Overdrive Extra

Arizona I-40 rougher than a corncob? You bet, particularly between Kingman and Flagstaff

Longtime owner-operator Joey Slaughter reached out today about a particular stretch of road he calls "by far the worst I’ve ever seen in my 30-year career" driving trucks. Some relief may be coming, but he hasn't seen it yet.

June 7, 2023

interstate potholes in Arizona

'He should still be here': Remembering Flattop, gone too soon

Long Haul Paul remembers his longtime friend, Flattop. "On behalf of my friend, I'm compelled to plead this case -- if you've come to a point where you hate your life more than you love your family, you have options" to heal, he urges.

June 6, 2023

Ovd truck On Highway Flatbed Fld Freightliner

Sens., Reps push for OIG task force on double brokering, other fraud

A recent letter signed by five U.S. Senators and three House reps urges DOT Inspector General to work with the DOJ and the FMCSA to explore a permanent task force dedicated to issues of fraud in brokered and other freight markets.

June 2, 2023

Hacking Double Brokerage Fraud

House rep takes to the trucking social airwaves amid 'hectic' week in D.C.

Taking calls from operators, Rep. Mike Collins expressed measures of support for a block on FMCSA's pursuit of speed limiters as well as further hours of service flexibilities, yet tied many trucking issues to the litigious nature of society today.

May 26, 2023

video call with mike collins, john grosvenor, shawn mitchell,and tracy

Truck parking reimagined: Bennett's 'Large car campgrounds'

"Fighting that mess at the truck stop" was a principal concern driving the investment in the Large Car Campgrounds initiative, says Bennett Motor Express CEO David Lowry. Now, three dedicated campgrounds for Bennett-leased owners set the stage for more.

May 22, 2023

Mark and Holly O'Donnell's Kenworth t880 big bunk

Deception wreaks havoc ... again!

Insurance agent W. Joel Baker expands on a prior story warning against omission or outright deception in insurance contracts in efforts to rein in premiums. It's always best to be up-front and make timely updates to avoid claims being denied.

May 17, 2023

reefer trailer at dock

Nominate an owner-operator or enter yourself: Two months left to compete for 2023 Trucker of the Year

Get your nominations in before the end of July to compete for top honors and one of 12 monthly semi-finalist nods. Here's a rundown of those who've been featured so far, through April Trucker of the Month Jay Hosty.

May 15, 2023

Guitarist, founding member of iconic rock band with Overdrive ties dies

Tim Bachman, one of the founding members of the iconic Canadian rock band Bachman-Turner Overdrive, passed away April 28. The last part of the band's name came from an encounter with this publication at a Windsor stop, detailed in August 1975.

January 23, 2023

Bachman-Turner Overdrive August 1975 feature in Overdrive

Large Cars & Guitars wraps a $40K haul for breast cancer

Truckers came together this past weekend with friends from all walks of life to raise more than $40,000 for the Susan G. Komen Foundation for breast cancer awareness and research at the Large Cars & Guitars truck show in Kodak, Tennessee.

May 9, 2023

Large Cars and Guitars stage overhead view

OTR work-life balance in a down market: Is there such a thing?

Just how to catch elusive work-life balance over-the-road is the subject of a May 23 session featuring pros who've lived the related issues themselves. Register for the event now for insights on improving quality of life in a tough time.

May 1, 2023

Catching elusive work-life balance

$240K at nearly 9% interest on a new truck: Deal or no deal?

Truck ownership wasn't supposed to be this hard. Or maybe it was? En route to a planned truck replacement, owner-operator Matthew Mickenberg crunched the numbers, thought hard, and made a big re-evaluation of how his one-truck business should look.

April 25, 2023

Matthew Mickenberg and his Kenworth T680

Enter the ring: Overdrive's 2023 Small Fleet Championship kicks off

If you've built a solid foundation for long-term success through ups and downs of trucking business cycles, you're a worthy contender. Put your fleet (3-30 trucks) in the running for a chance to claim the title belt in one of two divisions.

April 24, 2023

John McGee Small Fleet Champ sign outside of company headquarters

More ways to vet brokers to combat fraud, double brokering

Double brokering and other fraud in spot freight transactions is dragging down rates through misrepresentation/skimming, and in some cases outright theft. At MATS, yet another tool in the arsenal emerged.

April 18, 2023

semi truck in parking lot

With six more highway workers dead last month in Maryland, double down on the fight against safety complacency

In the wake of six March deaths after a car plowed through a construction zone, Clifford Petersen kicks off work-zone-safety week with this safety-complacency message: "If we’re honest with ourselves, we’re all guilty of it." A few ways to fight it, here.

April 17, 2023

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Hey brokers, Holland Logistics is in fact an authorized trucking company

That's despite assertions to the contrary in the data-mining system of a third-party provider of authority lookup services, small fleet owner Thomas Holland said. With added difficulties as a result, the owner feels like he's facing the end of his biz.

April 12, 2023

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'Bandit' 2021 W900L: New floor, more mods add to the trophy case

Oakley Trucking-leased owner-operator John McCormick's 2021 Kenworth W900L, Bandit, took home second for its cab interior in the working truck class at MATS. Here, views on a project come to pass there with a new floor, more.

April 11, 2023

'Bandit' shown on floor between the cab's seats

Beware the insurance-requirement fine print in truck-lease agreements

There's a common condition within truck lease agreements that can present a serious obstacle. Read that fine print closely or you could be losing money.

April 10, 2023

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One Wyoming funeral home, seven drivers: Dispatch from a Truckers Final Mile benefit at MATS

Long Haul Paul details the MATS benefit for the organization that's filled a void left in the wake of deregulation -- Truckers Final Mile and its founder, Robert Palm, recovering from surgery as he continued to assist families bring loved ones home.

April 7, 2023

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Bryon Stoll's Freightliner Cascadia

In a tough spot market, strong relationships with those who feed you will pay off

Fewer loads available, too many truckers competing for those loads. Such has been the case in recent times. As the market hits bottom, relationships with brokers or direct shippers is more important than ever.

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'Just a workhorse': Father-son duo's 2007 Peterbilt 379

$7230 tow invoice

Towing horror stories: $7,000 for a cross-town haul

Youtube

Another reason to fight traffic tickets: Convictions can now impact your safety ratings

Cummins new for 2023.

Cummins new for 2023.

Another reason to fight traffic tickets: Convictions can now impact your safety ratings

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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 2022 edition of Partners in Business.

Partners in Business Issue Cover