Business

How COVID fast-tracked an explosion in power-only trucking

Compared to intermodal and auto-hauling operations previously explored, long-tail COVID pandemic ramifications have been decidedly more positive for power-only independent operators, the focus of this part of Overdrive's 2021 "Niche Hauls" series.

December 8, 2021

Kenyette Godhigh-Bell with bobtail 2017 Cascadia

Partners in Business

Partners in Business tip: Perform regular PM

Preventive maintenance ensures your truck is running efficiently. Here are a few items to regularly check.

April 16, 2021

ryder-preventive-maintenance-2017-07-05-13-51

Small Fleet Champ

How to pay drivers in respect, not just cash

At a time when truckers are seeing record income, fleets small and large still struggle to figure out what makes a company worth driving for. Here, an ethically-minded fleet owner explains how respecting a driver and their family pays dividends above pay.

December 7, 2021

Tenstreet's Marilyn Surber hosted a panel discussion on retention with Overdrive 2021 Small Fleet Champ Silver Creek Transportation's president, Jason Cowan (center), and Averitt Express Director of Driver Services David Broyles.

Overdrive Extra

Three common fallacies in popular 'driver shortage' arguments

The conversation around shortages suffers from incomplete information, short-/long-term conflation and misunderstandings of economics. Stressing out over shortages is a losing game -- innovate to increase your own productivity to win.

December 7, 2021

convoy truck driver counts have recovered but ind. payrolls lag graph

Knight-Swift spends $150M to grow its LTL network

MME's regional footprint complements Knight-Swift's southeastern and midwestern LTL presence alongside its AAA Cooper Transportation brand, which together cover over half the U.S.

December 6, 2021

Midwest Motor Express semi

Jobs report shows transportation growth | ELDs starting to appear on Canada registry

The Bureau of Labor Statistics' monthly jobs report for November showed an estimated 50,000 payroll jobs added in the month. Also: After long delays, some ELD providers are finally approved in Canadian registry; New Jacksonville KW facility.

December 3, 2021

Payroll employment numbers (in the thousands) are shown here for the transportation and warehousing category in BLS' monthly jobs tracking. Gains have been substantial in recent months.

Per diem tax breaks just got a lot simpler -- and more valuable -- for owner-operators

New IRS guidance notes there will be no need for owner-operators to determine any percentage of meal purchases from a restaurant to reap savings with 100% deductible per diem through all of 2021 and 2022. Savings could top $1,000 annually.

December 3, 2021

Driver couple walking back to the truck after meal purchase in truck stop

The No. 1 barrier to truckers' efficient hours utilization

Shippers/receivers' dock inefficiencies were named No. 1 by both owner-operators and MIT when it comes to hours utilization barriers, yet researchers might be missing a significant limiting factor in how new hours of service flexibilities are applied.

December 2, 2021

truck dock loading

What drives owner-ops? ATRI study finds freedom, independence among top motivations

Owner-operators responding to ATRI's survey are concerned, however, that legislation forcing them to reclassify as company drivers would negatively impact their job satisfaction and income. Also: Pilot donates $1.75M to veterans organization.

December 1, 2021

Truck Trailer Highway

Survey: What are the chief benefits -- and drawbacks -- of hauling in a 'power only' system as an independent?

Less detention in drop-hook operations? Parking ease between loads? Added insurance? This survey asks those among you with experience hauling power-only for a carrier-affiliated or non-asset broker or other party for your views of the "niche" here. ...

December 1, 2021

trucks on highway

Partners in Business

Partners in Business tip: Save every receipt, no matter how small

Take advantage of all your business expenses by collecting your receipts no matter how small they might be. Get more details right here on Overdrive Online.

April 8, 2021

business money taxes

How to save taxes, gain biz-management dividends with an S Corp structure

With owner-operator average income now topping $70K annualized, "we've set up a lot of S Corps this year," said ATBS. At that level, the S Corp structure really begins to make sense as a tax-savings and business management solution for a one-truck owner.

November 30, 2021

U.S. Tax Return for an S Corporation Form 1120-S with an image of a vehicle carrier and semi-truck

States with the most cost effective highways and bridges

With $110 billion set to go to roads and bridges in the newly passed infrastructure bill, here's a look at the best and worst state highway and bridge systems, as well as how cost-effective each state is.

November 30, 2021

Map of best highways/bridges and cost effectiveness

California 88K lb. load limit targeting port congestion dubbed 'lipstick on a pig'

While California Gov. Gavin Newsom believes a larger 88,000-lb. gross truck weight can help reduce port congestion, trucking experts feel otherwise.

November 30, 2021

Port of Long Beach container congestion

FMCSA extends COVID-19 emergency declaration's hours waiver through February

The FMCSA waiver will now be effective through Feb. 28, 2022. The extension continues to retain new features instituted with the last extension that began in September. Also: Spot market update shows expected Thanksgiving-week sag.

November 29, 2021

Highway Traffic Scene Volvo Truck

Small Fleet Champ

Small fleet roundtable: 'Co-opetition' code, balancing personal/business pursuits, more

Trucking companies can do more to embrace cooperation amongst their kind -- "I'd rather have your friendship than have your freight," Small Fleet Champ Jason Cowan said in this roundtable with fellow finalists -- where it makes sense to seed growth.

November 29, 2021

small fleet champ finalists

Overdrive Extra

Don’t be lured into dishonesty to reduce your insurance premiums

It makes for a valid reason for an insurance company to cancel your insurance policy. Once that happens, it follows you like a bad smell after hitting a skunk. No matter how hard you try you just can’t get rid of it and nobody wants to park next to you.

November 24, 2021

truck parked in rest area lot

Partners in Business

Partners in Business tip: The benefits of trailer ownership

While leased operators don’t have the pressing need to provide a trailer that most independents do, they often find trailer ownership has significant earning potential.

April 1, 2021

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Kenyette Godhigh-Bell with bobtail 2017 Cascadia

How COVID fast-tracked an explosion in power-only trucking

Compared to intermodal and auto-hauling operations previously explored, long-tail COVID pandemic ramifications have been decidedly more positive for power-only independent operators, the focus of this part of Overdrive's 2021 "Niche Hauls" series.

ATRI's Rebecca Brewster told attendees of a fleet conference they should be doing more to increase parking options for operators, pointing out that many of attendees likely drove past trucks parked on the shoulders and ramps of highways for lack of parking. 'This is an untenable positions drivers are faced with,' she said.

Fleets, operators hugely at odds over truck parking crisis

Driver couple walking back to the truck after meal purchase in truck stop

Per diem tax breaks just got a lot simpler -- and more valuable -- for owner-operators

Jade Transport's 2021 Peterbilt 389 Pride & Class

Throwback 359-style design on Jade Transport’s 2021 389 Pride & Class

Howes Diesel Defender

Howes Diesel Defender

Small fleet roundtable: 'Co-opetition' code, balancing personal/business pursuits, more

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