As a construction worker, traveling between multiple job sites each day can be a common occurrence. Over time, those miles add up! When you're using your own vehicle to make supply runs, you'll want to have a system in place to track your mileage for reimbursement.
GPS tracking apps simplify the way your company handles mileage tracking by eliminating the need to manually record mileage. Automated mileage tracking apps generate detailed driving reports, categorize mileage as business or personal, and make it easier to track and claim tax deductions with minimal effort.
We did some research and tested multiple mileage tracking apps, finally narrowing down our list to what we believe are the five best on the market. In this article, we’ll focus on each apps's features, benefits, and overall suitability for construction professionals.
Need a mileage tracking solution for your construction firm?
Learn how Timeero’s unique features can benefit your company.
To help you make an informed decision regarding the best mileage tracking app for your business, we thoroughly tested each app that made it on our list. We took the time to explore each app's features and made note of the overall user experience.
First up on our list, Timeero.
Timeero
Best for: Business owners looking to simplify mileage reimbursement.
Timeero stands out as a mobile app that helps construction companies manage their workforce by tracking time and mileage, schedule shifts, and monitor employee locations.
Accurately track employee time with Timeero’s timeclock
Timeero’s timeclock allows employees to clock in and out with ease.
From the timeclock screen, employees can…
Quickly upload photographs documenting expenses and record important notes directly onto timecards
Start and end breaks using the “Start” and “End Break” buttons
Switch between job tasks during their shift
Conveniently view their total time on the clock
With Timeero, employees no longer need to manually log their time. The app automatically tracks shift start and end times, break times, as well as overtime work. Managers can view employee timesheets, review notes, and resolve flagged timecards from Timeero’s Time and Mileage menu.
Streamline reimbursement with automatic mileage tracking
Timeero automatically tracks mileage as soon as drivers reach the predefined speed threshold. Each mile traveled is accurately recorded and used to calculate employee reimbursement.
Instead of relying on manual mileage logs or pen and paper methods, Timeero records mileage backed by GPS data for every trip.
Track mileage and view driving routes with Timeero.
Monitor employees in real time with GPS tracking
Timeero’s GPS tracking capabilities allow employers to track employee locations in real time. Easily view the exact location of each crew member in real time from Timeero’s Who’s Working dashboard.
To see your workers’ minute-by-minute driving histories, Timeero's route replay feature shows you the exact driving route each employee took during their workday. If you are concerned that a few of your workers might be making unauthorized stops on the clock, Timeero has the tools to help you investigate your suspicions.
View an employee’s driving history with route replay.
Prevent time theft with geofencing
Timeero's geofencing technology is helpful when you need to prevent buddy punching. Draw a circular or polygonal geofence around your job site to restrict employees from clocking in and out unless they are within the specified virtual boundary.
Manage employee time with scheduling capabilities
Timeero is equipped with scheduling features that allow you to plan employee shifts, assign tasks and manage time off requests.
Rather than filling out and distributing paper schedules, use Timeero's scheduling tools to quickly disburse weekly schedules to all employees.
Other Timeero features:
Segmented tracking
Payroll integrations
Reports
Offline mode
Electronic signatures
“We were concerned about our non-tech-savvy guys being able to use the app on their phones. It turns out that in less than two weeks, they were clocking in and out, requesting time off, adding job notes, all via the app on their phone with little to no difficulties.” Mike Westler, Production Manager.
Best for: Business owners with irregular working hours who need an easy-to-use mileage tracker
MilelQ is an automatic mileage tracking app used to calculate business mileage for reimbursement and tax deduction purposes.
Track mileage with MilelQ
Automatically track and classify mileage mileage
MileIQ’s mileage tracking feature uses GPS technology to record the starting and ending points of each trip. Drivers can add notes, as well as parking and toll expenses incurred for individual trips. Drives can be manually classified as business or personal or employees can configure the app to automatically code miles driven during work hours as business mileage.
Easily add notes to trips from MileIQ’s dashboard
Optimize your payroll process with reports
You can generate reports, review them, and send the reports for tax deductions and reimbursements. MileIQ can be integrated with other apps such as Xero, Microsoft 365, Sage, Route4Me, and Bookkeeper360.
Generate and edit drive reports with MilelQ
Other MilelQ features:
Drive classifications
Nickname frequently visited sites
Email communications
Contact lookup
Everlance
Best for: Companies needing mileage tracking and tax related functionalities
Everlance is a mileage and expense tracker that helps mobile workers save time and money. It automatically tracks mileage and expenses and generates reports for tax filing.
Gain insight into employee movements with GPS tracking
Everlance tracks mileage using GPS technology, showing the start and endpoints of a drive, as well as the exact route followed.
Mileage tracking with Everlance
Easily separate business mileage from personal
Your construction company employees can add notes and business expense records to their timecards by uploading photos of receipts or manually entering details. After each trip, it's important you classify driving as business or personal. This practice helps you keep business mileage separate from personal mileage for tax and reimbursement purposes.
