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Overdrive Extra: Page 10
Was truck ownership supposed to be this hard?
Getting back to business brass tacks, Gary Buchs notes this common theme emerging from many MATS conversations with owner-operators both brand-new to the business and well-seasoned. Take control, plan, act, analyze the results to maintain success.
April 7, 2022
Plan and prepare before moving beyond just one truck to grow the business
W. Joel Baker makes the case for careful preparation and costs considerations for an independent owner-operator thinking of growing beyond a single truck. For him in his early trucking history, remaining just one truck was the best decision. Here's why.
April 4, 2022
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July 16, 2024
Legendary Bill Fries, creator of C.W. McCall and 'Convoy' classic, dies at 93
Overdrive looks back on the life and times of Bill Fries, the legendary advertising man who played a big role in the pop trucking craze of the 1970s on the back of his classic hit song, "Convoy."
April 4, 2022
Overdrive Extra
DataQs reform: A 10% violation error rate should not be acceptable
When a noticeable sidewall cut in a trailer tire was determined to have been marked as a violation in error, this small fleet owner did the math on his successful DataQs challenges over the past years. Here, his ideas on needed DataQs/CSA reform.
March 29, 2022
Overdrive Extra
Back to efficiency/safety basics with advanced driver assist systems
If you're driving with an advanced driver-assist system, notes longtime pro Jeff Clark in this op-ed on the partnership between safety and efficiency, try to maximize both for greater fuel mileage and more safety.
March 22, 2022
Overdrive Extra
'Cancelation,' and the First Amendment's rope-a-dope with U.S. culture
Overdrive Extra contributor Clifford Petersen on the "cancel culture" phenomenon -- in his view a possible slippery slope down a dangerous road when it comes to the need for frank debate and discussion.
March 21, 2022
Overdrive Extra
Faces of the Road: Log hauler and writer Gord Magill, student of the ice roads
The latest in Long Haul Paul's series of oral histories and profiles features Canadian-born hauler Gord Magill, who's run the ice roads, hauled logs in New Zealand and road trains in Australia, written on Canadian politics for Newsweek, and more.
March 8, 2022
Overdrive Extra
What I saw in Indianapolis of the 'People's Convoy'
Long Haul Paul visited the Indiana daylong stop of the "People's Convoy" as it made its way toward the D.C. area. Organizers noted the convoy will terminate in the D.C. area, not D.C. proper.
March 4, 2022
Overdrive Extra
Truck operators are frustrated, and for good reason
Greg Fulton of Colorado's state trucking association offered these views on the difficulties operators face across trucking. "We call them essential workers. It’s about time we start treating them accordingly" by improving parking, regs, roads and more.
February 24, 2022
Overdrive Extra
No matter what Punxsutawney Phil said, winter is almost over
If you're one among the untold number of us dealing with SAD, or 'Seasonal Affective Disorder,' writes Overdrive Extra contributor Clifford Petersen, there's plenty you can do to combat depression -- and you don't have to wait for spring to start.
February 21, 2022
Overdrive Extra
What do insurance companies use to calculate our insurance premium rates?
Insurance agent/longtime owner-operator W. Joel Baker breaks down why his own first annual trucking insurance premium was so high when he got authority -- most of the factors that go into an insurance rate are under your control.
February 14, 2022
Overdrive Extra
There's no better time than now to prep financially for retirement
We're not talking about selling off the equipment, however -- Overdrive Extra contributor Gary Buchs details strategies to take toward retirement account contributions, the differences between IRA types and SEPs, with a significant savings advantage.
February 7, 2022
Overdrive Extra
The Dolly vaccine and me: Long Haul Paul mourns losses, grateful for his own COVID recovery
Paul tells his personal COVID story, thankful amid recent loss for a generally mild illness and quick recovery enabled by the vaccine: "If you're still floating this pandemic on your personal mojo with Jesus alone, all I can say is be careful out there."
January 31, 2022
Overdrive Extra
It’s high time for a new accessorial when dealing with certain brokers
While there are many accessorials and some unique to specific types of trucking, Leander Richmond argues for this new one. Just as brokers might charge a service fee for “Quick Pay,” carriers should charge "Quick POD" to brokers demanding it.
January 24, 2022
Overdrive Extra
A closer look at insurance unique to power-only trucking
Insurance companies' policy and claims rules differ when it comes to the two types of insurance to cover trailers pulled power-only: so-called 'trailer interchange' and 'non-owned trailer' coverages. What you need will depend on operations particulars.
January 17, 2022
Overdrive Radio
What's your exit strategy? Faces of the Road with author Michael Perry
Long Haul Paul asks: What would it be like to be a substitute Spanish teacher, in addition to part-time trucking? Paul's interview for Overdrive Radio with former trucking writer Michael Perry interrogates life after trucking, self-employment and more.
January 14, 2022
Overdrive Extra
What do you do when you can't source something as simple as oil?
Gary Buchs relays a tale from an owner-operator unable to source 5W40 synthetic oil for service at one of the biggest shops in the country, along the way underscoring tried-and-true, and novel, strategies toward dealing with today's myriad disruptions.
January 10, 2022
Overdrive Extra
Va. guv blames drivers as operators react to I-95 snow-in
The 27-hour snow-in on I-95 in Virginia, trapping hundreds of drivers, made national headlines. The fallout's not been kind to outgoing governor Ralph Northam, who blamed drivers for the mess, apologized, and expressed frustration.
January 7, 2022
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