Overdrive Radio

Trucking History
First hit trucker song in history channeled road woes
Louisianan Ted Daffan visited honky-tonks frequented by truck drivers to help write his 1939 hit "Truck Driver's Blues." Find more about what's believed to be the first national hit of a trucking song in this Songs of the Highway special-edition podcast.
March 1, 2021
This picture of a truck loading or unloading was done by an unidentified American artist around 1935-1939, the same period as when “Truck Driver’s Blues” became a hit. The lithograph is part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Overdrive Radio
The long tail of the CB's social utility
Owner-operator Mike Crawford in this Overdrive Radio edition expands on some of the themes showcased earlier this week in our special-edition podcast in part about the ongoing safety utility, and the decreased cultural importance, of the CB in trucking.
February 26, 2021
'Mustang' Mike Crawford, circa 2014, at the Nashville TravelCenters of America location
Overdrive Radio
Use the CB -- it works
For Overdrive's 60th-anniversary series, a look back at the emphasis readers have placed on the citizen's band radio as a primary safety tool in dangerous driving conditions, right up to the present moment, and highway culture through history.
February 22, 2021
Cb Mic In Truck Red Dash
Overdrive Radio
Listen: Fairness in DataQs appeals in Minnesota
State patrol Captain Jon Olsen on the appeals-panel model, tips and suggestions for carriers and more. And: Just how disruptive has the Texas weather been this week? An answer from a Laredo-based small fleet coming out of the dark.
February 19, 2021
Jon Olsen Dataqs Inspections
Overdrive Radio
COVID hours exemption not valid 'just because you're hauling food'
On Overdrive Radio, food for thought via the words of Captain Jon Olsen of the Minnesota State Patrol about qualifying for the COVID hours exemption, and: Episode 5 of the OTR podcast, about family-life sacrifices drivers -- and those back home -- endure.
February 12, 2021
Bol Covid Emergency 2
Overdrive Radio
Best nanner pudding on I-75 -- and this 1980 KW, restored
Each of the independent truck stops profiled in this funny, moving southbound podcast caper claim to be the first to have advertised the special on the CB decades ago. Also: A new build in this custom-restored rig with Dustbusters in Wyoming.
February 5, 2021
From left: Dustbusters owner Craig Prete, mechanics Austin Oliver and Kipp Knight, shop foreman Cole Potter, and owner-operator/mechanic Martin Herman. Pictured with a recently finished custom-restore of Prete's 1980 Kenworth W900A daycab, outfitted with a rollback body.
Overdrive Radio
Even with fuel up and rates down, one owner-op's growth determination
Listen: Florida-based Kenyette Godhigh-Bell's journey to -- and future plans for -- her motor carrier authority, and a somewhat familiar dynamic in the marketplace for freight this winter.
January 29, 2021
Kenyette Godhigh Bell 2017 Freightliner Cascadia
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.
January 22, 2021
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
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 Radio
Beware: Human smugglers luring truckers along the border
In this week's Overdrive Radio podcast, Chief Matthew Hudak of the Laredo section of the U.S. Border Patrol emphasizes how professional drivers can help combat a sharp uptick in human smuggling/trafficking via tractor-trailers.
January 15, 2021
X-ray imaging caught this reefer filled with 150 people bound for the U.S. interior from the border zone near Laredo as the new year turned just a couple weeks ago. It's part of an uptick of such busts U.S. Border Patrol is asking the trucking community for information about. Find contact information for the Laredo sector office of the border patrol via this link.
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.
Overdrive Radio
Brass tacks, bad brokers, big loads to count down the hours with a long run into 2021
Business brass tacks, bad brokers, big loads -- and plenty more in this year-in-review in audio. Join us to listen in with Overdrive Radio to ring in 2021.
December 31, 2020
Rico-Muhammad-Artie-Daniel-2020-12-31-14-46
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.
Overdrive Radio
Log annotations to avoid hours of service violations — and more from FMCSA Q&A
Listen to Overdrive Radio to learn more about log annotations to avoid hours of service violations and other topics covered by the FMCSA's recent G&A here.
December 18, 2020
logbook-inspection-split-sleeper-2020-12-18-11-54
Overdrive Radio
OTR soundtrack custom-built for 2020: Paul Marhoefer’s ‘Songs from a truck’
The trucker-songwriter's record explores the emotion of personal history, striking a chord with anyone managing the risks of the road with a family back home.
December 11, 2020
Songs-from-a-truck-long-haul-paul-2020-12-11-12-41
Overdrive Radio
Time to account for independent dispatch services in regulation?
TIA wants limits on independent dispatchers to work for just one carrier, and if more, registration as a broker. Here, owner-ops weigh in via Overdrive Radio.
December 4, 2020
Owner-operator Bent’s 2015 Peterbilt
Overdrive Radio
Music, tales for the big road: Trucker-songwriters John Malayter and Long Haul Paul, and bluegrass pro Tina Adair
Listen to interviews with trucker-songwriter John Malayter and bluegrass pro Tina Adair, as well as a pandemic tale from Long Haul Paul on Overdrive Radio.
November 27, 2020
Tina-Adair-paul-marhoefer-john-malayter-2020-11-25-11-51
Overdrive Radio
What can owner-operators expect from a Biden administration?
This week's edition of Overdrive Radio features OOIDA's president helping forecast what a Biden administration may mean for independent truckers. Listen here.
November 20, 2020
Van-sunrise-construction-site-2020-11-20-11-11
Page 1 of 20
Next Page
Top Stories
Canadian Eld Mandate 2
Regulations
Canada pumps the brakes on ELD deadline
Canada's Transport Minister Omar Alghabra today announced an intent to work with industry and others on details of a "progressive enforcement period" to begin with "education and awareness" exclusively, amid ongoing device registry delays.
Read more about DPF ash cleaning via this link to a round-up of past maintenance-related coverage in Overdrive. Emissions-system-related stories are under the 'Trailers and other topics' header.
Overdrive Extra
Dealing with diesel aftertreatment demons
The DataQs system enables carriers and drivers to challenge inspection violations and crash reports, but many in trucking have complained of its shortcomings.
Regulations
DataQs improvement trial nears, but lingering problems bother industry
This picture of a truck loading or unloading was done by an unidentified American artist around 1935-1939, the same period as when “Truck Driver’s Blues” became a hit. The lithograph is part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
Trucking History
First hit trucker song in history channeled road woes
Latest Gear Guide loaded with helpful trucking tips for the year ahead
Sponsor Content
Latest Gear Guide loaded with helpful trucking tips for the year ahead
Overdrive Radio
Latest Episode
The long tail of the CB's social utility
More episodes »
Apple PodcastsSpotifyStitcherSoundcloud
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.
Download
Partners in Business Issue Cover