Tag: Mike Parkhurst

Trucking History

'Bandit' lives on as a classic trucking movie

As the movie debuted, the May 1977 Overdrive highlighted the magazine’s involvement in 'Smokey and the Bandit,' notably the inclusion of a truck race banner bearing its name.

May 24, 2021

Overdrive Extra

Memories: An Overdrive model, splurging on ice cream and a forgotten profile of founding firebrand Mike Parkhurst

The grandson of the "first trucking boss" of Mike Parkhurst recollects memories of the Overdrive magazine founder. Learn more about Parkhurst on Overdrive.

January 23, 2020

Overdrive Radio

1970s, 2010s trucking parallels, and: Hauling away (or into) the headaches with a cargo van

In this edition of Overdrive Radio find audio from part of Max Heine’s talk with John Strong about his memories of the 1970s and beyond, and more from my own sit-down with Load One’s John Elliott, about headache boxes checked by the cargo van hauling niche in expediting — not without its significant challenges…

March 8, 2019

Overdrive Extra

Rearview: Overdrive takes on the Teamsters

From the early 1960s to the early ’80s, rarely did an issue of Overdrive leave the printer without one or more articles accusing the powerful International Brotherhood of Teamsters of widespread corruption, misuse of truckers’ dues and violent bullying tactics aimed at its detractors.

August 3, 2016

Channel 19

A '70s film at Overdrive's diesel drag races, and a 'Back in Time' tour

In 2016, a late-1970s short film on U.S. trucking, via Overdrive’s Englishtown, New Jersey, truck drag racing event, provided a clear window back in time, including a glimpse of Overdrive’s founder. This 60th-anniversary special takes you there ...

May 19, 2016

Overdrive Extra

Mike Parkhurst’s legacy of reform

Today’s owner-operators have him and other leaders, as well as thousands of drivers who followed them, to thank for today’s ease of entry to the industry. No one should take for granted the freedom to compete with no restrictions on lanes, rates, areas of operation or freight.

August 5, 2014

Voices

Overdrive founder ‘spent his entire life trying to better’ trucking

Mike Parkhurst’s friends say they will remember Overdrive’s founder and longtime editor for championing deregulation and the cause of the owner-operator. Also, a roundup of reader reactions to Parkhurst’s passing.

July 29, 2014

Overdrive Extra

Roadmansion photo gallery, background from founder Mike Parkhurst

Some of Overdrive’s oldest readers might recall the Roadmansion hotel in Los Angeles. Retired driver Bill Nickel, 74, was one of them when this story originally aired in 2014. Founder Mike Parkhurst also recalled two years of operation in the late 60s.

July 16, 2014

Custom Rigs

C.O. Bruce Trucking — classic trucks through the decades

Photos and more from longtime owner-operator C.O. Bruce’s and his 1960s visit to Overdrive offices in Los Angeles.

January 30, 2014

Voices

Roadside Attractions

Interesting and odd parts of trucking, truck gauges, truck gallery and many more industry news items are featured.

November 1, 2011

Channel 19

Former Overdrive editor, actor Charles Napier passes on

Character actor and former Overdrive editor Charles Napier passed away at a hospital in Bakersfield, Calif., on Wednesday, Oct. 5. Napier’s perhaps best known for his role as one of the Good Old Boys in the Blues Brothers film as well as an intelligence officer in the Sylvester Stallone vehicle Rambo: First Blood Part II. […]

October 7, 2011

Business

Breaking Free: The history of the owner-operator in trucking

From fighting for freedom to haul in its early days to stressing smart business practices later, Overdrive has championed the owner-operator’s concerns. Here, a history of owner-op business, from 1960-2011, with a special request for you.

September 1, 2011