Survive a heart attack, fight freight fraud, button up the business: 2022 on Overdrive Radio

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Updated Dec 31, 2022


Another day, another year nearly in the books -- today, our annual Overdrive Radio year-in-review. Thanks for hanging in with us through yet another big year for trucking as an owner-operator, one with absolutely huge challenges, for sure. We’ll hear about a lot of them again in this episode. But hopefully, by the end, there’s something that sparks a new idea, or urges you on to completion of an old goal with new rigor, with new vigor.

2022 was a big one for Overdrive Radio, too. Thanks to longtime contributor and trucker-songwriter Long Haul Paul Marhoefer and the pros at Muscle Shoals Music Marketing we got an updated theme in Marhoefer's "Legend of the Snakeman," for one, an ode to the legendary guitarist who featured on Marhoefer's cut of the track, Travis "The Snakeman" Wammack. 

The podcast also got the nod for Best Podcast from the business journalism folks behind the Jesse H. Neal Awards early in the year. That wouldn’t be possible but for the very fact of you -- the listeners, the stories so many among you entrusted to us to air through the course of the year. 

In today's edition, count down with us to 2023 with 10 episodes that garnered the most ears throughout the year, with an extra five too that got quite close to the top-10 cut -– honorable mentions, as it were. 

Howes logoOverdrive Radio sponsor Howes is offering a prize pack including bottles of anti-gel fuel treatments Diesel Treat and Diesel Lifeline, among other things, to those who leave a voicemail on the podcast message line. Leave your name and address and we'll get it to your doorstep: 615-852-8530.Themes emerge in cost/revenue challenges with fuel-market insanity and ongoing other inflation. We’ll hear about double-brokering and other freight fraud, and how lax enforcement to combat it de facto enables it. We’ll hear a variety of perhaps unpopular opinions about training and hours regulations, and plenty in the way of brass-tacks owner-operator business advice gleaned from long experience, and in-depth analysis, too.

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It was a wild year, as Alex Lockie’s year-in-brief Wednesday this week made plenty clear. Take a listen: 

For all the guests on the podcast, 2022 was perhaps no more both difficult as well as fortunate than it was for 2022 Overdrive Small Fleet Champ contender Bryon Stoll of Surprise Trucking. Stoll suffered a heart attack even as Overdrive was in the midst of putting together a profile of the 10-truck fleet. More than a couple of quick-thinking professionals in the medical field saved his life, a story he told in a September edition of Overdrive Radio.

We're happy to report Stoll’s recovery has gone well, but is still ongoing, he said. He’s feeling hopeful about the prospects for full recovery, ultimately, and continues on with duties at the fleet. My hope’s right there with his. Hear part of his story as well as 14 others revisiting recent history in today's podcast. Full versions of each featured episode, starting with 15 and on up to the most-listened-to podcast of year, follow today's edition at the top of this playlist: 

[Related:  A final 14 -- plus a 3-hour pause -- to count down to 2022: HOS, in-cab cooks, roadside trends in Overdrive Radio]