Work Smarter Not Harder…

Written By Deb LaBree

If I had a nickel for every time I heard this phrase when talking with other truckers, I’d be rich!

Understanding your operating costs in trucking is crucial to running a successful transportation business. By knowing the various expenses involved in operating a truck, such as fuel, maintenance, insurance, permits, and equipment, you can make informed decisions to ensure profitability. Monitoring and analyzing these costs regularly can help you identify areas where you can cut expenses, improve efficiency, and increase your bottom line. Being aware of your operating costs allows you to price your services competitively, forecast your financial performance accurately, and ultimately, stay ahead in the highly competitive trucking industry.

This was a major hurdle for us when we bought our first truck in 2014. My first time searching for help landed me a monthly fee to a trucking accounting service out of state. They wanted all our ORIGINAL documents sent by mail and they would send them back when they were finished. I wanted to learn more about our business and how to handle the books and when I would call the service, I’d NEVER get the same account manager to talk to.

The trucking business is all about relationships. I wanted a relationship with the person or people handling our P&L and our taxes. I wanted to learn about the different operating costs and how they affected our bottom line. Just how could I do all these things and have an expert file our taxes?

After talking with fellow business owners, I learned about accounting software designed for truckers by a trucker.

My first step, at working smarter not harder, was purchasing a copy of trucking accounting software by Trucking Pro Software. They offer 4 great versions and the one I chose is specific to our business model. It was easy to set up and I can track everything. There are step by step tutorial videos to set up your business and start tracking your numbers. It’s a ONE time, extremely AFFORDABLE price. Who needs this kind of software?

  • Owner Operators

  • Lease Operators

  • Small Fleets

  • Company Drivers

  • Auto Haulers

By knowing our costs and P&L, we’ve been able to grow our business and become more specialized which also lets us work smarter not harder.

Hop over to www.truckingprosoftware.com and save 10% using the code deblabree10.

Deb LaBree

Deb LaBree is a professional truck driver, owner-operator, and trucking coach with two decades of experience in the trucking industry. She has been team driving with her husband since 2006 and became an owner-operator in 2014.

Deb has logged over 2M+ million accident-free miles and has received numerous safety and industry recognitions, including being named NASTC Driver of the Year and Women in Trucking Driver of the Year (2024). She previously served two terms on the board of the Women in Trucking Association and is a retired Legacy Image Team member, having volunteered and represented the organization for many years.

Throughout her career, Deb has been featured across national and industry media, including SiriusXM Road Dog Trucking Radio, NBC Today, The Wall Street Journal, and various transportation publications. She has also participated as a research subject in multiple college and university studies focused on trucking and transportation.

Today, Deb is the founder of A Woman Trucker, where she mentors and supports women entering and advancing in trucking through coaching, education, and lived-experience leadership. Her work is grounded in safety, integrity, and peer-to-peer understanding — always putting the profession and the people who do the work first.

https://www.awomantrucker.com
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