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Overdrive Radio

How the COVID hours waiver could disentangle HOS rigidity

Strong views from Andrea Marks of the Trucker Nation advocacy group on the opportunities embedded within the long extensions of FMCSA's COVID-emergency-related waivers – and the dangers lurking in the latest changes as of September 1.

September 17, 2021

overdrive radio pic colllage

POLL: How often, if at all, have you used the COVID-emergency hours of service waiver?

Have you used the waiver often over the past year and more? A little? Not at all? Weigh in via the poll here or drop a comment at the bottom of the post.

September 15, 2021

Eld Broken Time Left Zero Electronic Logs

Overdrive Extra

He died on the road -- Remembering owner-op Mylo Heimbuch

Long Haul Paul remembers a close owner-operator friend, Mylo Heimbuch, with Mylo's wife, Tammy. Mylo passed away last week after a fight with COVID's Delta variant in Georgia on the road from his Michigan home.

September 14, 2021

Mylo and Tammy Heimbuch

Overdrive Extra

Senator Bernie Sanders sends a message to trucking

It's clear now that if Senator Bernie Sanders and the progressive Democrats he works with in Washington have their way on climate change, big changes could come to the trucking business sooner than later.

September 13, 2021

Bernie Sanders speaking at a podium

Looking back on 9/11's lasting trucking legacy

This retrospective on trucking history post-9/11 comes on the occasion of the 20th anniversary. While impacts of that event are impossible to exhaustively chronicle, Overdrive found shifts in security protocols, driver camaraderie, freight, and more.

September 13, 2021

Dick McCorkle and Tim Philmon

Overdrive Extra

Driving through depression's dark valleys

Learning cognitive techniques "taught me how to battle my demons, how to stay clean, and how to finally find the peace I sought." --Trucker Clifford Petersen on battling depression's demons. Here find tips you may need if fighting the same fight.

September 10, 2021

semi truck and vehicle on highway

Overdrive Extra

Don't over-insure your trucking business

It could cost you thousands annually. Here, independent owner-op and insurance agent W. Joel Baker offers a rundown of the top 3 types of commercial auto coverages he sees owner-operators and small fleets paying for that they don't need.

September 7, 2021

two semi-trucks on a highway passing a semi-truck pulled over on the side

Docmenting the 'Faces of the Road' with Long Haul Paul

Any retrospective on Overdrive's recent history would be incomplete without Paul Marhoefer's contributions to the magazine's multi-author "Overdrive Extra" blog with his "Faces of the Road" series of dynamic close-ups, delivering living history.

September 6, 2021

Paul Marhoefer (bottom right) channeled the story of Kay and Ken Wagner (bottom left) in late 2019 as part of the 'Faces' series. The Wagners didn't exactly divulge the secrets underlying their 45 years of team OTR work, yet their history spoke for itself. Read more in Overdrive's weekly 60th-annversary series of lookbacks on trucking history, and that of the magazine itself, via this link.

Overdrive Radio

Trucker Talent Search podcast preview

On Overdrive Radio, we'll hear from trucker Mike Sheffield of Kentucky, Michigan-based Grassmid driver Rich Scripps, and Dayton, Ohio's Guy Archer, all in conversation, too, with the great Eric Harley of Red Eye Radio. Take a listen here.

September 3, 2021

trucker talent search collage

A newly reconditioned 'Duel' 1960 Peterbilt 351 makes debut next week

Check out the work put into Brad Wike's 1960 Pete 351 and tanker used in the 1971 'Duel' film at the Southern Classic Truck Show next week. Also: The men and women of Truckers Feeding the Homeless are conducting outreach/support in Houston October 1-3.

September 1, 2021

Mariani noted that after so many years with little in the way of detail attention, 'the 'Duel' truck needed its stage makeup put back on, as it had faded from its normal, ugly, scary self,' notable in the image at the top. Mariani spent several days in June 'painting the looks back on,' and then he and Wike brought in Gene Maynor (pictured, bottom left) 'for the re-lettering work.' Mariani then set to destroying, that -- with a purpose to 'get the on-screen look of the truck from 50 years prior.'

Overdrive Radio

Five owners, five forecasts for biz growth

At last month's SuperRigs event, News Editor Matt Cole asked these five owners – from OTR heavy haul to local-regional fuel delivery – to forecast the next five years. Growth is coming and prospects are bright for small trucking, despite headwinds.

August 27, 2021

Overdrive Extra

What would happen if employers forced truckers to get vaccinated?

President Joe Biden, the National Safety Council, and other top authorities are all pressuring employers to mandate or incentivize vaccinations. But do they really tell owners and drivers what to do?

August 25, 2021

covid vaccine and trucker

Out-of-service brake adjustment: More detail on how violations work at roadside

A bit of a clarification of the 20% rule following last week's podcast report, and: owner-operator Howard Salmon, after nearly two years away from the road during his son's cancer battle, jumps back on the horse with new perspective. ...

August 25, 2021

man performing brake inspection

Overdrive Extra

Will the first COVID vaccine approval improve uptake among drivers?

COVID vaccine uptake among owner-operators may well rise with this week's full FDA approval for one, according to results of Overdrive polling, yet Long Haul Paul finds skepticism running deep through several conversations with readers.

August 24, 2021

Eye candy, business advice: Overdrive's top 25 custom-rigs vids

Marking Overdrive's sixth decade in existence, here's a compilation in one handy spot of the most-watched equipment-forward videos we've done since our Pride & Polish vid collection in 2015.

August 23, 2021

custom rig compilation

Overdrive Radio

In-depth refresher on the 20% rule for out-of-service brake adjustment violations

In this podcast, a former inspector and compliance consultant details just how the out-of-service criteria around brakes adjustment work. A lot depends on knowing your chamber type and stroke length to effectively test your brakes to avoid violations.

August 20, 2021

Mississippi law enforcement officer inspecting the wheels on a semi-truck trailer

POLL: What's the greatest trucking song of all time?

Choose your favorite three in this poll toward determining a final top 10 for 2021 to update our past rankings on the occasion of Overdrive's 60th anniversary.

August 20, 2021

A year after his passing, ‘Midnight Cowboy’ Bill Mack lives on in readers’ memories

Though he never met Mack, reader Ralph Hudson surmised the radio legend might have been "my best friend." Other memories of the 'Midnight Cowboy' here, including former Overdrive editor Max Heine's remembrance at the time of his passing one year ago.

August 11, 2020

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How the COVID hours waiver could disentangle HOS rigidity

Strong views from Andrea Marks of the Trucker Nation advocacy group on the opportunities embedded within the long extensions of FMCSA's COVID-emergency-related waivers – and the dangers lurking in the latest changes as of September 1.

Getty Images 1217506836 6141073a6243c

An ode to the American Truck Driver

Guy Archer wins 2021 Trucker Talent Search

Michael and Jackie Wallace's special 120-inch-sleeper '07 Coronado

The 'Semper Fi' 2007 Coronado of Michael and Jackie Wallace

Howes Diesel Defender

Howes Diesel Defender

How the COVID hours waiver could disentangle HOS rigidity

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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.

Partners in Business Issue Cover