Life

Life
Trucker honored for helping at scene of serious head-on collision
An Indiana-based trucker was recognized for helping pull two children from crash wreckage. Also: Soon-coming Indiana moratorium on new overdimensional permits with new system; I-11 lane closures over Hoover Dam bridge; New fuel stop/diner in Arizona.
January 22, 2021
Ken Lukomski
Life
POLL: What's your health insurance situation?
Given growth in new, often lower-cost health-insurance options with health-sharing-ministry/Aliera-type structures, continued Affordable Care Act/traditional options, and an explosion in telehealth, what describes your current insurance situation?
January 21, 2021
Insurance Umbrella
Overdrive Extra
Truckers struggle with their lingering COVID symptoms
The health issues these truckers continue to experience are common for COVID patients, such as dry cough, fatigue and headaches.
January 21, 2021
Jimmy Valdez Horiz
Regulations
Report: Hack of DOT's medical examiner registry has limited oversight, created potential for fraud
An audit of FMCSA's National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners found that the agency has not met oversight requirements, partly due to a seven-month outage of the database.
January 19, 2021
Ncrme Map
Overdrive Radio
Fatal wreck remembered in first recorded trucking song
No. 1 in Overdrive Radio's new 'Songs of the Highway' podcast series looks at a 1928 song believed to be the first recorded trucking tune.
January 18, 2021
“Wreck on the Mountain Road” is about the death of a trucker on Bent Mountain, just southwest of Roanoke, Virginia.
Overdrive Extra
Trucking’s bit part in the 'COVID long-haulers’ name
A teacher's trucker cap provides inspiration for her to borrow trucking's "long-hauler" designation for COVID-19 survivors who discover they're facing an indefinite period of further suffering.
January 14, 2021
The trucker cap in teacher Amy Watson’s selfie from the day she was tested for COVID-19 later inspired her choice of “long-haulers” to describe COVID survivors with persistent symptoms. “My school’s mascot is a squirrel,” she said, which she finds appropriate, given that her pre-school students, with their short bursts of activity, are “very squirrel-like.”
Regulations
New study using 'STOP-Bang' protocol finds half of truck drivers could need sleep apnea evaluation
A 2020 study reveals that by applying the 'STOP-Bang' screening method to truck drivers, nearly 47% are screened for apnea evaluation.
January 13, 2021
Sleep Apnea Trucker
Life
Driver receives Highway Angel wings for helping after rollover crash
An ABF Freight driver was recognized for stopping to help a motorist who was involved in a rollover crash. And other news: ATBS has launched a new tax-resolution video series; a new fitness contest for drivers is ongoing through February.
January 12, 2021
New tax-resolution tips video series | The owner-operator-focused tax preparers and business consultants at ATBS are launching a new video series aimed at helping you take control of your taxes to 'put the IRS in your rearview mirror,' according to the company. The series will come in six installments: About 1) obtaining IRS compliance, 2) negotiating with the IRS, 3) maintaining IRS compliance, 4) defining the so-called 'Offer in Compromise', 5) answering semi-regular questions about back taxes and 6) providing a Q&A forum for outstanding questions. Interested owner-ops can sign up to take part in the series, with new videos released weekly, via that link. Visit this page on Youtube for an introduction to the series.
Trucker Talent Search
'Sunshine,' by Trucker Talent Search winner John Malayter
Part of the prize associated with the competition was Malayter's recording session at producer/engineer Jay Vernali's Jay's Place studio in Nashville -- find scenes from that in this video for the Jordan Carriers driver's original "Sunshine" track.
January 8, 2021
Maxresdefault 5ff89dfe55f1e
Overdrive Radio
Trucking with authority and other reasons ‘Why we drive’ — OTR rewind No. 2
In this Overdrive Radio podcast, an update on the last couple of years' push toward one featured trucker's new authority as an owner-operator, and much more.
January 7, 2021
Meet Kenyette Godhigh-Bell, shown here behind the wheel of her 2017 Freightliner Cascadia — you heard that right — Godhigh-Bell is a company driver no more.
Channel 19
A tragic postscript to a tough year: Remembering Liam Salmon
Owner-operator Howard Salmon's son passed on December 31 after battling DIPG, a rare pediatric brain tumor.
January 4, 2021
Young Liam Salmon passed at five years old after a battle with DIPG on December 31, 2020.
