method: multiply your number of full travel days by the full-day rate, multiply your partial travel days by the partial-day rate, then add the two amounts. That sum is your total per diem. You can plug these inputs into the Semi-Truck Per Diem Calculator for a quick result.
What is the 2024 per diem rate for truck drivers in the continental U.S., and what’s the rate outside the continental U.S.?
As of January 2024, the per diem rate is $69 per day for travel inside the continental U.S. and $74 per day for official travel outside the continental U.S. Choose the rate that matches where you travel, and apply any partial-day rate your company uses on travel days that aren’t full days.
What formula should I use to figure out my total per diem as a truck driver?
Total Per Diem = (Number of Full Days Worked multiplied by the Full-Day Rate) plus (Number of Partial Days Worked multiplied by the Partial-Day Rate). Calculate each part separately, then add them together. This is the same formula used by the Semi-Truck Per Diem Calculator.
Calculate my per diem: 10 full days and 2 partial days using a $69 full-day rate and $51.75 partial-day rate.
Full days: 10 × $69 = $690.00; partial days: 2 × $51.75 = $103.50. Total per diem = $690.00 + $103.50 = $793.50.
If I worked 20 full days and 3 partial days, what’s my total per diem at the $69 CONUS rate with a $51.75 partial-day rate?
Full days: 20 × $69 = $1,380.00; partial days: 3 × $51.75 = $155.25. Total per diem = $1,380.00 + $155.25 = $1,535.25.
Is the partial-day per diem a different amount than the full-day rate for truckers, and how should I apply it in the calculation?
Yes. A partial-day rate is typically a different, lower amount than the full-day rate, and it applies to travel days that aren’t full days. Multiply your partial days by the partial-day rate and add that to your full days multiplied by the full-day rate. The examples on this page use a $69 full-day rate and a $51.75 partial-day rate.
Show examples of truck driver per diem totals using a $69 full-day rate and a $51.75 partial-day rate.
Example 1: 10 full and 2 partial days = $793.50. Example 2: 20 full and 3 partial days = $1,535.25. Example 3: 5 full and 1 partial day = $396.75.