Business: Page 12

Independence and Growth

Insurance to defend against the downhill threat of post-crash litigation

There's plenty for owner-operators and small fleets, especially those with authority, to learn from large carriers that have been targeted in questionable litigation. Make smart choices about where to spend your money to ward off risk.

January 1, 2025

Speed Motion Blur Night Truck On Highway

Independence and Growth

How to get access to military freight

A primer for owner-operators and small carriers on doing business direct with the military — or the 3PL contractor controlling a substantial portion of general military freight — to haul DOD loads.

January 1, 2025

military freight -- empty ammo boxes on a flatbed

Sponsor Content

Compute the potential profit in any truckload, access per-day and per-mile breakouts with Overdrive's Load Profit Analyzer

Fusable

Know your costs, owner-operators? Compute the potential profit in any truckload, access per-day and per-mile breakouts, and compare brokers' offers on multiple loads. Enter your trucking business's fixed and variable costs, and load information, to get started.

March 24, 2025

Compute the potential profit in any truckload, access per-day and per-mile breakouts with Overdrive's Load Profit Analyzer

FMCSA delays broker-authority 'immediate suspension,' other regs provisions

FMCSA announced plans to delay implementation of certain provisions of its new broker/forwarder regs from January 16, 2025, until a full year later in 2026. Provisions delayed include the long-awaited suspension of broker authority after valid claims.

January 1, 2025

Dry Van Truck At Bridge

Safety and Compliance

What's appropriate as 'personal conveyance' in the logbook or ELD under the hours rules?

This video, part of the Trucking Law series originally, explains regulatory guidance around "personal conveyance," making clear what is/isn't acceptable off-duty movement of the truck under the hours of service.

January 1, 2025

Business Management

Keen fixed, variable cost understanding key to owner-operator success

Trying to reduce costs, let alone make sense of them, can be a complicated task. Understanding basic principles of operating costs can save you thousands of dollars a year.

January 1, 2025

Truck turning next to highway

Business Management

Controlling fuel costs, improving efficiency critical to any owner-operator's survival

Reducing your speed, limiting idle time and using technology to your advantage are among myriad ways to help improve the bottom line by increasing fuel efficiency.

January 1, 2025

trucks at fuel island

Business Management

Time management can make or break an owner-operator's business

Maximizing your time and increasing the efficiency of your business are keys to success as an owner-operator. Know your split-sleeper options in the hours of service, and don't be afraid to deadhead if it makes sense. Fixed costs never stop.

January 1, 2025

Truck on highway

Partners in Business

Calculate any load's cost in relation to time, not just miles

Evaluating any given load’s value, it’s crucial to consider costs to haul the freight on a per-mile basis, but also in relation to time. This custom-spreadsheet table and Overdrive's Load Profit Analyzer can help

January 1, 2025

Drop Reefer Trailer At Market

The costs -- and broader considerations -- to keep in mind when leasing to a carrier

For any owner-operator, it's expensive to switch carriers, so keep these things in mind if you're in the market for a new business partner to lease to.

January 1, 2025

John McCormick's 2021 Kenworth W900L

Overdrive Radio

4 million miles toward optimism for a new year: Ring in 2025 with Overdrive Radio

A small fleet owner builds direct business after getting burned by a broker to a concert tour-haul run with country-rock legends, plenty in the way of biz advice borne of experience, and so much more: Overdrive Radio's 2024 in review.

December 31, 2024

Ovd Radio Thumbnail (you Tube) 12 31

Overdrive's top 10 trucking stories of 2024

The Ice Pick Bandit, broker transparency and other regs, middlemen acting crazy, marijuana laws changing, Trump taking back the White House. ... Which was the most important story in trucking in 2024?

December 31, 2024

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Finance-crimes network's reporting requirement halted again in court

The Corporate Transparency Act's implementation was again halted on appeal, in yet another flip-flop ruling. That means small biz, including owner-operator LLCs, do not need to report ownership info to Treasury.

December 10, 2024

BOI e-filing, unconstitutional

Cost of congestion tops $100 billion annually, nearly $8k per truck

Traffic congestion cost the trucking industry 1.2 billion hours and $108.8 billion.

December 18, 2024

semi truck in traffic

Trucker of the Year

Compete for Overdrive's 2025 Trucker of the Year honor

The program recognizes acumen/innovation of owner-operators, the bedrock of the entrepreneurial spirit in trucking. If you’ve persevered through freight-market challenges the last years, you're no doubt a worthy contender.

December 20, 2024

Transparency enforcement 'bad for shippers, brokers and carriers': DAT's Ken Adamo

In theory, broker transparency could give away the game for freight middlemen and incentivize small trucking companies and shippers to work together. But Adamo plans to weigh in against the FMCSA's rule in official comments. Here's his argument.

December 20, 2024

Trucker of the Year

Meet the finalists for Overdrive's 2024 Trucker of the Year honor

Nearing the conclusion of Overdrive's 2024 Trucker of the Year award program, judges laud 10 Truckers of the Month and name three finalists for the ultimate win, to be announced in the new year.

December 20, 2024

Trucker of the Year finalists, 2024

Mountain ELD, XELD revoked by FMCSA

These are the two latest ELDs to be removed from the list of certified devices by FMCSA. Also: Trucking conditions saw positive turn in October; Clean Freight Coalition joins call for OEMs to abandon CARB partnership.

December 19, 2024

Transparency enforcement could squeeze brokers' margins: Analyst

Do some brokers oppose transparency it because it will hammer their margins? One freight watcher thinks so. Whether the squeeze comes out in favor of carriers or shippers could depend on the market.

December 18, 2024

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Page 12 of 1354

The heavy-haul/oversize trucking niche can be lucrative for owner-operators who know the ins and outs of the business. That doesn't come immediately, nor without significant challenges. Shown here is owner-operator Jason Chamberlain's 1985 Kenworth W900B, powered by a Big Cam Cummins with a 13-speed. He owns two trailers -- a 55-ton, three-axle XL Specialized RGN and a 2017 Benson three-axle, low-pro step deck.

High-dollar freight means high cost consideration: Heavy and oversize hauling

There is a lot of nuance to the heavy-haul/oversize trucking niche. Equipment is more expensive, insurance requirements are higher, permitting and pilot cars add operational costs and much more. Are the rates worth the hassle?

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Harlan Martin and 'Barney,' the purple 2023 Pete 389 with custom air ride, more mods

Florida Crash

DOT calls out 'despicable' state failures on ELP, CDL rules after deadly crash

Pressure And Handling

Proper pressure -- key for tire, driver longevity and owner-ops' bottom lines

Garmin Dash Cams - Powerful & Discreet - Capture every detail with Garmin Clarity HDR optics, premium HD, and wide 140 degree view.

Garmin Dash Cams - Powerful & Discreet - Capture every detail with Garmin Clarity HDR optics, premium HD, and wide 140 degree view.

Rise of the 'non-domiciled CDL' for non-citizen truck drivers: Safety, rates, security

More episodes »

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