Owner-Operator of the Year
Attention to heavy-haul detail helped in Owner-Operator of the Year finalist’s successful 45-year career
Owner-operator Doug Schildgen has been trucking since 1975 and has tallied more than 4.5 million safe driving miles. Learn more about him here on Overdrive.
December 31, 2020
(from left) Finalists Glen Horack, Douglas Schildgen and Bryan Smith
Owner-Operator of the Year
Safe driving, perfect on-time record drive three-time Owner-Operator of the Year finalist
Owner-operator Glen Horack has been trucking since 1984 and focuses on staying safe and keeping a perfect on-time record. Find out how he does it here.
December 30, 2020
Glen Horack
Owner-Operator of the Year
Following distance management, work-life balance key to safety, success of five-time Owner-Operator of the Year finalist
Bryan Smith attributes much of his owner-operator success to partnering with a good company and keeping up with his equipment. Learn more about him here.
December 29, 2020
Bryan Smith
Custom Rigs
See the truck and meet the drivers that hauled the 2020 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree
Take a look back at the truck drivers who hauled the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree and view some of its stops in Colorado on Overdrive today.
December 23, 2020
capitol-christmast-tree-Ouray-2020-12-17-10-13
Overdrive Radio
Back to the ‘Biggest Tailgate in Trucking’ — and Germann Soeth’s 1976 KW K100
The coproduction of Overdrive and Radiotopia brought the reality of working haulers to all audiences. Plus: Germann Soeth's restored 1976 Kenworth K100.
December 23, 2020
Also in the podcast: A taste of an interview I did with owner-operator Germann Soeth out of Frederick, Maryland, with mostly dump work and principally in a 1998 Kenworth W900 that was featured in past at OverdriveOnline.com When we caught back up with owner-operator Soeth in October, though, he was showing a 1976 vintage Kenworth cabover. He was, interestingly enough, getting ready to put it into service hauling loads after a long retirement, given a significant breakdown with his 1990s conventional. Find out how he took the rig from scrap yard to working order over the course of a few years here.
Channel 19
More Christmas-themed trucking music in these curated playlists
Seven years ago around this time of the year, Overdrive asked readers to name the “best Christmas song of all time.” From a big list, readers then voted on a final list — these songs represent the results. Bonus this year: An extra selection of Christmas-themed trucking tunes. Enjoy the holiday, whether on the road or home … .
December 22, 2020
Capitol Christmas Tree lighting1 (2)
Voices
POLL: Do you plan to get vaccinated against COVID-19 when available to professional truckers?
How would you rate the likelihood you’ll be in line for the Pfizer/Moderna vaccines approved for emergency use against COVID-19 when they become available to drivers? Weigh in via this poll.
December 22, 2020
Wild myths around coronavirus prevention and treatment are making the rounds on social media. Don’t fall prey to those or some of the COVID-19 scams popping up.
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The 1978 Peterbilt 352 was a model who in earlier years had been driven by Bowerman's father, who passed several years earlier. This one, purchased from a prior owner in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, has origins in Illinois, Bowerman said, and is powered by a Cat 3406A run through a 15-speed transmission, 190-inch wheelbase.
Overdrive Radio
Regulated rates, wildcatting, deregulation: A brief history of U.S. trucking
A special tour through the rise of the owner-operator in exempt agricultural markets from the 1930s, to wildcatting later, deregulation later still -- and this cabover monument to one owner's heritage.
Jimmy Valdez Horiz
Overdrive Extra
Truckers struggle with their lingering COVID symptoms
Owner-operator Zach Beadle -- find more pictures from the photo shoot at the Thigpen Ranch from 2016 at this link.
Channel 19
Highway hack: High value in a 'parts truck'
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Business
Analysts optimistic on trucking after chaotic year
“Wreck on the Mountain Road” is about the death of a trucker on Bent Mountain, just southwest of Roanoke, Virginia.
Overdrive Radio
Fatal wreck remembered in first recorded trucking song
Overdrive Radio
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Regulated rates, wildcatting, deregulation: A brief history of U.S. trucking
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The Business Manual for Owner-Operators
Overdrive editors and ATBS present the industry’s best manual for prospective and committed owner-operators. You’ll find exceptional depth on many issues in the 2021 edition of Partners in Business.
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Partners in Business Issue Cover