Former owner-operator Joe Rajkovacz, now representing the Western States Trucking Association, addressed attendees of the National Association of Small Trucking Companies' annual meeting here in Nashville last week. As usual, his talk contained more than a few items of note for owner-operators and small fleets, not least among them his good news view on where the speed-limiter mandate is going (see above) and less-sunny thoughts about a somewhat recent California Air Resources Board meeting mulling possibilities of a new Ultra-Low NOx emissions standard -- that one holds the possibility of further pushing up the cost of new diesels. $200,000 trucks would not be far off under such a scenario, he said. More from his regulatory update presentation here at the National Association of Small Trucking Companies' annual meeting. More via this link: http://overdriveonline.com/regs-outlook-change-is-in-the-air

Former owner-operator Joe Rajkovacz, now representing the Western States Trucking Association, addressed attendees of the National Association of Small Trucking Companies' annual meeting here in Nashville last week. As usual, his talk contained more than a few items of note for owner-operators and small fleets, not least among them his good news view on where the speed-limiter mandate is going (see above) and less-sunny thoughts about a somewhat recent California Air Resources Board meeting mulling possibilities of a new Ultra-Low NOx emissions standard -- that one holds the possibility of further pushing up the cost of new diesels. $200,000 trucks would not be far off under such a scenario, he said. More from his regulatory update presentation here at the National Association of Small Trucking Companies' annual meeting. More via this link: http://overdriveonline.com/regs-outlook-change-is-in-the-air

This podcast installment of Overdrive’s Partners in Business, condensed from Overdrive's business manual of the same name, covers how to control fuel costs. Topics include how to minimize fuel consumption, getting a fair fuel surcharge and choosing where to buy fuel.

This podcast installment of Overdrive’s Partners in Business, condensed from Overdrive's business manual of the same name, covers how to control fuel costs. Topics include how to minimize fuel consumption, getting a fair fuel surcharge and choosing where to buy fuel.

One of the biggest hurdles in being a successful owner-operator has little to do with what goes on inside the cab or under the hood. Instead, it’s the challenge you face as an independent who has to run a small business, managing thousands of dollars in revenue and costs. This podcast installment in the Overdrive’s Partners in Business series, excerpting portions of the Partners in Business manual, covers how to develop and use profit and loss statements, and how to understand your revenue, earnings and costs.

One of the biggest hurdles in being a successful owner-operator has little to do with what goes on inside the cab or under the hood. Instead, it’s the challenge you face as an independent who has to run a small business, managing thousands of dollars in revenue and costs. This podcast installment in the Overdrive’s Partners in Business series, excerpting portions of the Partners in Business manual, covers how to develop and use profit and loss statements, and how to understand your revenue, earnings and costs.

Overdrive readers react to Donald Trump's election victory with a call for increased attention to and revision or repeal of, variously, the FMCSA's ELD mandate, NHTSA/FMCSA's proposed speed limiter mandate, the inflexibility of the 14-hour rule and 30-minute break in the hours of service and more.

Overdrive readers react to Donald Trump's election victory with a call for increased attention to and revision or repeal of, variously, the FMCSA's ELD mandate, NHTSA/FMCSA's proposed speed limiter mandate, the inflexibility of the 14-hour rule and 30-minute break in the hours of service and more.

How former owner-operator/fleet owner and current educator and radio host Rutherford broke the ice with the mostly-broker audience at Truckstop.com's Connected 2016 user conference: "Many of my listeners think the majority of this room are lying, cheating scumbag parasites sitting in a room with a phone and an internet connection sucking all the profit out of the load." Truth is, brokers serve a purpose in the industry as the outside sales force for many an independent owner-operator, a model for freight movement that Rutherford views as the most efficient in trucking all around. In this talk, he spelled out for the brokerage audience why he's on a mission to help strengthen the relationships between brokers and independents toward better profitability for owner-operators and a more healthy industry.

How former owner-operator/fleet owner and current educator and radio host Rutherford broke the ice with the mostly-broker audience at Truckstop.com's Connected 2016 user conference: "Many of my listeners think the majority of this room are lying, cheating scumbag parasites sitting in a room with a phone and an internet connection sucking all the profit out of the load." Truth is, brokers serve a purpose in the industry as the outside sales force for many an independent owner-operator, a model for freight movement that Rutherford views as the most efficient in trucking all around. In this talk, he spelled out for the brokerage audience why he's on a mission to help strengthen the relationships between brokers and independents toward better profitability for owner-operators and a more healthy industry.