Reimbursement
Paying a driver back for something they bought for the load out of their own pocket — a toll, a wash, cash fuel.
Also called: Paid back, Expense repay.
Does it pay the driver? Yes — it adds a line to the driver’s pay.
It goes on the pay sheet as a “paid back” line, separate from pay for work.
When a driver pays for something the business owes, the owner pays it back on the next pay sheet, usually as its own line so it is not confused with pay for work.
Fuel bought on the carrier’s fuel card is not a reimbursement. It was never the driver’s money; the carrier takes it off the owner’s settlement.
Whether a reimbursement belongs on a 1099 is a question for whoever does your taxes. Keep the receipts and keep the line separate, and the answer is easy in January.
Read next
- Cash advance — Money handed to a driver before payday, taken off their next pay.
- Fuel card — The carrier’s card the driver fuels on; each purchase comes off the owner’s settlement, and none of it touches driver pay.
- 1099 driver — A driver paid as an independent contractor: no withholding, and a 1099-NEC at year end when the total crosses the threshold.
Made with the free reimbursement at loadtally.app/tools/glossary/reimbursement — LoadTally, loads, settlements and driver pay for owner-operators.
Questions
What does Reimbursement mean?
Paying a driver back for something they bought for the load out of their own pocket — a toll, a wash, cash fuel.
Does Reimbursement pay the driver?
Yes — it adds a line to the driver’s pay. It goes on the pay sheet as a “paid back” line, separate from pay for work.