Voices

Owner-op finds Chicago container hauling, long-term, more lucrative than OTR

Marine vet and owner-operator Carlos Alizondo hauled in military support-operations in Iraq, but also has war stories about container hauling in his hometown of Chicago. "These guys don't know how good they have it today," he said of current conditions.

January 23, 2023

Carlos Alizondo's 1998 Peterbilt 379 daycab

Keep Trucking with small fleet owner Mike Nelms, integrating biz education into operations

In today's Overdrive Radio podcast, the story of how Nelms built a 22-truck fleet by including distinctly educational efforts into ops. Also hear how 30-year-old Caroline Correa clears $9K-$11K a month as a small fleet investor leased with Nelms.

January 20, 2023

Why a college administrator quit her job and took up trucking

Tiffany Wallin fell for an owner-operator and the trucking lifestyle all at once, overcoming a personal tragedy to do so. For her husband, having a woman deal with shippers has been an eye-opener.

January 19, 2023

Tiffany Wallin sits behind the wheel of 2017 Freightliner Coronado glider.

POLL: What's your credit score?

Owner-operators, have you been keeping track of your credit score? When it comes time to borrow, of course, it's a significant piece of information any lender looks at to determine loan terms, and whether it can lend to you. Weigh in via this poll...

January 17, 2023

Owner Operator Credit Score Distribution January 2020

New year, new you

Have you given up on your New Year's Resolutions yet? If so, you're not alone. Clifford Petersen here offers strategies toward more effective goal-setting and achievement. "The reward is a new you, at a new level, in this new year."

January 16, 2023

Flatbed On Highway California Pacheco Pass

Battery-electric's trucking reality -- parking shortage will 'look a whole lot worse'

If the entirety of the U.S. vehicle fleet, including owner-operators' trucks, suddenly transitioned to battery-electric, what level of electric power generation would it take? What kind of materials demands? Furthermore, how much worse would parking get?

January 13, 2023

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Driver arrested after crash derails train in Tennessee

Police announced felony charges and blasted out the mugshot of a driver involved in a scary collision with a train, but some commenters are crying foul. The operator's day in court is set for April.

January 12, 2023

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Wide loads to a narrow niche: Houseboat hauler and expert diesel mechanic Greg Parks

The story of how a personal need in 2010 brought the longtime diesel shop owner to the ultra-specialized business of houseboat hauling, which is a significant though still part-time portion of his week-in, week-out work out of Camden, Arkansas.

January 10, 2023

Greg Parks' Western Star pulling a houseboat

A purposeful life beyond the truck: Owner-operators Jay and Katt Hosty

The long-term return on a person’s honest investment in volunteering far outweighs what may appear at first a week of lost income opportunity. Meet an example of purpose beyond the truck in owner-operator Jay Hosty and his wife, Katt.

January 9, 2023

Jay Hosty and his 2005 Western Star

Owner-operators' 2023 income expectations trend sharply negative

Asked in the final month of 2022 to assess prospects for business income in 2023, 6 in 10 owners saw either a downtick coming or more of the same as the challenging year of 2022. This episode of Overdrive Radio in part offers strategies for dealing.

January 6, 2023

California Weigh Station

Faces of the Road: Longtime Wreaths Across America transportation director Don Queeney

Don Queeney "exudes mission," according to Long Haul Paul in this profile about his long tenure directing transportation annually for Wreaths Across America. The Hampton Roads Moving and Storage cofounder reflects on that mission here.

January 3, 2023

Then there was this photo in late 2005 that basically broke the Internet.

Runaway duals incoming! ... and a Christmas Eve miracle, or: 'Hi, I'm Phil'

Long Haul Paul Marhoefer recounts the once-in-a-lifetime experience of a runaway set of duals that hit him head-on in Western Nebraska on Christmas Eve, where a miracle of kindness and generosity awaited from enforcement, fellow truckers and citizens.

January 2, 2023

A separated tandem pair of wheels speeds toward impact with Long Haul Paul's truck

Survive a heart attack, fight freight fraud, button up the business: 2022 on Overdrive Radio

Another day, another year nearly in the books. Today, our annual podcast year-in-review, a big one for trucking as an owner-operator, with absolutely huge challenges. Run back through 2022 to spark a new idea or two, renew old goals.

December 30, 2022

FMCSA's new agenda, diesel's wild ride and the owner-ops who braved a 'bloodbath'

An ongoing pandemic, a raging foreign war, and diesel prices on a high-flying rollercoaster ride marked the year 2022, sure to go down as one of the most volatile in trucking's recent history. Track back through the most-read stories in this review.

December 28, 2022

No image defined the owner-operator experience of 2022 quite like the prototype suggested by this one, showing rarely seen per-gallon fuel costs and and gaudy totals. A similar series of photos shared around on social media prompted Overdrive's Gary Buchs in August to drill down into strategies to do more than just live with the all the horror around high fuel.

Protect claims history: Be mindful of fine print in broker/customer agreements and contracts

In particular, keep a sharp eye out for any broker or customer’s requirement to provide “additional insured” coverage and/or a “waiver of subrogation” -- both could have big insurance implications in the event of an incident.

December 27, 2022

trucks on highway

POLL: What tire size is on your tractor?

Weigh in via this poll assessing current distribution of low-pro and tall 22.5 and 24.5 tires. If you made a proactive choice of any size, drop a comment with your notes on just why.

December 27, 2022

In favor of speed limiters: One owner-op's economic, safety case

Hear from an owner-op who swears by governing his truck at 58 mph, and how it's saved not just money and fuel, but potentially lives and headaches as well.

December 26, 2022

Robert ellis's Proud Mary 2016 Kenworth

Owner-op's vets-tribute FLD and Kentucky trailer, and its story of sacrifice, achievement and hope

Household-goods-hauling owner-operator Steven Meyer's custom-wrapped Kentucky trailer delivers the "Remember, Honor, Teach" message of Wreaths Across America with five distinctive histories, interlocking histories.

December 23, 2022

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Trucking Law: How to protect your business after a crash

Experiencing an accident is every owner-operator’s worst nightmare, and in the heat of the moment it's easy for even professionals to act against their interests. When you get involved in an accident, immediately begin to legally protect yourself.

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Lil' Ray's Transport: Five custom classics caught at Merced truck show

Carlos Alizondo's 1998 Peterbilt 379 daycab

Owner-op finds Chicago container hauling, long-term, more lucrative than OTR

Enter Overdrive's 2023 Trucker of the Year competition

Engineered for superior calls in high-noise environments.

Engineered for superior calls in high-noise environments.

Keep Trucking with small fleet owner Mike Nelms, integrating biz education into operations

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