Small Fleet Champ

Small Fleet Champ
Derrick Wolfe has built a 'sweet' business in New York's Finger Lakes region
Derrick Wolfe grew his New York-based food grade tanker fleet from one truck to nearly 30, and he's still on the road daily to stay connected with his drivers, customers, and the open road. Derrick Wolfe Trucking is a semi-finalist for Overdrive's Small Fleet Champ award.
September 18, 2025
It's taken less than a decade for small fleet owner Derrick Wolfe to grow his New York-based food grade tanker-haul business from one truck to 21 company drivers, seven owner-operators and 10 non-driving employees.
Small Fleet Champ
Mission Complete: Veteran small fleet owner's legion of local support
Scott Smithler trucked through war zones in Iraq and Afghanistan but managed to bring home peace and prosperity with a family biz whose missions are mostly local/regional, ending at home near every night.
September 16, 2025
Small fleet owner Scott Smithler's Mission Complete Transport builds on the owner's history hauling in the military, including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mission Complete is among semi-finalists in Overdrive's Small Fleet Championship.
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Small Fleet Champ
Small Fleet Champ semi-finalists not afraid to get their hands dirty
Turnage and Sons' father-son team of Robbie and Levi Turnage, and MRL Transport owner Mark Ledford, illustrate value in hands-on operations, training, leadership underpinning their long-term success.
September 15, 2025
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Small Fleet Champ
Up from ashes: Small fleet Clifford C. Hay Inc. thrives 15 years after devastating fire
After taking over the family business in 1999 as a one-truck operation, Clifford Hay II built the fleet to the six trucks and 30 trailers it has today, showing plenty resiliency and commitment to customers. His fleet's a 2025 Small Fleet Champ semi-finalist.
September 11, 2025
Clifford C. Hay Inc. owns six trucks, with four operating on a day-to-day basis. Some of the small fleet's trucks are shown here parked up in front of the fleet's current shop in Cobleskill, New York.
Small Fleet Champ
Right-sizing for management: MRL Transport owner Mark Ledford hits five trucks
Ledford got his start trucking after working a dock where his manager said Ledford would never drive truck. Not only would he drive, he'd grow a fleet well beyond 30 trucks before selling out. MRL Transport is his second turn in the barrel, and Ledford's hit a profitability sweet spot.
September 9, 2025
MRL Transport owner Mark Ledford today hauls direct freight outbound for customers in part built from his years of ownership of another fleet, since sold after years of growth. MRL in some ways is Ledford's effort to right-size a business for his life today.
Small Fleet Champ
Meet Overdrive's 2025 Small Fleet Champ semi-finalists
Spanning seven states and hauling niches from milk and other food grade tankers to dry vans, step decks and flatbeds, RGNs and reefers, these fine fleets are semi-finalists in Overdrive's Small Fleet Championship, with title belts on the line among other perks from award sponsor NASTC.
September 5, 2025
The Small Fleet Championship's title belts are on the line for this year's competition, both to be delivered to a final winner in two categories after the final round October 23 in Nashville, Tennessee.
Small Fleet Champ
Last call! Just days left to compete for 2025 Small Fleet Champ honor
Last call! Small fleet entries are due Thursday, July 31, for your fleet of 3 to 30 trucks. Test your trucking mettle for a chance to take home the 2025 title belt in Overdrive's Small Fleet Championship. Four finalist fleets will ultimately square off in Nashville in late October at event sponsor NASTC's annual conference.
July 29, 2025
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Small Fleet Champ
Sharp new glider additions to Rissler small fleet underscore driver, family value
Walk through two new glider additions to Small Fleet Champ Paul Rissler Transportation, a 2016 flattop Pete and a 2019 studio-sleeper outfitted KW picked up for Wes Martin's wife, Bev, to accompany the longtime Rissler driver OTR.
June 26, 2025
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Small Fleet Champ
Doing it right the first time: Small Fleet Champ Paul Rissler, for the long haul
In this week's edition of Overdrive Radio, listen into a tour around the headquarters of Paul Rissler Transportation, current Small Fleet Champ, on the old home place for the big Rissler trucking family.
