The problem
You drive 400 miles a week. Some of it's billable, some isn't. You're not sure which. You're also not sure how much it's actually costing you per mile when you factor in fuel and wear. It's a cost center you've never really looked at — which means it's probably eating more than you know.
Why we built it
Travel is a real cost. The trips dashboard makes it visible — total miles, cost per trip, billable vs. non-billable. You can make a call on whether to charge for drive time once you can see it.
How it works
- 1
Your trips log in the Trips screen — automatically when you log them, or manually after the fact.
- 2
The dashboard shows total miles this week/month, total cost, and breakdown by job.
- 3
See the map route for any trip. Billable vs. non-billable breakdowns are in the stats.
What changes for your business
Before
Drive everywhere. No idea how much it costs. End-of-year mileage is a guess.
After
Every trip logged. Total cost visible. Billable vs. absorbed split clean.
Common questions
How do I track job-related mileage as a contractor?
In DIRT, log each trip manually or by voice — destination, miles, job assignment, and purpose. The trips dashboard shows total miles for the week or month, cost per trip at your set rate, and the split between billable and absorbed mileage. All job-related driving is in one place, not spread across a separate mileage app.
What does the IRS require for a business mileage log?
The IRS requires four things for each logged trip: date, distance (miles), destination, and business purpose. A log that has all four for every trip is IRS-compliant. DIRT captures all four when you log a trip — date is automatic, you enter miles, destination, and what the trip was for.
What is the best mileage tracker for contractors?
Popular standalone options include Everlance, TripLog, and Driversnote. DIRT integrates mileage tracking with job costing so every mile is tied to a specific job and shows up in that job's cost breakdown — something standalone mileage apps do not do. If you already log your work in DIRT, tracking mileage separately creates a gap.
Is the IRS standard mileage rate worth using?
For most contractors, the standard mileage rate (set annually by the IRS) is simpler than tracking actual vehicle costs. For high-mileage operations, actual expense deduction can sometimes be larger — check with your tax professional. Either way, you need a compliant log: date, miles, destination, and purpose.
How much do contractors spend on mileage each year?
It varies widely. A contractor driving 400 miles a week at 50 weeks is 20,000 miles annually. At the current IRS standard rate, that is a significant deduction. The problem is most contractors can't produce an accurate log because they tracked mileage inconsistently — or not at all.
Can I see a map of trips I logged in DIRT?
Yes. Logged trips in DIRT include a route view — open any trip and tap "View route" to see the path on a map. Useful for verifying the right distance was logged, for client disputes about drive time charges, and for your own records.
How do I know if my mileage tracking is IRS-compliant?
Each trip needs a date, distance, destination, and business purpose logged at the time of travel — not reconstructed later. IRS guidance is explicit that mileage logs need to be contemporaneous. DIRT logs the date automatically and prompts you for the rest, so each logged trip meets the four-element requirement.
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.