I have already posted this, but in the wrong place.
I claim and have claimed a similar tax allowance (I usually stay in digs depending on the job i am doing) in the UK for many years (Lorry drivers overnight subsistence @ £33.85 per day + £5 laundry and bedding allowance + £2 per day meal allowance all without receipts= a Total of £40.85 daily tax free allowance)
Here is the Lorry Drivers HMRC link. hmrc.gov.uk/manuals/eimanual/EIM66110.htm
I will be truck driving in Canada Mid January 2013, and i want to maximise my earnings in the same way I do in the UK, and the new 80% of the cost tax claim back (for Canadian Truckers only) seems well worth the hassle… I have found this.
Meal expenses of Canadian long-haul truck drivers
Meal and beverage expenses of long-haul truck drivers are deductible at a higher rate than the 50% permitted for other transportation employees. During eligible travel periods in 2011, meal and beverage expenses are deductible at 80%.
You are a long-haul truck driver if you are an employee whose main duty of employment is transporting goods by way of driving a long-haul truck, whether or not your employer’s main business is transporting goods, passengers, or both.
A long-haul truck is a truck or tractor that is designed for hauling freight, and has a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 11,788 kg.
An eligible travel period is a period during which you are away from your municipality or metropolitan area (if there is one) for at least 24 hours for the purpose of driving a long-haul truck that transports goods at least 160 kilometres from the employer’s establishment to which you regularly report to work.
For information on how to deduct your meals and lodging expenses, see Meals and lodging (including showers).
If you travel to the United States for your work as a transport employee, see Trips to the United States.
Note
You must reduce your claim for meal and lodging expenses, by any non-taxable allowance or reimbursement you received or are entitled to receive from your employer.
Your employer has to sign Form TL2: cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/tl2/tl2-11e.pdf
You do not have to send this form with your return, but you should keep it in case we ask to see it later.
You may be able to get a rebate of the GST/HST you paid. For more information, see Employee GST/HST Rebate.
The guidelines seem to roughly say: $17 x 3 meal allowance for every 24 hours away from base. So that’s $51 per day… $51 x 80%= a daily $40.80 meal allowance available to claim against tax paid without receipts (using the TL2 form) each day.
I think receipts are needed to claim for laundry and showers etc…
Has anyone claimed this on their tax return yet… did you get a big fat cheque and did they alter your tax allowance for the following year?
Here is some more Ca goverment info. cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/tl2/
… I did a ‘double take’ when I saw the 80% claim back for meals… all they allow in the UK is a poxy £2 per day without a receipt 
(because the HMRC say that you have to eat anyway…!) unless you fill out a P11DX. 