Trucking History

Truckstop Ministries founder ‘Chaplain Joe’ passes away

Rev. Joe Hunter founded Truckstop Ministries back in 1981 and was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer in 2016. Details on Chaplain Joe here on Overdrive.

July 30, 2018

Trucking History

Rush Enterprises founder W. Marvin Rush passes on

W.M. 'Rusty' Rush, current head of Rush Enterprises, released a statement about the loss of his father, W. Marvin Rush, and the legacy he leaves behind.

May 18, 2018

W. Marvin Rush (left) at the grand opening almost a decade ago of the then-new Rush Truck Centers Oklahoma City facility.

Trucking History

‘Ranch Hand,’ owner-operator who shared cancer battle on social media, passes at 62

Oklahoma truck driver Delvin Simmons Jr. joined online ubiquity two years ago with a viral video of him singing a moving gospel song on his final ride as a driver — amidst his battle with colon cancer. He died Friday morning. Catch the video of his song here.

May 8, 2018

Screen Shot 2018-06-08 at 1.15.35 PM-2018-06-08-13-15

Trucking History

OOIDA boss, ‘crusader for rights of truckers’ Jim Johnston dies at 78

Johnston was “a resilient leader whose determination secured a position on the frontlines for truckers’ rights,” the group said in a statement. He served as OOIDA’s president and CEO for nearly 44 years, since 1974. He was part of a group of truck drivers that founded OOIDA in 1973.

January 9, 2018

Trucking History

Iowa 80 Truckstop co-founder passes

Carolyn and her husband Bill leased the Iowa 80 Truckstop in Walcott, Iowa, from Standard Oil in 1965. In 1984, the Moons purchased the truck stop and built it into what they billed as the largest truck stop in the world.

May 8, 2017

Trucking History

Fiery crash claims life of tanker driver

August 1, 2016

Trucking History

Songwriter Kim Williams passes on at age 68

Songwriter Kim Williams, known for his work with Garth Brooks, Randy Travis and (more recently) trucker/singer-songwriter Tony Justice, died in Florida this week at age 68.

February 12, 2016

You’ll find Tony Justice’s “On the Road” record at most Love’s and Wilco locations as early as this week attendant to Justice’s securement of new distribution.

Trucking History

Shipping Wars’ Roy Garber dies at 49 of heart attack

One of the stars of A&E’s Shipping Wars, Roy Garber, died Jan. 18 of a heart attack. He was 49.

January 21, 2014

Custom Rigs

Well-known custom truck builder, Texas fleet owner Bill Hall, Jr. dead after motorcycle wreck

Custom truck builder and fleet owner Bill Hall, Jr., died Thursday, Oct. 10, after being struck while riding his motorcycle by his wife’s Cadillac Escalade, according to reports from Hall’s hometown, San Antonio.

October 16, 2013

Bill Hall, Jr., standing with one of his show trucks, El Patron.

Trucking History

Remembering Douglas Bench, 1967-2013

Small fleet owner Douglas Bench passed away in January at the age of 45 — he leaves behind a strong trucking business with family members as monument to his life.

February 20, 2013

Trucking History

Former OD Owner-Operator of the Month Jimmy McSwain dead at 52

Sunco Carriers driver, TCA Owner-Operator of the Year finalist and Overdrive’s April 2012 Owner-Operator of the Month Jimmy McSwain died Tuesday morning.

January 9, 2013

Trucking History

Former Randall-Reilly editor Max Kvidera dies in accident

The trucking industry is mourning the death of longtime trucking/business journalist Max Kvidera.

July 18, 2012

Trucking History

Workhorse antiques to get ‘a little pampering’

OverdriveRetro’s mission expands into trucking history at the end of Overdrive’s 50th anniversary celebration.

September 30, 2011

Trucking History

What a mustard seed of faith can do

Religious faith is the subject of two cover stories, the photos for which are in the photo gallery for covers on OverdriveRetro.

September 23, 2011

Trucking History

A receptionist’s memories: Overdrive in Hollywood

Bonnie Robinson remembers Overdrive’s staff and offices in the 1970s.

September 16, 2011

Trucking History

‘Hi, yo, Silver, away!’

Clayton Moore, longtime star of the TV series, “The Lone Ranger,” revealed a respect for truckers in a 1972 Overdrive feature.

September 8, 2011

Trucking History

Designer jeans, cologne for the long haul

Made especially for truckers, Long Haul jeans were launched in 1982 by Chase City, Va.-based Jonbil Inc.

August 31, 2011

Trucking History

1970s-era Overdrive staffer enjoyed storied past

Former Overdrive receptionist, Bonnie Robinson, remembers a storied past at the magazine, whose headquarters were once in Hollywood, Calif.

August 24, 2011

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The trucker cap in teacher Amy Watson’s selfie from the day she was tested for COVID-19 later inspired her choice of “long-haulers” to describe COVID survivors with persistent symptoms. “My school’s mascot is a squirrel,” she said, which she finds appropriate, given that her pre-school students, with their short bursts of activity, are “very squirrel-like.”

Trucking’s bit part in the 'COVID long-haulers’ name

A teacher's trucker cap provides inspiration for her to borrow trucking's "long-hauler" designation for COVID-19 survivors who discover they're facing an indefinite period of further suffering.

Small-fleet owner Jesse McGinness was going for originality with the look of this 2021 Peterbilt 389, spec'ing the black Alcoa rims from the factory. After his maiden voyage in a Class 8 tractor years ago, in a Peterbilt 379, he fell in love with the classic square-hood series. He plans to modify the stacks, the grille and more to all-black finish -- committing sacrilege, says the operator who took him on that first 379 run. McGinness'll maintain plenty in chrome/stainless accents, not to worry. The flattop with lift-axle is powered by the X15 Cummins at 605 hp, with an 18-speed transmission. 'I wanted this truck to be a truck that I thought was cool,' McGinness said, in addition to doing the tough over-dimensional/heavy hauling he'll require of it.

'WTF' stresses service for long-term success

The glider market grew from a few hundred sales a year in 2010 to upwards of 10,000 as recently as 2017. Gliders sported pre-emissions-regs engines -- no exhaust gas recirculation or selective catalytic reduction components and, thus, no need for DEF. With simpler technology and refurbished engines, the products were much cheaper than new trucks with new engines, making them attractive buys for small-business truckers.

Glider kit market hits fatal nosedive with latest emissions regs

After weakened demand in 2020, diesel prices jump back to pre-pandemic levels

Junior Elmore’s Marmon caught Christner's eye right off for a very simple reason: 'I’d never seen a Marmon cabover in the flesh before,' he wrote. 'Up close, it’s easy to see why a Marmon cabover was used in the movie 'Transformers: Age of Extinction' as the Autobot Optimus Prime. Elmore’s Marmon COE #31 HDT-BC-86 was Manufactured 03/1977 in Garland, Texas. This is a complete truck with no parts taken off. Still running when parked in 1999. A good honest work truck that’s nicely spec’d out.' Find more details, and history, via this link.

Look back at Junior Elmore's classic 1970s rigs

Beware: Human smugglers luring truckers along the border

More episodes »

The Business Manual for Owner-Operators

Overdrive editors and ATBS present the industry’s best manual for prospective and committed owner-operators. You’ll find exceptional depth on many issues in the 2021 edition of Partners in Business.

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