Generate detailed reports for reimbursement and tax compliance
With MileIQ, you can generate detailed IRS-compliant reports of your mileage and expenses, which can be used for tax filing and reimbursement purposes. Everlance also has a unique tax deduction finder that can identify potential tax deductions based on mileage and expense records, helping you save money.
Everlance’s tax deduction finder feature
Note: While Everlance does allow for some customization, it may not be flexible enough for the specific needs of a large construction crew. The free version of Everlance is limited to 30 automatic trips per month, so if you drive frequently for business, you'll likely need to upgrade to a paid plan.
Other Everlance features:
Data export
Expense tracker
Manual trip additions
TripLog
Best for: Construction businesses that want various mileage tracking methods
MagicTrip: Uses motion sensors to automatically detect trips.
Car Bluetooth: Starts tracking when your phone pairs with your car's Bluetooth.
Plug-N-Go: Requires a small device plugged into your car's OBD-II port.
TripLog Drive: A standalone GPS device for accurate mileage tracking.
TripLog Beacon: Uses Bluetooth beacons for precise location tracking.
For testing purposes, we used MagicTrip as our automatic tracking method. However, we still had to start the tracker to begin recording mileage.
Edit trip details, record odometer readings, and classify drives
Conveniently document expenses and classify drives from the dashboard
Employees can easily attach notes, receipts, and photos to trip logs to document parking fees, or tolls incurred. TripLog also lets users classify trips as business, personal, medical, moving, or commute, helping you separate business miles from other entries.
Monitor fuel expenses for improved job costing
TripLog tracks fuel purchases and calculates the vehicle's miles per gallon through its fuel economy feature. Simply input at least two fuel transactions for the feature to calculate your vehicle's MPG. This feature is extremely helpful if you are wanting to decrease transportation costs.
Analyze trip details through visual reports
TripLog’s reporting features are visual in nature. Instead of interpreting data and graphs on your own, TripLog combines all recorded data and delivers the information in a visual report. Quickly view trip classification ratios, along with daily miles traveled.
TripLog’s visual reports help you quickly analyze data
Other TripLog features:
Custom speed threshold
Driving safety detection
Timesheets
Scheduling
Stride
Best for: Self-employed contractors in the construction industry
Stride is geared towards helping independent contractors track their mileage for tax purposes. The app includes step-by-step instructions and other useful information to help you manage your finances and insurance as an independent worker.
Stride’s mileage tracking dashboard
Stay ahead of the game with real-time tax deduction estimates
Stride uses your phone’s GPS system to track your mileage. To quickly classify trips as deductible business mileage, simply define your work hours and the app will automatically classify any travel within those hours as business. The app provides real-time estimates of your potential tax deductions based on your tracked mileage and expenses, helping you stay on top of your taxes throughout the year.
Stride provides detailed mileage records
Note: While Stride is useful for mileage tracking, it does not have the advanced tracking capabilities that a construction company might require. It is best suited for businesses looking to track mileage for tax-related purposes.
Other Stride features:
Insurance accessibility
Tax filing support
Tax deduction finder
Expense and income tracking
What to look for in a mileage tracking app for construction
When you need to track mileage for work, look for an app that has the following features:
Automatic tracking: The app should be able to automatically start and stop tracking mileage when a vehicle moves. Look for an app that uses real-time GPS tracking to log distances and routes.
Offline tracking: In the event there is no network connection where your construction crews are located, offline tracking allows workers to continue to record location and mileage uninterrupted.
Mobile-friendliness: A clean and intuitive interface will improve usability for your workers. Since construction crews are constantly on the move, having an app that translates well across mobile devices is a necessity.
Reporting capabilities: Look for an app that generates detailed reports and allows for seamless integration with accounting software such as QuickBooks, Xero, or Paylocity. An app that automatically reports and exports data in multiple formats (CSV, PDF, etc.) is also a valuable feature.
Trip Classification: The app should be able to separate business and personal trips. This is helpful for companies that track mileage specifically for tax related purposes.
Route optimization: Choosing an app that identifies the shortest and most fuel-efficient routes to reduce travel time and fuel costs.
Integration with payroll and accounting software: First, look for a tracking app that syncs with payroll systems for automatic mileage reimbursement. Next, check to see if the app integrates with financial management tools to streamline tax reporting and compliance. These features will reduce your administrative workload significantly.
Use the best apps to simplify construction mileage tracking
Mileage tracking is a critical aspect of managing construction operations, impacting everything from tax deductions to project cost allocation. The right mileage tracking app can simplify this process, saving time and improving accuracy.
When choosing a mileage tracking app, consider your specific needs, such as automatic tracking, reporting capabilities, and GPS location tracking. By leveraging these tools, you can optimize your mileage tracking processes and enhance efficiency. An app like Timeero has the mileage tracking features you need for your construction crew. Start a free trial today to see how Timeero changes the way you do business.
Want a better way to track mileage for your construction projects?
Emily Maina is a tech-savvy writer with a passion for creating content. With years of experience in the industry, she is well-versed in the latest trends and developments in the tech industry. When she’s not working, Emily enjoys exploring the great outdoors or watching her favorite shows.
.webp){kind=tracking}
.webp)
%202.svg)
