Business: Page 366

Toyota to test hydrogen-powered big rig at LA ports this summer

It’s powered by two Mirai fuel cell stacks and a 12kWh battery, giving the drayage truck more than 200 miles per fill under normal operation, the company says. The rig, based on a Kenworth T660, can haul loads up to 80,000 pounds, Toyota says.

April 21, 2017

Toyota_Project_Portal_Concept_09_23A48BE4EFD3A3C65FC1B292404402D094F032EF_low-2017-04-21-09-16

TA to open first Bob Evans restaurant at Ohio location

The restaurant, which seats 116 customers, will be the chain’s first to open at a TA. There will be a full menu, along with a bakery case with pre-packaged food to go.

April 21, 2017

TA-Petro_logo-540×229

Electronic Logging Devices

ELDs: How much does compliance with mandate cost?

While the $1,000-plus onboard systems with expensive ongoing costs in maintenance and subscriptions haven’t gone away entirely, many inexpensive options exist, even among dedicated units.

April 20, 2017

Driver shortage alarm, redux part 2: Bills in Ohio would subsidize ‘cheap labor’

Ohio bills would funnel taxpayer money to driver-training efforts and “put the Ohio taxpayers on the hook for subsidizing cheap labor,” notes small fleet owner Monte Wiederhold. Also, video, audio: Crank it up with Scott Reed’s tuned 750-hp Cat in the Wheeling tunnel on I-70.

April 20, 2017

light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel-2017-04-20-14-58

Trucker Talent Search

Less than two weeks to enter Overdrive singing contest

The Trucker Talent Search is back for its fourth year and is looking for truckers who love to sing.

April 20, 2017

Jason Lee Wilson crop

Volvo introduces new tractor aimed at regional market

Volvo Trucks on Thursday in Montreal rolled out the company’s first new production model tractor since the VN Series debuted 15 years ago. The VNR will be available in three models: daycab, 42-inch flat roof sleeper and 61-inch mid-roof sleeper.

April 20, 2017

Img 4434 2017 04 19 21 47 825x619 2017 04 20 11 12

International launches new regional tractor

International Trucks debuted Thursday a new tractor aimed at the regional haul market. The RH Series, which made its debut at ExpoCam in Montreal, will be the first to get International’s new 12.4 liter A26 engine as standard.

April 20, 2017

Rh Beverage 2017 04 20 06 32 825x550 2017 04 20 10 50

Bill would expand California lemon law to cover commercial trucks

SB 713 would modify the current California lemon law to newly apply to trucks heavier than 10,000 lbs. and under the operation of a business, without size exclusions, up to 18 months from the date of delivery or 100,000 miles of operation, whichever comes first.

April 20, 2017

Dry van, reefer improved last week in many markets

It’s typical for spot volumes to drop in the week before Easter, since that week tends to wrap up early on Good Friday. Good news is that the drop-off was slight compared to previous years.

April 19, 2017

The slight national average-rate drop in van had more to do with the mix of freight. Long-haul freight (generally lower per-mile averages) was up, while shorter runs (generally higher) were down.

CargoNet: First quarter cargo thefts totaled $28.7M in losses

Of the 192 cargo thefts recorded in the quarter, 51 of them were in California, leading all states. Behind California was Ontario, Canada, displacing Texas from the No. 2 spot it normally holds.

April 19, 2017

CargoNet reports that California had the most reported cargo thefts in 2017’s first quarter, followed by Ontario, Canada.

Analyst: Swift-Knight merger will have little effect on driver force, operations

The merger of two of the continent’s largest and most prominent trucking companies, Swift Transportation and Knight Transportation, won’t impact the jobs of the nearly 30,000 combined drivers employed by the two companies, a transportation financial analyst told Overdrive last week.

April 19, 2017

The merger between the two companies should close between July and September, Delco says.

Electronic Logging Devices

Texas to require intrastate drivers to use ELDs by 2019, other states to follow

Texas has updated its hours of service code to require intrastate truckers to use electronic logging devices to record duty status. Truck operators in the state must begin using the devices by Dec. 19, 2019. Though Texas appears to be the first state to issue an ELD requirement for intrastate truckers, other states will likely soon follow.

April 19, 2017

Overdrive Extra

How to boost your income, and 6 other tips from a true pro

Landstar System’s Gary Buchs isn’t just an owner-operator, he’s one of the best. Among a variety of aspects of his business plan, he’s worked out a meticulous system that dictates which loads he chooses, based on his annual and less-frequent goals for earnings and downtime.

April 19, 2017

gary buchs-2017-04-19-13-59

Here’s a little story about a nail tech named Wendy

As in nails, as in trucking: “Don’t cave. Don’t cave on the prices, or the quality of service, because doing so only cuts your own throat in the end.”

April 19, 2017

Don’t get nailed into taking cheap freight.

Bay & Bay Transportation raises owner-operator pay

In addition to increased mileage pay, the fleet offers paid fuel surcharges on loaded miles, 100 percent reimbursement on authorized tolls, in-cab scanners, quarterly safety bonuses and discounts on fuel. Accessorial pay includes detention, layover and extra stop pay.

April 19, 2017

Bay & Bay Transportation has increased mileage pay for owner-operators.

OOIDA video knocks speed limiters

As part of its recently launched “Knock Out Bad Regs” campaign, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association has created an animated video depicting the dangers of speed limiters on trucks, which can be seen here.

April 19, 2017

screencap-2017-04-19-15-27

With support of trucking orgs, Congress again floats reforms to transportation workers ID program

Trucking organizations are pleased Congress is considering a measure to let truckers with Transportation Worker’s Identification Credentials receive hazardous materials endorsements without additional background checks.

April 18, 2017

Brad Kuhn presents ‘Another 4 minute ride with a truck driver’

Following his first-such compilation, reader Brad Kuhn offered this “compilation of videos from my dashcam focusing on aggressive driving by passenger vehicles around big trucks.”

April 18, 2017

brad-kuhn-dash-view-2017-04-18-08-08

Page 366 of 1364

Tuesday at the Love's at I-65 on Trinity Lane in Nashville, the cash diesel price had already moved to $4.18/gal., credit another 6 cents higher. Down the street at a small service station you'd play hell getting a tractor-trailer into or out of, pricing remained in the $3.70/gal. range.

'Fill up your tank as soon as possible': Diesel could hit $4.50/gal. after Iran strikes

Diesel prices could hit $4.50 in short order after the U.S. and Israel initiated a massive air campaign over Iran. Experts warn truckers to fill up right now as geopolitical risks threaten global diesel production.

Ovd Radio Thumbnail (you Tube) 3 2

'We have to clean this mess up': FMCSA chief emphatic on CDLs, ELD and school vetting, 'chameleons', more

Screenshot 2026 02 27 100233

Lawsuit seeks to halt FMCSA's non-domiciled CDL final rule

Maxresdefault

'55 needlenose Pete rebuilt with classic aviation style

Mosermackey Transport independent Adam Mackey runs his Oklahoma-headquartered one-truck business with disciplined authority and the 2007 Cat-powered Freightliner Columbia pictured. The owner-operator earns a semi-finalist slot for Overdrive's 2026 Trucker of the Year award.

When the mentored becomes the master: Trucker of the Month Adam Mackey

'We have to clean this mess up': FMCSA chief emphatic on CDLs, ELD and school vetting, 'chameleons', more

More episodes »