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Latest Stories: Page 4

Overdrive Extra

The diesel price run-up hasn't obliterated owner-ops' recent profit gains -- yet ...

But it's getting very close. Backstopping profits will be a matter of smart negotiating if you're dealing with brokers. 2025 Small Fleet Champ Wes Oberman keeps a close eye on fuel with a tool that gives him and leased owners reliable daily forecasts for the next day's prices.

March 5, 2026

Overdrive Extra

Beware scammers posing as TQL, asking for money to obtain a dedicated lane: PSA

What happened to Ryan and Wendy Dickson when they got a call from a number they thought was TQL's could happen to anyone, with any supposed scammer pretending to be this or that broker. Keep red flags high in mind if offered a load/lane you're not expecting.

March 4, 2026

Multiple commercial semi-trucks traveling on a curved highway with a barren hillside in the background.

Partners in Business

Trucking 101: Understanding fuel surcharges

The systems of calculating and implementing fuel surcharges are worked out between any two parties -- shipper-carrier/independent, shipper-broker, 3PL/broker-carrier, carrier-leased owner. They're designed to guard profits against fuel-cost spikes like we're seeing currently.

March 3, 2026

Commercial truck at fuel station during sunset with headlights illuminated

Partners in Business

Master negotiation's fine art to stop settling for low rates

Don’t let pushy brokers rush your decision-making. The posted rate is far from "gospel." Take the "third way" in negotiation, avoid the winner's curse, and value your time over simple cents-per-mile.

February 18, 2026

Truck driver in black vest talking on phone near white semi-truck at industrial parking lot

Partners in Business

Going independent: Ways to build business to sustain

Getting authority brings plenty risk for owner-ops, but also no small potential for reward. Here find advice on ways to start and cement relationships with direct shippers, vet brokers, and build a profitable trucking business for the long haul, even in a down market.

February 13, 2026

White semi-truck parked on busy urban street with Chase bank and city buildings

Trucker of the Year

'I will not idle, ever': Adapting old-school ways to prevent emissions fails

Part 2 of our series honoring Trucker of the Year John Penn offers detail on his approach to maintenance, customer service and much more, from an experiment to extend drains in his 2019 unit to his idling attitude -- old-school, certainly, yet delivering new-school emissions confidence.

February 9, 2026

Partners in Business

Here's how to correct inspectors' mistakes via FMCSA's DataQs process

With FMCSA's DataQs system close to seeing big reform, our Partners in Business primer charts its importance for challenging wrongly assigned inspections or crashes, incorrectly written violations and those tied to citations thrown out in court. If you're an independent, it's your responsibility.

February 4, 2026

State trooper conducting vehicle inspection near truck and trailer

Overdrive Extra

Warning: Truckers distraction zone next 100,000 miles

We're not talking driving distractions here. Whether it's the infinite scroll of funny cat videos or the latest social media storm, don't lose control over decision-making. Careful small-biz and money management's a year-round necessity.

January 28, 2026

Collage of news headlines featuring Trump, political commentary, and cat images

Overdrive Radio

What we mean when we say 'freight fraud': Ways to defend against the hydra-headed monster

While many anti-fraud moves at U.S. DOT and FMCSA are heartening, chameleon carriers persist along with all manner of other frauds perpetrated on legitimate truckers, brokers and the American public writ large.

January 20, 2026

Overdrive Radio

'Who here knows their numbers?' For truck owners who do, and act on them, profits stack up

Kevin Rutherford "failed miserably" on long-term goals to increase the number of owner-operators who can answer yes to the question in the title. Yet he's succeeded in other ways: those who can answer yes and act on numbers to improve have destroyed the "freight recession" of recent years with record profits.

January 12, 2026

Why short-miles pay persists for drivers, leased owners: 'Commercial convention'

A new, free commercial routing/mileage tool for small fleets and owners begs the question: Why present both a practical and short-miles option for routes? A bow to longstanding convention, sure, but visibility into the difference might hold promise long-term for more accurate miles standards in contracts, pay packages.

January 8, 2026

Route preference settings with options for shortest route and toll avoidance

Partners in Business

POLL: Usage-based trucking insurance -- is it prime time yet?

There's some evidence usage-based trucking insurance is spreading fast, exchanging access to insured carriers' data to track usage for dynamic premium cost shifts. What's your experience with it, if any?

January 7, 2026

White tanker truck parked on highway with large white umbrella on roadside

Partners in Business

Excess trucking liability insurance, cameras, ELD data: Play defense against crash suits

Looking out at potential growth in 2026? Keep in mind the old saying: "the bigger you are, the harder you fall." When it comes to plaintiff's lawyers chasing the ambulances to truck accident scenes, the larger the company, the larger the potential payout from a jury. Here's ways to defend against nuclear-verdicts threat.

January 2, 2026

White semi-truck and blurred vehicles on highway with motion blur effect

Preventive health maintenance to ensure you cross the trucking finish line

Caring for your body is like caring for your truck in that both involve assessing products and services. The informed consumer knows how to get value and efficacy for short- and long-term maintenance of your body itself.

January 1, 2026

Doc Hours Parking

7-step in-cab workout plan for long-term trucking

Follow along with 2024 Trucker of the Year Alan Kitzhaber's in-cab workout routine, designed to combat common OTR aches and pains and maintain "functional fitness." It takes just 20 minutes and requires minimal equipment. Also: Other options for OTR fitness -- and mobility -- on two wheels.

January 1, 2026

Person in yellow shirt doing yoga-like stretch in confined space with fitness routine text

Saving, investing for yourself and a well-deserved retirement

Don't expect to rely on proceeds from the sale of your truck and/or the business itself -- the habit of saving for personal goals for retirement will yield big dividends over time.

January 1, 2026

Pib Retirement Savings

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.

January 1, 2026

For sale by owner-operator: Managing the big unload at retirement

Many a retiring owner-operator has leaned on a trusted dealer to consign equipment for sale, given all the pitfalls of a private sale. Yet a for-sale-by-owner-operator transaction is certainly achievable, if you take steps to minimize risk with the right buyer.

January 1, 2026

White semi-truck with red 'For Sale by Owner' sign mounted on side

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