Quarterly estimated taxes
Quarterly estimated taxes are the periodic payments US self-employed carriers make toward income and self-employment tax, because no employer is withholding on their behalf.
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An owner-operator taxed as a sole proprietor or single-member LLC generally pays income tax plus self-employment tax covering Social Security and Medicare. Because nothing is withheld, the obligation is met in instalments during the year.
Underpaying can produce penalties even when the annual return is filed correctly, which is why the estimate matters as much as the return.
The estimate is only as good as the expense record behind it. Deductions that were never captured inflate apparent profit and therefore the payment.
This is general information, not tax advice. Confirm your own position with a qualified tax professional.