June 16, 2025
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Small Fleet Champ
Small Fleet Champ assesses growing pains, on location at new company headquarters
How C.W. Express owner Steve Wilson shifted from wear-all-the-hats manager to, after near-disaster in 2022, a near-20-truck fleet owner with strong support structures for C.W.’s trucks and drivers, and deft delegation, particularly on the maintenance side of the business.
May 19, 2025
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Small Fleet Champ
Overdrive's 2025 Small Fleet Championship
Do you have what it takes? Enter the 2025 small-fleet competition to put your small trucking company in the running to claim the vaunted title belt. Fleets operating 3 to 30 trucks through 2024 year-end are eligible.
May 1, 2025
Small Fleet Champ 2025 Collection Risslers
Small Fleet Champ
Overdrive's 2025 Small Fleet Championship: Rules and entry form
January 1, 2025
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Small Fleet Champ
Small Fleet Champs pay it forward: Hard-earned trucking knowledge
Today on Overdrive Radio, the annual roundtable with Overdrive's Small Fleet Champ finalists, featuring mistakes made and overcome, trucking business lessons learned, and a strong pay-it-forward focus for the next generation of ownership.
November 18, 2024
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Small Fleet Champ
Small Fleet Champs Paul Rissler Transportation, C.W. Express emerge victorious
Indiana-headquartered C.W. and Rissler, out of Missouri, took home the 2024 Small Fleet Champ title belts after the final round in Nashville, Tennessee, during a special event at NASTC's "best three days in trucking" annual conference.
November 8, 2024
Overdrive's Small Fleet Champs for 2024 are Paul Rissler Transportation (3-10 trucks division) and C.W. Express (11-30 trucks).
Small Fleet Champ
Four finalist fleets to square off at NASTC show
Overdrive's Small Fleet Championship advances to the ring, with a panel of judges selecting four finalists, two in each size division, to meet in Nashville, Tennessee, Nov. 7 for the final rounds. Meet the finalists here.
October 11, 2024
Small Fleet Championship 2024 finalists
Small Fleet Champ
High Road owner Sharon Lee masters art of prioritization
Tour haul small fleet High Road owner Sharon Lee's in it for the people, not the trucks. "The truck part of the business is a means to an end. I love the company, I love the clients, I love the drivers," and her support of all shines with biz growth.
October 8, 2024
Two High Road trucks, Nashville skyline
Small Fleet Champ
DPM Logistics: Growth through service, safety for Virginia small fleet
Virginia-based DPM Logistics launche in 2016 moving spot market freight while owner Dave Monsell networked with brokers and local shippers. Now, the majority of the fleet's freight is direct-contracted with a big trailer pool for drop-hook opportunity.
October 3, 2024
DPM Logistics truck and shop
Small Fleet Champ
Dedicated lanes, dedicated to operators: Virk Express masters California produce
Despite a tough regulatory environment and high fuel prices, Sunny Virk and Sam Singh's five-truck, two-owner-op Virk Express make the California reefer game work for them with dedicated lanes and dedication to their drivers.
October 1, 2024
Sunny Virk said he and Singh occasionally clash on leadership issues, but by having the tough conversations, they get to the right decisions.
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It's taken less than a decade for small fleet owner Derrick Wolfe to grow his New York-based food grade tanker-haul business from one truck to 21 company drivers, seven owner-operators and 10 non-driving employees.
Small Fleet Champ
Derrick Wolfe has built a 'sweet' business in New York's Finger Lakes region
Derrick Wolfe grew his New York-based food grade tanker fleet from one truck to nearly 30, and he's still on the road daily to stay connected with his drivers, customers, and the open road. Derrick Wolfe Trucking is a semi-finalist for Overdrive's Small Fleet Champ award.
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Small fleet owner Scott Smithler's Mission Complete Transport builds on the owner's history hauling in the military, including tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mission Complete is among semi-finalists in Overdrive's Small Fleet Championship.
Small Fleet Champ
Mission Complete: Veteran small fleet owner's legion of local support
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