I’m not arguing whether it is compensation or reimbursement

I am saying the distinction is not of any utility

If you got reimbursed for every meal, the system would be tedious but theoretically very simple: everything you spend the company offsets. Total cash impact - zero

But the system pays everyone the same regardless of what they spend or what they need. (6’5” man eating in white plains same as 4’ 11 woman eating in Fayetteville). So your “reimbursement” is predictable ahead of time and in no way connected to what you spend. Label it whatever you want, it is useful to know how much it is because it goes into a common pot with other company payments. You can spend it to pay half of big costs on the road, all of medium costs or twice what it costs to go cheap.

Oh and it is only tax free on overnights. 14 hour day turn you will be paying taxes on.