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

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

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

Owner-Operator of the Year

Finalists compete for big cash prizes in annual owner-operator contest

The finalists for the 2020 Owner-Operator of the Year award compete for a $25,000 cash prize. Learn more about the award here on Overdrive.

November 23, 2020

Owner-Operator of the Year

Owner-Operator of the Year contest nominations open through Aug. 31

The 2020 Owner-Operator of the Year will win $25,000. Eligibility includes fleet operators who own no more than five power units and drive one of them full-time.

August 25, 2020

Owner-Operator of the Year

Enter now to win $25,000 in Overdrive’s annual Owner-Operator of the Year contest

TCA's Driver of the Year Contest is accepting applications through Aug. 31, 2020. Two truck drivers will be selected to win $25,000 each. Details here.

August 3, 2020

Owner-Operator of the Year

Safety on deck: Heavy-hauler and Owner-Operator of the Year Kevin Kocmich

Owner-Operator of the Year Kevin Kocmich, who has driven over 3.7 million safe miles, shares his trucking experiences. Details on Overdrive.

April 1, 2020

Owner-Operator of the Year

Diamond’s Kevin Kocmich named top owner-operator, wins $25k

The Truckload Carriers Association named Kevin Kocmich the 2019 Owner-Operator of the Year along with a $25,000 prize. Details here on Overdrive.

March 4, 2020

Owner-Operator of the Year

Temporary team plan turns long-term for Owner-Operator of the Year finalists

With six million safe miles under their belts, Robert and Tracy Roth have been team truck drivers for the past 26 years. More details here on Overdrive.

January 24, 2020

Robert and Tracy Roth are leased to Erb International.

Owner-Operator of the Year

Four-time Owner-Operator of the Year finalist not complacent with success

For the fourth year in a row, Kevin Kocmich is a finalist for the Owner-Operator of the Year award. Learn more about Kocmich and his career here on Overdrive.

January 22, 2020

Kevin Kocmich is leased to Diamond Transportation System.

Owner-Operator of the Year

No regrets for leaving the office behind for Owner-Operator of the Year finalist

Jesse Dennis got into trucking to have a career to support his family and to make his father proud. In his 20-plus years of driving, he’s achieved both goals.

January 20, 2020

Owner-Operator of the Year

Owner-operators competing for $25,000 in TCA-Overdrive contest

Jesse Dennis, Kevin Kocmich and team drivers Robert and Tracy Roth are finalists for the 2019 Owner-Operator of the Year award. The winner, who will receive $25,000, will be announced March 3 at TCA’s annual meeting in Kissimmee, Florida.

January 8, 2020

Owner-Operator of the Year

Owner-Operator of the Year nominations due Friday

One owner-operator winner and a company driver winner will be named, with each receiving $25,000. Each of four runners-up will be awarded $2,500. Nominations for both contests are being accepted through Nov. 15.

November 13, 2019

Owner-Operator of the Year

Owner-Operator of the Year winner offers advice; 2020 award nominations open

Nominations for this year’s edition of the Owner-Operator of the Year contest are now being accepted by TCA. The top three finalists will be announced in January, and the grand prize winner will be announced during TCA’s 2020 Annual Convention, March 1-3, 2020, in Kissimmee, Florida.

August 26, 2019

Drivers and other personnel at Warren Transport have come to rely on Danny Jewell for the expertise he’s gained over five decades.

Owner-Operator of the Year

Farm work led to Owner-Operator of the Year finalist’s highway career

Robert Roth of Ontario, Canada says he grew up driving anything that he possibly could. Read all about him as a finalist for Owner-Operator of the Year.

February 21, 2019

Owner-Operator of the Year

Oversize hauls set safety standard for Owner-Operator of the Year finalist

Kevin Kocmich believes hauling oversize and overweight equipment works to his advantage as he maintains a spotless truck driving safety record. Details here.

February 20, 2019

Owner-Operator of the Year

Owner-operator of the Year finalist Danny Jewell still rolling after a half-century

Danny Jewell, 73, has been behind the wheel of a truck since 1968. Perhaps even more impressive than those 50-plus years of driving is that they’ve all been with the same company.

February 19, 2019

Owner-Operator of the Year

Owner-operators compete for $25,000 prize

Danny Jewell, Kevin Kocmich and Robert Roth have been named finalists for the Owner-Operator of the Year contest.

January 15, 2019

Page 1 of 3

Analysts optimistic on trucking after chaotic year

2020’s strong second half and prospects for continued high freight demand bode well into 2022, FTR says. However, several factors will affect the timing and intensity of further recovery.

“Wreck on the Mountain Road” is about the death of a trucker on Bent Mountain, just southwest of Roanoke, Virginia.

Fatal wreck remembered in first recorded trucking song

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.”

Trucking’s bit part in the 'COVID long-haulers’ name

Small-fleet owner Jesse McGinness was going for originality with the look of this 2021 Peterbilt 389, spec'ing the black Alcoa rims from the factory. After his maiden voyage in a Class 8 tractor years ago, in a Peterbilt 379, he fell in love with the classic square-hood series. He plans to modify the stacks, the grille and more to all-black finish -- committing sacrilege, says the operator who took him on that first 379 run. McGinness'll maintain plenty in chrome/stainless accents, not to worry. The flattop with lift-axle is powered by the X15 Cummins at 605 hp, with an 18-speed transmission. 'I wanted this truck to be a truck that I thought was cool,' McGinness said, in addition to doing the tough over-dimensional/heavy hauling he'll require of it.

'WTF' stresses service for long-term success

The glider market grew from a few hundred sales a year in 2010 to upwards of 10,000 as recently as 2017. Gliders sported pre-emissions-regs engines -- no exhaust gas recirculation or selective catalytic reduction components and, thus, no need for DEF. With simpler technology and refurbished engines, the products were much cheaper than new trucks with new engines, making them attractive buys for small-business truckers.

Glider kit market hits fatal nosedive with latest emissions regs

Beware: Human smugglers luring truckers along the border

More episodes »

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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