The problem
Supply run to the distributor and back: 22 miles. Purpose: picked up copper for the Henderson job. This should be on the job record. But you're already at the next stop before you think about it, and by end of day you've forgotten the mileage.
Why we built it
Quick trip logging captures the data in the moment — destination, miles, job assignment. Takes fifteen seconds and saves you from guessing at the end of the month.
How it works
- 1
Tap "Log trip" from the home screen or the job you're working.
- 2
Enter the destination, miles, and what it was for. Assign to a job if relevant.
- 3
Trip logs to the job. Costs show up in the job's expense breakdown.
What changes for your business
Before
Supply run happens. Miles forgotten. Job costs understated.
After
Tap, enter miles, assign to job. Fifteen seconds. Cost recorded.
Common questions
What should a mileage tracker template include?
A complete mileage log needs four things for each trip: the date, the distance traveled, the destination, and the business purpose. Those are the four fields the IRS requires to substantiate a mileage deduction. Without all four, a log doesn't hold up under review.
What does the IRS require for mileage tracking?
The IRS requires a contemporaneous log — recorded at or near the time of the trip, not reconstructed from memory at year-end. Each entry needs the date, miles driven, destination, and business purpose. DIRT captures all four when you log a trip manually.
How do I log a trip in DIRT?
Tap "Log trip" from the home screen or from the job you're working. Enter the destination, the miles, and what the trip was for. Assign it to a job if it's job-related. The trip logs immediately with a timestamp and ties to the job's cost record.
What is the difference between job mileage and general business mileage?
General business mileage is any drive for a business purpose — supply houses, bank runs, client meetings. Job mileage is tied to a specific job. In DIRT you assign each trip to a job so the drive cost shows up in that job's profit breakdown, not just in a general mileage total.
Is it better to log trips in real time or at the end of the day?
Real time is better. The IRS uses "contemporaneous" recording as the standard — logged close to when it happened. End-of-day reconstruction from memory is less reliable and less credible under audit. A trip log in DIRT takes fifteen seconds; there's no reason to wait.
Does logging trips in DIRT satisfy IRS requirements at tax time?
Your trip log in DIRT has the four IRS-required fields for each entry: date, distance, destination, and purpose. At tax time you can export the log. Your accountant has what they need without you reconstructing a year's worth of drives from bank statements and memory.
Can I use a mileage spreadsheet instead of an app?
A spreadsheet works if you actually fill it out. Most contractors stop updating one within a few weeks because it's an extra step when you're on the job. An app on your phone that takes fifteen seconds per trip is the format most people actually stick with.
Start free
Try it free.
Every DIRT plan includes this feature — Solo included. No credit card, no trial that expires. Set up in minutes and use it on your next job from the truck.