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Latest Stories: Page 24
Overdrive Extra
More you can do if you do not support protest calls
The truckers’ shutdown/strike/protest is moving forward and gaining lots of media attention. The Letstruck team has spent the last three days writing, calling and e-mailing every news organization we can find contact info for. I have written a list of reasons why I do not support this group, and we have sent dozens of hard […]
October 10, 2013
Overdrive Extra
Use your head: Don’t shut down Oct. 11-13
“Let’s make sure that the public knows there are members of the trucking industry that are informed and are a part of the political process and are not anarchist thugs.”
October 7, 2013
Overdrive Extra
Shooting for 10 mpg and beyond
Detailing the next Kevin Rutherford Signature trucks and trailers utilizing pre-emissions Fitzgerald Glider Kits engine technology among many more features toward max fuel economy.
September 2, 2013
The next Signature truck will start with a Kenworth T660 glider kit, similar to this 2013 model. The goal is to achieve more than 9 mpg when pulling any standard trailer.
Overdrive Extra
The bypass filter advantage
Part 2 in Kevin Rutherford’s series on oil-change strategy. While oil analysis gives you the information to handle drain intervals more sensibly, bypass filtration adds another dimension to save money and downtime.
August 26, 2013
The Eco-Pur from Oil Purification Systems is an example of a bypass product that filters both solid and liquid contaminants.
Overdrive Extra
Change thinking, not oil
Using oil analysis can save you money in new oil, oil disposal and overall maintenance — and can alert you to emerging engine problems.
July 29, 2013
Oil analysis can save thousands of dollars by alerting you to emerging engine problems.
Overdrive Extra
The California challenge
Operators of pre-2007 trucks who currently operate in California have some tough choices coming with CARB’s truck emissions rules — here are some ways to think about them to help navigate.
May 27, 2013
California’s aggressive regulatory climate provoked this sentiment, which has circulated online in different forms. Chris Thomas, leased to Minnesota-based Autumn Transport, made stickers of this version he planned to offer up to anyone who wanted one. He’s also set up a page on eBay to sell them here.
Overdrive Extra
Knowing if you’re ready to buy
Assessing net worth relative to your age says more than you think about your ability to purchase a truck and succeed as an owner-operator.
April 30, 2013
Assessing net worth relative to your age says more than you think about your ability to purchase a truck and succeed as an owner-operator.
Overdrive Extra
Why be an owner-operator?
The industry has made it way too easy to move from being an employee driver to owning a truck. Far too many drivers give no real thought as to what it means.
April 23, 2013
Company drivers looking to make the switch to truck ownership, take heed: Because you’re used to focusing on driving, it’s easy as a new owner-operator to throw paperwork in a drawer and plan on getting to it later. But not keeping up with business details can cost you thousands.
Overdrive Extra
Do the hard work to improve the business
There are millions putting in long hours and sacrificing a life for a job, yet few of them truly succeed. They’re working hard – but not doing the truly hard work.
April 8, 2013
Developing strategic relationships, such as with a skilled mechanic, is one of the key challenges in building a successful owner-operator business.
Overdrive Extra
Drive better to save fuel
The biggest bang for the fuel-savings buck is in changing your driving habits.
April 1, 2013
Hills present opportunities for saving fuel by proper acceleration, shifting and use of the boost gauge and the pyrometer.
Overdrive Extra
A tale of two drivers says a lot about fuel use
Industry tests have shown for years that the difference in fuel economy between the best drivers and the worst can be as much as 30 percent due.
February 7, 2013
It’s not unrealistic to see a spread of $16,000 a year in fuel costs between an operator who’s careless with driving habits and one who is diligently monitoring miles per gallon and constantly trying new ways to improve that key measurement.
Overdrive Extra
You can be a change agent
“Look around. Our industry needs help – and I want you to help me make it better.”
January 14, 2013
Participation in continuing education, such as Overdrive’s Partners in Business program, is one way to improve the efficiency of your operation and develop skills you can pass on to others.
Overdrive Extra
Owning a trailer can pay off in more ways than one
Putting the owner-operator in ownership of the trailer drastically reduces maintenance problems, as well as the downtime that comes with them.
December 27, 2012
Overdrive Extra
Plan compliance duties before going independent
It’s easy to look at a load board and dream about getting those rates posted and not sharing them with your carrier. It’s another matter entirely to end up making less than you do now because of all of the additional costs.
November 27, 2012
Operating under your own authority means taking responsibility for tracking miles traveled and the amount of fuel purchased in each state in order to file IFTA forms.
Partners in Business
Don’t overlook cost of a truck wash
If you wash your truck at home, you can claim the cost of household water and detergent for washing the truck as a business expense at tax time.
October 11, 2012
Truckwash2
Overdrive Extra
The hurdles of cash, fees and paperwork
Financial and technical prep — the work is tedious, so consider using companies that will complete the process for you.
September 11, 2012
Before you head off as an independent, you need to take care of insurance and governmental filings, some of which involve fees. You also will need a cash cushion to see you through the initial weeks of waiting for invoices to be paid.
Overdrive Extra
Are you ready to go independent?
Two upsides to getting your authority are the potential to make more money than a leased-operator and the almost complete freedom with how you run the business.
August 7, 2012
One quick way to find potential shippers is to drive around industrial parks and note the names of manufacturers with loading docks.
Overdrive Extra
Financial freedom by age 65
Make sure you continuously update your balance sheet – at least twice per year – to ensure you are meeting your financial goals.
July 2, 2012
The value of your truck is an asset, which improves your net worth. The balance of an outstanding truck loan is a liability, decreasing net worth.
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