Close the gap

Jul 8, 2013

Updated Sep 6, 2013

“My best tip from hauling trade shows with a 53-foot van-trailer was to close the gap to at least 28 inches with the rear of the tractor. At about 30 inches, wind removes the aerodynamics, so I specifically measured each trailer I was hooking to avoid fuel mileage loss.”

R.A.”Bob” McConnell
Owner-operator, ROMCO Equipment

Ron Kelsey, pictured here with his 'Sunrise Express' 1981 Peterbilt 359, is Overdrive's Trucker of the Month for July, putting him in the running for the 2025 Trucker of the Year award.

Owner-op holy grail: Decades of direct freight in a custom '81 359

Owner-operator Ron Kelsey has been hauling for the same two shipper customers since he got his authority as an independent in 1994. Managing those relationships, and his award-winning 1981 Peterbilt 359, keep his business running strong.

Cameron Bagely's 1999 Peterbilt 379 parked at the Gear Jammer Magazine Truck Show in Epping, New Hampshire.

23-year-old Cameron Bagley's 1999 Pete 379 carries on father's legacy

California Highway Patrol said it won't enforce President Donald Trump's English language proficiency mandate as it's 'not part of California law.'

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If finalized, this proposal would remove all greenhouse gas standards for light-, medium- and heavy-duty vehicles and heavy-duty engines, starting with EPA’s first greenhouse gas regulations set in 2010 for light-duty vehicles and those set in 2011 for medium-duty vehicles and heavy-duty vehicles and engines – which includes off-cycle credits like the much hated start-stop feature on most new cars.

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Pride & Polish

Overdrive’s annual Pride & Polish virtual truck show attracts entries from across the nation showcasing show-quality design, mechanical ingenuity and plenty of trucking-business pride. Find recent-history awards shows, in-depth features about the winners, and more.