Partners in Business

The leading business training program for owner-operators.

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Welcome
You won’t find a more in-depth source of information for running an owner-operator business than our annually updated manual. It’s produced by Overdrive and owner-operator business services provider ATBS.
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 Partners in Business book, updated annually.
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Featured
Atbs
ATBS' owner-operator performance update: Inside the numbers, full presentation
A measure of cost/income stability showed in ATBS' update, but what about rates? ATBS VP Mike Hosted's full presentation offers plenty insights, likewise on maintenance spend, fuel costs and efficiency, and much more. Track through it all here.
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When customer facilities get too risky for business
You are the "'captain of that 18-wheeled ship,' and it's your responsibility, ultimately, to make decisions that keep you and others safe." --Gary Buchs on risk-management lessons learned in collaboration with shipper/receiver customers to improve.
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When will freight markets turn to the positive for truckers?
Among questions flagged for panelists by attendees of Overdrive's recent online roundtable was just whether, and when, the long freight-rates slide of the last two years might turn the corner. Part 2 of that roundtable offers some guesses here.
Latest Stories
Overdrive Radio
Trucking in the freight trough: The 'sweetness of low price' v. the 'sour of bad service'
For shipper/broker customers, the sweet is quite tempting to take but the sour lasts a whole lot longer. In this Overdrive Radio edition, find several ideas for building defenses against both for the bottom of the freight-rates trough.
September 23, 2024
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Partners in Business
Owner-ops see mixed income gains with costs down, but wait for 'kickstart' on rates
Taking its midyear look at the last 12-month period, ATBS showed owner-operator income on average has been flat, though independents and leased flatbeds/reefers all posted modest gains.
September 20, 2024
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Overdrive Extra
Will you vote? Resources on registration, early voting, absentee ballots, more
"I’m here to tell you your single vote matters. Just a bit more than half of eligible voters typically cast votes. Low turnout ... fundamentally means individual votes carry significant weight." --Overdrive contributor Gary Buchs
September 18, 2024
Vote Gov
Finish Line
Qualified retirement plans: Know your options to maximize returns
With qualified retirement accounts, you don’t pay a penny in taxes on the earnings from investments until you withdraw money. Taxes are thus delayed to when you're in a lower tax bracket (ideally). Many variations exist, however. Know your options.
September 11, 2024
Counting Money
Business
Catch the replay: How to build business for trucking's down cycles
Register to view the August 22 online event, featuring insights on building owner-operator and small fleet business to weather the worst of trucking's business cycles.
September 4, 2024
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Trucker of the Year
Trucker of the Month Alan Kitzhaber: 4 million miles, ever greater efficiency for his '95 T600
With all those safe miles in the rear view in just a single truck, the owner joins a pretty exclusive club. How'd he do it? This week's Overdrive Radio talk reveals a keen focus on preventive maintenance, and increasing efficiency.
July 15, 2024
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Business
First load free? Owner-ops share slick salesmanship tricks
Salesmanship is a necessity in building business to weather down markets -- owner-operators get creative, in ways large and small, a central theme emerging from a Thursday, August 22, panel hosted by Overdrive.
August 23, 2024
Curve Ahead Truck Danger
Business
Roads through the dark clouds of a very tough market: Limitations, possibilities
Owner-operators who know how to succeed in a tough market share the secrets to staying profitable when rates are down -- maximizing efficiency, picking your spots, and no-cost management hacks.
August 23, 2024
Truck In Storm
Channel 19
'Stop dealing with brokers who treat you like garbage'
The Broker Carrier Summit, a relatively new semi-annual conference aimed at facilitating hard conversations between and real progress for truckers and freight middlemen, is set for October 23-25. Hear from BCS President Dan Lindsey here.
August 21, 2024
Broker Carrier Summit
Overdrive Radio
Owner-ops react to market challenges: Lightning round from Waupun
From what could be the final Waupun Truck-N-Show, held last weekend in Wisconsin, five owners detailed their pivots, or lack thereof, in response to the long-ongoing market slump, for this edition of Overdrive Radio.
August 19, 2024
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Overdrive Extra
Survival strategies for this down market -- and the next one: Live Aug. 22
Join us next week to participate in a roundtable with three pros all at different points on their journey through the trucking world, detailing lessons learned from and moves made in response to the cost/revenue squeeze.
August 14, 2024
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Overdrive Extra
UPDATE: Would-be FMCSA registration hackers claim to fight fraud with latest phishing expedition
FMCSA's latest impersonators in the "hacker community" are sending a fake information request claiming to be protecting carriers against fraud. And: How's this for a hotshot? Small fleet owner Rudy Yakym Jr.'s maiden semi-retired voyage in '22 Ram 5500.
July 25, 2024
Fake USDOT letterhead/email head
Overdrive Extra
After engine failure, owner-op John Fuller's lucky lease on his business' life
Fuller's been on a long haul now through trucking, back to "feeling like a rookie again" in a 2025 Freightliner he's lucky to have, as Overdrive Extra contributor Gary Buchs notes. Here, Fuller's outlook for business after a fairytale series of events.
August 6, 2024
Frank Lonegro, John and Jo Fuller, Randy Morgan with giveaway 2025 Cascadia
Equipment and Maintenance
How to improve your credit rating for better truck-loan interest, and so much more
Clean credit is important for owner-operators in many areas, including lending terms on equipment and sometimes even getting freight. Here, find out why, along with tips on improving your credit score.
July 31, 2024
credit report
Business
How to build business for trucking's down cycles: Live next month
Tackle today's central problem with us in this live online event. Learn how to prep for and profit in times of rising costs and declining revenues by routinely doing the small things, and being smart enough to spot the big ones, necessary to run strong.
July 23, 2024
Overdrive webinar collage
Regulations
Four-wheeler runs a red light, smashing into trucker. Preventable or not?
Trucker John Doe is in downtown Indianapolis one sunny morning, sitting at a red light. When Doe gets the green to go, he moves forward and, partway through the intersection, hears a sudden BANG! and feels his rig shift toward the rear. ...
July 19, 2024
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Business Management
Time management can make or break an owner-operator's business
Maximizing your time and increasing the efficiency of your business are keys to success as an owner-operator. Know your split-sleeper options in the hours of service, and don't be afraid to deadhead if it makes sense. Fixed costs never stop.
July 10, 2024
Truck on highway
Business Management
Controlling fuel costs key to any owner-operator's survival
Reducing your speed, limiting idle time and using technology to your advantage are among myriad ways to help improve the bottom line by increasing fuel efficiency.
July 3, 2024
trucks at fuel island
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