Tag: MATS: Page 2

Pride & Polish

'Alfalfa Cruiser': Pickett Custom Trucks' first show truck in two decades

The 2019 Peterbilt 389 glider is owned by Jason Flores, owner of New Mexico-based Dan Dee Dairy. Rod Pickett and team have been building high-end working trucking trucks for decades, but Pickett said this is the first full-on show truck he's built in 25 years.

April 30, 2026

Regulations

FMCSA chief Derek Barrs joins Georgia roadside inspection effort

FMCSA Administrator Derek Barrs was on the ground in Georgia recently during the state's Operation SafeDRIVE roadside enforcement initiative. Also: Former fleet owner guilty in PPP loan scheme; St. Christopher Fund's big MATS haul.

April 24, 2026

Pride & Polish

Close look: How Trucker of the Year hits 10.5 mpg with '19 Freightliner mods, operations

In addition to his Cascadia and Utility dry van's specs, owner-op John Penn made big aero improvements, particularly on the trailer. Run through aero and other significant upgrades, in addition to operational mods for fuel efficiency, with Penn in this video.

April 23, 2026

Business

Why freight rates are finally heating up

ATBS Vice President Mike Hosted reveals that trucking’s four-year "economic flatline" may finally be over. Data drawn from public sources, as well as more than 15,000 owner-operators among ATBS clients, shows a market in the midst of a sharp correction.

April 20, 2026

Overdrive Radio

Just how high has owner-ops' truck-trailer maintenance cost moved?

According to ATBS, in 2025 owner-operators spent upward of $14,000 on average. That's 15 cents of maintenance for every single mile run. What's your set-aside for truck and trailer upkeep? If you haven’t boosted the number in a while, there's no time like the present.

April 20, 2026

Overdrive Extra

Meeting a namesake: Dills Transportation's hand-throttle '07 Pete cleaned up in first show

Owner-operator Jeff Dills makes good on trucking determination despite a 1990s motorcycle accident robbing use of his legs. His 379 cleaned up in its first MATS, and caught Overdrive editor Todd Dills' eye for obvious reasons. Are the two related? Some likelihood, no doubt...

April 17, 2026

Pride & Polish

Like-original '76 Peterbilt COE stands proud, bingo plate and all

Apart from the frame, which came from a 2025 Kenworth T680, Luke Rethwisch's 1976 Peterbilt 352H cabover was built to be as close to factory original as possible.

April 16, 2026

Equipment

Former Montgomery Transport assets, more up for auction | Mack, Volvo recalls

Late-model sleepers and day cabs, dry vans, flatbeds available in online auction through April 21. Also: Volvo, Mack trucks recalled; FMCSA reinstates state's non-domiciled CDL program.

April 14, 2026

Life

Trucking's top citizens: TA recognizes two multimillion milers

Two drivers with a combined 64 years of experience and nearly 9 million accident-free miles recently earned TA's Citizen Driver Award. An Ohio TA and an Illinois Petro will be dedicated in their honor.

April 14, 2026

Overdrive Radio

Smallest fault-code scanner worldwide? Diesel Laptops delivers diagnostic assist

As so many bootstrapped companies’ stories do, Diesel Laptops' starts in the trunk of the founder's car, from which he sold some of his early tools for all-makes fault-code diagnostics. For his efforts to bring independent tools to truck owners and techs, Tyler Robertson is now part of the Howes Hall of Fame.

April 13, 2026

Channel 19

Truckers take control of mainstream media

Against the odds, actual real-life truck owners and drivers have stepped up to control the narrative around trucking and secure major government and industry responses.

April 10, 2026

Overdrive Extra

Top of the trucking heap: Owner-op John Penn, full interview from MATS show floor

Overnight Drive host Steve Sommers' full talk here with Overdrive Trucker of the Year John Penn, happy moments from the floor, and an equally happy oil-drain experiment 106,000 miles in -- and counting.

April 10, 2026