Small Fleet Champ

Roundtable: Small Fleet Champs on biggest difficulties overcome

Small Fleet Champ finalists answered this question: What's been your biggest business challenge of the past year or two, and what have you done to combat it/mitigate effects? Sit in on the wide-ranging discussion in this Overdrive Radio podcast.

October 28, 2022

John McGee Trucking, CAP Trucking emerge victorious: 2022 Small Fleet Champs

The final four contenders -- two in each 3-10-truck and 11-30-truck category -- squared off at the NASTC annual conference in Nashville, Tennessee, where owners John McGee and CAP Trucking's Chris Porricelli walked away with the title belts.

October 21, 2022

2022 Small Fleet Champ finalists and winners

Small Fleet Champs head to Nashville for the final round

Florida-based CAP Trucking will face off with Texas fleet Creech Trucking for the title belt in the 3-10-truck category. In the 11-30-truck category, Iowa-headquartered Holtkamp Transportation is up against John McGee Trucking, out of Louisiana.

October 3, 2022

2022 Overdrive's small fleet champ belts

Globex Transport's owner-operator focus yields big growth in most recent two years

Owner Tommy Piluyev's skill managing freight negotiations from the office, and increasingly his ability to delegate to a back-office core of employees with similar abilities, have helped spur that growth. A very low owner-op-to-dispatcher ratio helps.

September 29, 2022

Creech Trucking follows dairy industry to growth, stability long-term

Texas has become the third-largest dairy-producing state in the country in recent years. 10-truck Creech Trucking, after the tragic death of its founding owner, delivers on a mission to supply regional farmers with feed, producing strong income.

September 26, 2022

Trucks lined up at Creech Trucking's yard

31 straight years of revenue growth: John McGee Trucking leans on 'Golden Rule'

Hauling from a Louisiana base in support of oilfield operations around the region, John McGee Trucking has leaned into a people-first philosophy to quadruple its revenues, inspire loyalty and build a place where hauling careers are made.

September 22, 2022

John McGee Trucking Mack hooked to a tanker

After record 2021, and amid setbacks, Suprise Trucking charts the path forward

Commitment to owner-op and employee success has translated to revenue growth year after year. Suprise grossed $1 million for the first time in 2020, and shattered that in 2021. Diversification and investment in people lays groundwork for the future.

September 19, 2022

The longtime CDL holder and current trainer took his trainee recently through a practice session in straight backing, show above with one among trucks utilized in Suprise's fleet.

Soldwedel & Horn finds smooth sailing in the volatile reefer market

Terry Horn's history as an old-time outlaw trucker, as he puts it, in recent decades gave way to a rock solid commitment to his customers and drivers, taken to the highest level as S&H continues to grow, holding the line against volatile rate swings.

September 15, 2022

A Soldwedel & Horn tractor and trailer

10-truck Triple R Trucking pivots to flatbed, power-only amid fast-falling rates

Krystal Raue launched the company in 2014 after buying equipment from her retiring father. She has delivered consistent profits to owner-ops -- currently 9 plus her husband in the lone company rig -- with nimble shifts in freight focus with the market.

September 12, 2022

Krystal and Daymon Raue, owner-manager and owner-operator of Triple R Trucking out of Decatur, Nebraska.

A stolen truck, a freight scam and a big re-evaluation on the road to small fleet success

Hear CAP Trucking's success story, hauling from a home base in Florida, in this edition of Overdrive Radio -- in owner Chris Porricelli's own words. His is the voice of a man in clear control of his business after overcoming dramatic setbacks.

September 9, 2022

Customer diversification key to Lamb Fuels' recent growth

The Chula Vista, California-based petroleum-hauling fleet has grown from 14 trucks at the end of 2018 to 23 today, thanks in large part to the addition of new business units hauling aviation fuel and retail gasoline.

September 8, 2022

Lamb Fuels' Peterbilt 389

CAP Trucking refocuses on asset business, growing success in North-South LTL reefer lanes

Success in the thinking man's game that is LTL reefer hasn't come instantly for Chris Porricelli and his five-truck CAP Trucking fleet. He had to work for it, and his success has landed him as a semi-finalist in Overdrive's 2022 Small Fleet Championship.

September 5, 2022

CAP Trucking Freightliner Coronado

Holtkamp Transportation goes from a part-time job to $6 million operation

Les Holtkamp worked in sales for a large wholesale crop protection company before he founded this now multi-million dollar trucking enterprise, with 25 power units in the stable and a handful of owner-operators leased on as well.

September 1, 2022

Holtkamp Transportation truck

Small Fleet Championship semi-finalist Til Friday gets operators home for the weekend

Til Friday's secret to success sits right there in the name. With drivers paid at least a daily minimum with fairly regular hours and home every weekend, owner Michelle Hefner manages to deliver a work-life balance seen rarely in many OTR ops.

August 29, 2022

Til Friday Trucking's 1997 Mack Clifford the Big Red Dog

Meet the 10 Small Fleet Champ semi-finalists

Since the initial entry period officially closed July 15, further entry information gathering and analysis has yielded these 10 semi-finalists in the third annual Overdrive Small Fleet Championship. Find five each in two categories based on fleet size.

August 9, 2022

Small Fleet Champ, Round 1: Deadline extended to July 15

Overdrive editors are extending the initial entry period for owners competing in Overdrive's Small Fleet Championship two weeks to July 15. Do you have what it takes? Enter your fleet of 3 to 30 trucks for a chance at claiming the title belt.

May 20, 2022

Overdrive Small Fleet Champ belt

What do a three-year cargo-van expediter and Overdrive's 2021 Small Fleet Champ have in common?

Systems-focused pursuit of success guide both. Champ Silver Creek Transportation and its leader Jason Cowan's investment in people and data engagement processes underpins a company culture that’s about well more than operating at a profit.

June 1, 2022

Collage Maker 01 Jun 2022 12 33 Pm

Fuel-market insanity: A tale of two loads, bedrock cost control, rates-management tactics

Fuel is out of hand, and in today's edition of Overdrive Radio, NASTC President David Owen and Overdrive Small Fleet Champ Jason Cowan, offer insight on why, ways to combat. Also: Tactics to keep rates where they need to be. Don't forget your best tool.

May 6, 2022

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Trucking like a locomotive in restored 1960s Kenworths

In this Overdrive Radio edition, log hauler, writer, podcaster Gord Magill drew out more of Edison Motors cofounder Chace Barber’s story about his unique approach to electric-drive trucks, with some surprising benefits and potential applications.

Lil Ray 5 Custom Classics

Lil' Ray's Transport: Five custom classics caught at Merced truck show

Carlos Alizondo's 1998 Peterbilt 379 daycab

Owner-op finds Chicago container hauling, long-term, more lucrative than OTR

Enter Overdrive's 2023 Trucker of the Year competition

Cummins new for 2023.

Cummins new for 2023.

Trucking like a locomotive in restored 1960s Kenworths

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 2022 edition of Partners in Business.

Partners in Business Issue Cover