Construction & trades
Technical trades burn more mileage per worker than any other physical category.
Technical trades — plumbers, electricians, HVAC techs, landscapers — burn more mileage per worker than any other physical category. A typical field tech runs 100 service calls per month at 10 to 25 km each, totaling 1,500 to 2,500 km/month — often on a personal van or company truck. When the vehicle is company-owned the cost is absorbed; when it is personal, each kilometer must convert into reimbursement or deduction.
This is a low-documentation category: the pro focuses on finishing the job, not on logging the work order. This guide shows how to integrate mileage logging into the dispatch flow itself (ServiceTitan, Jobber, Housecall Pro) so documentation becomes a byproduct of work — not extra overhead.
In the US, 1099 trades deduct miles on Schedule C line 9 via the standard rate (US$ 0.67/mi in 2025) or actual-expense method. For dedicated vans with GVWR > 6,000 lb, Section 179 allows accelerated depreciation. W-2 employees depend on the accountable plan; without one, reimbursement becomes income. Trips for EPA-regulated disposal (HVAC refrigerant, motor oil) must be logged separately.
In Brazil, MEI plumbers/electricians pay the monthly DAS-MEI and report annual revenue on DASN-SIMEI; mileage feeds operating cost. Companies under Simples Nacional attach vehicle expense reports. CREA can audit licensed professionals in technical complaints.
In Mexico, trades under honorarios deduct fuel and maintenance via CFDI; RESICO simplifies for up to MXN 3.5M revenue.
Two structures: per-service-call rate (includes transport) and additional per-km on top of the call payment (non-taxable when documented). In landscaping, the wrinkle is the trailer: when the vehicle pulls equipment, some US states allow a differentiated rate reflecting actual consumption.
Common mistakes in trades:
Trades with dispatch-integrated logs recover 8% to 14% of annual revenue as tax deduction.