Free Payroll Tool
See what your payroll provider really charges
Most providers hide per-run and add-on fees. Audit your real cost per employee in about 30 seconds, free.
Run the Payroll Fee Auditor →Blog · Payroll Management · Trucking
Trucking & Transportation Companies: Payroll Compliance Guide (2026)
Payroll compliance for trucking companies rests on the federal rules that reach this industry specifically, 3 of which are cited on this page, plus the deposit and filing duties every employer carries. BEG runs trucking company payroll for $45 per employee per month inside the payroll software you already use, all-inclusive, live in 3 to 5 business days.
The rules that reach trucking companies specifically
Section 13(b)(1) of the FLSA provides an overtime exemption for employees of motor carriers and motor private carriers who work as drivers, driver's helpers, loaders or mechanics and whose duties affect the safety of operation of motor vehicles in interstate or foreign commerce.
The small vehicle exception restores FLSA overtime in any workweek in which the employee performs work on motor vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less, except vehicles designed to carry more than 8 passengers for compensation, more than 15 passengers, or placarded hazardous materials.
Property-carrying drivers may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, and may not drive after 60 hours on duty in 7 consecutive days or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days.
The duties every employer carries
Federal income tax withholding, Social Security and Medicare, FUTA, deposits on the monthly or semiweekly schedule the lookback period sets, quarterly Form 941, annual W-2s and, for trucking companies paying contractors, 1099-NEC at the $2,000 threshold in force for tax years after 2025. A late deposit starts at a 2 percent failure-to-deposit penalty and climbs to 15 percent.
A motor carrier must retain each driver's records of duty status and supporting documents for not less than 6 months from the date of receipt, and the driver must keep the previous 7 consecutive days of records available for inspection while on duty.
The rules behind this page, with sources
General information, not legal advice. Every rule below was read on the agency page linked next to it.
- Section 13(b)(1) of the FLSA provides an overtime exemption for employees of motor carriers and motor private carriers who work as drivers, driver's helpers, loaders or mechanics and whose duties affect the safety of operation of motor vehicles in interstate or foreign commerce. [DOL Fact Sheet #19]
- The small vehicle exception restores FLSA overtime in any workweek in which the employee performs work on motor vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less, except vehicles designed to carry more than 8 passengers for compensation, more than 15 passengers, or placarded hazardous materials. [DOL Fact Sheet #19]
- Property-carrying drivers may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, and may not drive after 60 hours on duty in 7 consecutive days or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days. [FMCSA Summary of Hours of Service Regulations]
- A motor carrier must retain each driver's records of duty status and supporting documents for not less than 6 months from the date of receipt, and the driver must keep the previous 7 consecutive days of records available for inspection while on duty. [49 CFR 395.8(k)]
Read the full guide to the payroll compliance library, and the rest of the trucking company payroll library.
Managed Payroll, Handled.
BEG manages payroll at $45 per employee per month, all-inclusive. Get an instant cost comparison for your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
Trucking company compliance: DOL Fact Sheet #19
Section 13(b)(1) of the FLSA provides an overtime exemption for employees of motor carriers and motor private carriers who work as drivers, driver's helpers, loaders or mechanics and whose duties affect the safety of operation of motor vehicles in interstate or foreign commerce.
Trucking company compliance: DOL Fact Sheet #19
The small vehicle exception restores FLSA overtime in any workweek in which the employee performs work on motor vehicles weighing 10,000 pounds or less, except vehicles designed to carry more than 8 passengers for compensation, more than 15 passengers, or placarded hazardous materials.
Trucking company compliance: FMCSA Summary of Hours of Service Regulations
Property-carrying drivers may drive a maximum of 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, may not drive beyond the 14th consecutive hour after coming on duty, and may not drive after 60 hours on duty in 7 consecutive days or 70 hours in 8 consecutive days.
What does managed payroll cost for a trucking company?
$45 per employee per month, all-inclusive, inside the payroll software you already use, with no monthly minimum. Per-diem pay for drivers, owner-operator vs W-2 classification and DOT compliance are configured at setup, not billed as add-ons.
Related Resources
Anthony leads payroll solutions at Business Executive Group, a national managed payroll firm serving businesses across industries including Trucking & Transportation Companies. BEG manages payroll at $45 PEPM, all-inclusive, with deep expertise in compliance, multi-state filing, and industry-specific payroll requirements. Get instant pricing at beghr.com.
Authoritative source: U.S. Department of Labor: Wage and Hour Division
From the blog