QuickBooks Payroll is everywhere — it’s simple, it’s affordable, and for a lot of small business owners, it feels like the safe choice. And honestly? For many industries, it is. But trucking is a whole different world.

In this episode, I’ll break down:

• What QuickBooks Payroll actually does well for trucking companies
• The common gaps where it just isn’t built for driver pay
• Why per diem, multi-state compliance, and driver add-ons (like detention and layover) matter so much
• The hidden costs you may not see until it’s too late

I’m not here to bash QuickBooks — I’m here to be real with you. It’s a great tool for a lot of businesses. But for fleets? It can create more headaches than it solves.

👉 Tune in to hear both sides and decide for yourself whether QuickBooks Payroll is really serving your trucking company — or holding it back.

Let’s be honest — payroll isn’t just numbers on a page. It’s trust, it’s drivers’ livelihoods, it’s whether your business runs smoothly or falls into chaos. And when it comes to choosing who handles it, the decision can feel overwhelming.

This week, I start with a client’s question about hiring their kids in an S-corp — because real life questions deserve real answers. Then we move into the heart of it: the three payroll options most trucking companies look at.

I’ll walk you through ADP, QuickBooks Payroll, and specialized trucking payroll services — where they shine, where they fall flat, and what it actually feels like to work with them. And I’ll admit it: I have a dog in this fight. This is what I do every day. But maybe that’s exactly why you’ll want to hear my perspective.

If payroll has ever kept you up at night — worrying about mistakes, compliance, or just whether your drivers will trust you — this episode is for you.

🔗 Learn more at truckingpayroll.com

Payroll is one of the most important — and stressful — parts of running a trucking company. The big question: should you keep it in-house, or hand it off to a service?

In this episode of Driven for Success, Mike breaks down the real pros and cons of both options and shares a framework to help small fleets decide what’s right for them.

You’ll learn:
 • Why in-house payroll looks cheaper but often costs more
• The risks of staff turnover, payroll errors, and data security issues
• How outsourcing can save time, reduce compliance headaches, and scale with your fleet
• Key questions to ask before making the decision

If payroll keeps pulling you away from growing your business, this episode will help you rethink how you’re managing it.

🔗 Learn more at truckingpayroll.com

In this episode of Driven for Success, Mike starts with the September Driver Pay Index update — a look at how driver wages are trending and what it means for small fleets trying to stay competitive.

Then we dive into the main topic: why payroll errors cost far more than most trucking companies realize. It’s not just about math mistakes — it’s about trust, compliance, and reputation.

You’ll learn:
 • How payroll mistakes erode driver trust and retention
 • Why the IRS doesn’t care if it was “just a mistake”
 • The hidden back-office costs of fixing payroll errors
 • How sloppy payroll hurts recruiting and vendor relationships
 • Practical steps to prevent errors before they snowball

If payroll mistakes have ever felt like “just part of doing business,” this episode will change how you think about them.

The IRS is paying closer attention to trucking companies than ever before. In this episode, Mike breaks down the top red flags that trigger IRS audits — from payroll tax deposits and W-2 vs. 1099 misclassification to per diem compliance and sloppy recordkeeping.

You’ll learn:
 • Why trucking companies get audited more often
 • The most common mistakes fleets make with payroll
 • How to avoid IRS penalties by tightening your processes now

Plus, we cover the latest per diem rate update and what it means for drivers and fleet owners.

If you’ve ever wondered, “Would I survive an IRS audit?” — this episode is your roadmap to staying compliant and protecting your company.

🔗 Want help setting up payroll the right way for trucking? Visit truckingpayroll.com.

Think AI tools like ChatGPT are just for big companies? Think again. In this episode of Driven for Success, Mike Ritzema shares six practical ways small trucking companies can use ChatGPT right now to save time, reduce stress, and run their back office more professionally.

You’ll discover how ChatGPT can:

• Draft and polish emails and driver texts 🚛
• Build checklists and SOPs for payroll, dispatch, and compliance 📋
• Create driver ads and social posts that look professional online 📣
• Write clear policy explanations for your drivers ✍️
• Role-play tough conversations so you’re ready before you pick up the phone 🎙️
• And even evaluate your website from a shipper’s point of view 🌐

Whether you’ve got 5 trucks or 20, these AI-powered shortcuts will help you look more professional, save valuable time, and keep your drivers and partners happy.

👉 Subscribe to Driven for Success for more strategies to help small fleets run smoother and grow stronger.

Should truck drivers be allowed to opt out of per diem pay programs? Absolutely — but it doesn’t mean they should.

In this clip from the Driven for Success Podcast, we explain the smart way to handle driver objections, why some drivers just won’t get it, and how to communicate the value of per diem without forcing it. Plus, hear the analogy that hits harder than a flat tire at scale!

🛻 If you’re running a trucking company and trying to improve driver retention, save on taxes and insurance, and run a cleaner back office — this podcast is for you.

👉 Watch the full episodes and learn more at truckingpayroll.com/podcast

#TruckingPayroll #PerDiem #DriverRetention #SmallFleets #TruckingBusiness #DrivenForSuccessPodcast #PayrollTips #OwnerOperator #DriverPay #TruckingCompany #BackOfficeSolutions

Thinking about offering per diem pay to your truck drivers? Rolling it out wrong can lead to driver confusion, compliance headaches, and missed savings. In this episode of Driven for Success, we give you a step-by-step guide to implementing an IRS-compliant per diem program that your drivers will actually appreciate.

You’ll learn:

• What not to do when setting up per diem (like paying by the mile or flat weekly)
• How to answer common driver questions about taxes, Social Security, and legality
• When and how to introduce per diem during onboarding
• How to show drivers the benefit using real pay stub comparisons
• Why per diem should be part of your recruiting message

Whether you're just getting started or need to fix a broken setup, this episode is your trucking company’s per diem roadmap.

👉 Use our free Per Diem Savings Calculator
 to estimate what your company and drivers could save.

🔔 Like and subscribe for more insights into trucking payroll, recruiting, compliance, insurance, and back-office success.

Per diem isn’t just a tax strategy — it’s a powerful recruiting and retention tool. In this episode, we break down why truck drivers love per diem, how it increases their take-home pay, and why trucking companies should proudly feature it on their recruiting pages. Plus, we take a look back at how per diem used to work before 2018, and what changed with the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

Whether you’re a carrier trying to reduce turnover or a driver wondering why your paycheck is smaller than it should be, this episode delivers the insight you need.

per diem, driver pay, driver retention, trucking payroll, truck driver recruiting, tax law 2018, TJTCA, trucking per diem, small fleet compliance

In this episode of Driven for Success, you’ll learn:

• What per diem actually is (and how it works in trucking)
• How it helps trucking companies save thousands in payroll taxes and insurance
• Why drivers love it — and how it can boost recruiting and retention
• Common mistakes fleets make (like paying per diem by the mile or percent)
• How to structure a compliant, high-impact per diem program

This is your crash course in using the $80/day per diem allowance to become more profitable and more attractive to drivers.

🎯 Want to see how much you could save?
 👉 Use our Per Diem Savings Calculator

👍 Like & subscribe for more episodes like this.