Small Fleet Champ

Small Fleet Champ
Winning small fleet’s custom trucks tie to its spinoff businesses
James Davis Trucking's collection of custom trucks reflects one of owner James Davis' closely related businesses. Read more about JDT's spinoffs here.
October 16, 2020
After JDT owner James Davis rebuilt this 1993 Peterbilt 379 years ago, he got the bug for customization and now has about 14 in his fleet.
Small Fleet Champ
Getting smoked out of Oregon latest hurdle for Overdrive’s inaugural Small Fleet Champ
JDT Trucking wins the inaugural Overdrive Small Fleet Champ award due to steady growth, driver benefits, community contributions and much more. Details here.
October 14, 2020
James Davis was quick to get his operating authority, but drove solo for years before adding trucks.
Small Fleet Champ
The secrets to growing — and excelling — beyond one truck: Delegate, manage costs, be fair and honest
This panel of Overdrive's 2020 Small Fleet Champ finalists delivered a myriad of insights in business development, cost management and more in a push to grow.
August 28, 2020
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Small Fleet Champ
Growing, diverse flatbed carrier wins Overdrive’s new small-fleet award
James Davis, of JDT Trucking, is the winner of this year's Small Fleet Champ competition. Learn more about this flatbed carrier here on Overdrive.
August 28, 2020
Keeping some customized trucks in his fleet has helped with driver recruitment, says owner James Davis.
Small Fleet Champ
Small-Fleet Champ: Finalists talk shop tonight, winner announced
Overdrive’s 2020 Small Fleet Champ finalists share their challenges and best practices tonight at 7 p.m. Central live on Overdrive’s Facebook page, followed by a Q&A and announcement of the winning fleet.
August 27, 2020
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Small Fleet Champ
Three stand-out small fleets named finalists in Overdrive recognition contest
The three fleets have navigated a difficult 2020 but have demonstrated growth in best practices. Winner will be announced during GATS week. More on Overdrive.
July 31, 2020
From left: James Davis of James Davis Trucking; Terry Burns, right, general manager of Ed Burns & Sons Trucking, with his brother, Mike Burns; and John McGee of John McGee Trucking.
Small Fleet Champ
In-house maintenance, good relationships give Warren Hartman Trucking a strong start
Warren Hartman took some risks transitioning from company driver to ownership, all of which paid off with threefold growth of his small fleet in a few years.
July 29, 2020
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Small Fleet Champ
Industry service amid challenging market: Venice Enterprise owners make time
Owners Colleen and Fred Rejman take on important issues of trucking commerce and safety in their community. Learn about the Small Fleet Champ semifinalist here.
July 27, 2020
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Small Fleet Champ
Sons build on father’s diverse legacy in growing owner-operator fleet
This Small Fleet Champ semifinalist specializes in hauling heavy equipment for 200-400 customers per year. Learn more about how it got its start on Overdrive.
July 24, 2020
Joel, John and Jay TeBrake with their late father John’s prized 1965 Kenworth. It’s been in the family since well before John founded Truck Transport with another owner-operator in 1987. Jay and Joel maintain the KW as a showpiece, often participating in the Big Iron Classic in their native Minnesota, among other shows.
Small Fleet Champ
Truck leasing a perfect fit for Ohio regional fleet STS Delivery Services
STS Delivery Services is a dynamic company. Get a behind the scenes look at what makes this small fleet champ semi-finalist stand out from the trucking crowd.
July 22, 2020
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Small Fleet Champ
Young fleet PTS Worldwide clears hurdles for direct military contracting
Owner-operators Rick and Nancy Poulos mastered the art of military freight contracting before growing. What makes PTS a Small Fleet Champ semi-finalist, here.
July 20, 2020
Among items hauled by PTS Worldwide for the Department of Defense are loads like this – military vehicles and other rolling equipment. PTS is a member of the National Defense Transportation Association and both the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association and the American Trucking Associations, where Rhonda Brown serves on the board of directors of the Associations’ government freight conference.
Small Fleet Champ
Growth and driver pay benefit as Golden Rule shines at John McGee Trucking
As a finalist for Overdrive's 2020 Small Fleet Champ award, John McGee tells of how he got his start hauling and what drives his trucking operation.
July 17, 2020
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Small Fleet Champ
JDT grows to accommodate top-notch drivers, doubles down to survive pandemic
JDT started as a one-truck operation and, detailed here, has grown to a fleet of 27, re-emphasizing its existing customer base relationships through COVID-19.
July 14, 2020
Keeping some customized trucks in his fleet has helped with driver recruitment, says owner James Davis.
Small Fleet Champ
In worst of times, owner seizes opportunities — Hallahan Transport
Fiscal discipline has paid dividends for Rob Hallahan's small fleet. Read about his strategy navigating the COVID-19 biz landscape, growing through it. all
July 10, 2020
Robert Hallahan says his customized Kenworth W900L is “not just my workplace, but also where I am reminded of why I am in business.”
Small Fleet Champ
No debt? No sweat, lots of advantages — Ed Burns & Sons Trucking
With 75 years of local and regional hauling, Ed Burns & Sons Trucking operates debt-free and provides a strong benefits program for its loyal truck drivers.
July 7, 2020
Terry Burns, right, is general manager of Ed Burns & Sons Trucking, founded by his father, Ed Burns. Terry’s pictured here with his brother, Mike, and one of the company’s International tractors.
Small Fleet Champ
A diverse group makes up Overdrive’s Small Fleet Champ semi-finalists
The nine semi-finalists for this year's first Small Fleet Champ include varied operations, from zero-debt steel haulers to fast-growing oil-field operators.
July 6, 2020
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Small Fleet Champ
Overdrive program will highlight successful small fleets
Overdrive's Small Fleet Champ award will recognize a small-fleet owner who has demonstrated effective business practices and positioned the fleet for success.
February 10, 2020
Through the end of July, Overdrive will be profiling nine finalists in its inaugural Small Fleet Champ award program recognizing business success. The winning small fleet will be unveiled during the Overdrive’s GATS Week program of events August 24-28 and featured in a cover story in the magazine this fall.
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Top Stories
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.”
Overdrive Extra
Trucking’s bit part in the 'COVID long-haulers’ name
A teacher's trucker cap provides inspiration for her to borrow trucking's "long-hauler" designation for COVID-19 survivors who discover they're facing an indefinite period of further suffering.
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.
Channel 19
'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.
Equipment
Glider kit market hits fatal nosedive with latest emissions regs
Fuel Fueling Truck Stop
Business
After weakened demand in 2020, diesel prices jump back to pre-pandemic levels
Junior Elmore’s Marmon caught Christner's eye right off for a very simple reason: 'I’d never seen a Marmon cabover in the flesh before,' he wrote. 'Up close, it’s easy to see why a Marmon cabover was used in the movie 'Transformers: Age of Extinction' as the Autobot Optimus Prime. Elmore’s Marmon COE #31 HDT-BC-86 was Manufactured 03/1977 in Garland, Texas. This is a complete truck with no parts taken off. Still running when parked in 1999. A good honest work truck that’s nicely spec’d out.' Find more details, and history, via this link.
Channel 19
Look back at Junior Elmore's classic 1970s rigs
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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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