It's that time of year again. A hint of Fall is in the air, and we're rolling toward that new season -- it's also championship season for the small fleet owners in Overdrive's audience. Since we closed out the initial entry period for the 2025 Small Fleet Championship, over the last month Overdrive editors have continued to gather information on a bevy of fleets who stood out for growth, for long-term commitment and stability, for profits and the likelihood of continued success.
Today, meet the semi-finalists, eight fleets that will be narrowed to four -- two in each size category -- to compete in the final round for the Small Fleet Champ title belt.
Sponsored for the fifth year running by the National Association of Small Trucking Companies, the Small Fleet Championship will conclude at NASTC's annual conference October 23-25 in Nashville, Tennessee.
The
Without further ado, meet the semi-finalists:
Clifford Hay II's first foray in business ownership came almost three decades ago when he bought the family business, Clifford C. Hay Inc., from his father. At the time, it was but a one-truck, one-trailer outfit. Today, Hay owns six trucks and 30 trailers, hauling hay, lumber and dry van freight, mostly operating in the Northeast and up into Canada out of his New York home base. Hay will be no stranger to Overdrive readers -- his personal 2007 Peterbilt 379 Legacy last year was crowned
Also out New York, second-generation trucker Derrick Wolfe has spent the last eight years building a pretty sweet business for himself in the Finger Lakes region. He's grown the food-grade tank business hauling liquid sweeteners from being the sole operator at its founding to a roll call of 21 company drivers, seven owner-operators, and 10 non-driving employees. Wolfe's passion for trucks shines in what he describes as a
