Equipment
Business
Regulations
Life
Custom Rigs
Gear
Trucker of the Year: Page 2
Trucker of the Year
From an IT desk to throwing chains and tarps: Ken Brodeur's trucking odyssey
The California-based one-truck independent didn't get into trucking until his mid-50s, but in the 12 years since getting behind the wheel, he has carved out a path to success running flatbed.
January 30, 2025
Trucker of the Year
Staying young, learning more: Trucker of the Year Alan Kitzhaber
Trucker of the Year judges lauded owner-operator Kitzhaber’s meticulous approach to both maintenance and efficiency throughout the operation. "A smart businessman," said one, "really a monument to the craft of trucking as an owner-operator."
January 21, 2025
Sponsor Content
JBL Live Beam 3 - True wireless noise-cancelling earbuds with stick-closed design and Smart Charging Caseâ„¢
JBL
JBL Live Beam 3 - True wireless noise-cancelling earbuds with stick-closed design and Smart Charging Caseâ„¢
August 15, 2025
Overdrive Extra
A plan for better business: Why do you want to be an owner-operator?
For Overdrive Trucker of the Year Alan Kitzhaber so many years ago, the answer was simple: To make more money. Before he made the jump, though, he prepared extensively. Here, his two-part story in hopes of guiding others starting out as business owners.
January 21, 2025
Overdrive Extra
First look: 100-inch custom ATG sleeper on Jay Hosty's '22 Western Star
Trucker of the Year Hosty's '22 Western Star 4900EX daycab is a daycab no more. That's right -- plans in this case come to full fruition, with the addition of the 100-inch custom Alliance Truck Group (ATG) rear-door sleeper. It's a beauty.
January 8, 2025
Trucker of the Year
Compete for Overdrive's 2025 Trucker of the Year honor
The program recognizes acumen/innovation of owner-operators, the bedrock of the entrepreneurial spirit in trucking. If you’ve persevered through freight-market challenges the last years, you're no doubt a worthy contender.
December 20, 2024
Trucker of the Year
Meet the finalists for Overdrive's 2024 Trucker of the Year honor
Nearing the conclusion of Overdrive's 2024 Trucker of the Year award program, judges laud 10 Truckers of the Month and name three finalists for the ultimate win, to be announced in the new year.
December 20, 2024
Trucker of the Year
How Trucker of the Year contenders beat 2024's sluggish conditions
This second installment wrapping up 2024's competitive TOTY field shows owners poised for growth in the new year, in plenty more ways than one. Check in with Alec Costerus, Greg Labosky, Mike Nichols and the brothers of Zimmerman Ag.
December 16, 2024
Trucker of the Year
Success through self-help, lane change: 2024 TOTY 'exit interviews'
Overdrive's 2024 Trucker of the Year contenders have battled soft freight and sluggish rates with moves large and small. Here, four contenders map out their experience through the year, delivering insight on business decision-making.
December 9, 2024
Overdrive Radio
'Good day to be out trucking', with the steady hands of Zimmerman Ag
Overdrive's October Truckers of the Month, owners Daryl and Nelson Zimmerman, combine DIY maintenance prowess with a true love of the trucking business to serve agricultural-support businesses and farmers in and around Belgrade, Minn.
November 4, 2024
Trucker of the Year
Biz strength in family legacy, diversification: Zimmerman Ag, Truckers of the Month
The two-truck partnership's owner-operator pilots are Overdrive's Truckers of the Month for October. Operating with authority from the get-go, Daryl and Nelson Zimmerman have built a diverse customer base for hopper, end dump and reefer freight.
October 30, 2024
Overdrive Radio
Rene Holguin, September Trucker of the Month, cementing a legacy with authority
Overdrive's September Trucker of the Month achieves a significant pay-it-forward goal after getting into business with the tutelage of a family member. In this week's Overdrive Radio podcast, dive into Holguin's two-decade-plus history trucking.
October 14, 2024
Trucker of the Year
Experience, knowledge, vision to thrive: Trucker of the Month Rene Holguin
Holguin has had his own authority for 21 years, mostly operating as a one-truck independent. He's keen on helping others, though, and has leased on family members to help them start their own owner-op careers with a vision for the future.
September 27, 2024
Trucker of the Year
Investment diligence: Owner-op's profitable path to retirement
Nearing the end of a nearly 35-year run of consistently putting aside 15%-20% of his income, owner-operator Alan Kitzhaber's gotten close to where he truly wants to go -- that’s retirement, following 4 million miles in his long-running 1995 T600.
September 9, 2024
Trucker of the Year
Trucker of the Month Alan Kitzhaber: 4 million miles, ever greater efficiency for his '95 T600
With all those safe miles in the rear view in just a single truck, the owner joins a pretty exclusive club. How'd he do it? This week's Overdrive Radio talk reveals a keen focus on preventive maintenance, and increasing efficiency.
July 15, 2024
Trucker of the Year
Meticulous with maintenance, eyes on efficiency: Trucker of the Month Alan Kitzhaber
Want to get value out of a piece of equipment over a term even a quarter of the length of the 4 million miles-plus Kitzhaber's put under his '95 T600's wheels? "If something needs to be fixed, fix it now," he said. "Don’t wait."
August 27, 2024
Overdrive Radio
A fair shot at sharing the road, with or without the robots' help
Trucker of the Month Mike Nichols' careful approach to business extends to perhaps the biggest challenge for OTR owner-ops going: bedrock safety on highways where distraction has become something of a norm.
August 12, 2024
Overdrive Radio
Trucker of the Month Mike Nichols steers business with reliable partnerships high in mind
Putting out a shingle with authority in dry bulk, handling all the maintenance: Neither are practical options for owner-op Mike Nichols, who instead steered his one-truck business to key partnerships in those areas on the winding road to success.
August 5, 2024
Trucker of the Year
Know your limitations, partner accordingly: Trucker of the Month Mike Nichols
After starting his trucking career nearly 40 years ago but spending a number of those years in other industries or elsewhere in trucking than behind the wheel, Nichols well knows his biz strengths, too, and finds home leased to Wayne Transports.
July 30, 2024
Previous Page
Page 2 of 8
Next Page
Top Stories
Regulations
DOT calls out 'despicable' state failures on ELP, CDL rules after deadly crash
After a driver killed three in a tragic crash in Florida, DOT calls out Washington and New Mexico for breaking federal rules in licensing and enforcement.
Overdrive Extra
Proper pressure -- key for tire, driver longevity and owner-ops' bottom lines
Overdrive Radio
Rise of the 'non-domiciled CDL' for non-citizen truck drivers: Safety, rates, security
Overdrive Extra
7-step in-cab workout plan for long-term trucking
Featured Sponsor
JBL Live Beam 3 - True wireless noise-cancelling earbuds with stick-closed design and Smart Charging Caseâ„¢
Overdrive Radio
Latest Episode
Rise of the 'non-domiciled CDL' for non-citizen truck drivers: Safety, rates, security
More episodes »
