Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/409537
42 | Overdrive | November 2014 the road warrior Even throughout some of the show's more unusual situations, she found herself connecting with shippers more than she expected. "I understand that the cargo is import- ant to them," says Samko. "That means it's important to me, too." The "Shipping Wars" cast also includes original cast member Marc Springer ("The Big Rig"), own- er-operator duo Todd and Tamera Sturgis ("The Double Threat"), Jennifer Brennan ("The Cowgirl"), Jarrett Joyce ("The Rookie") and Dusty Davie ("The Prodigy"). They bid for jobs listed on uShip.com in a reverse-auction format. The goals are to win the bid and earn positive client feedback. The tricky part is not only to make deadline but to make money, too. "I'm not the most experienced trucker out there, but I'm deter- mined to figure it out," says Samko, who's been driving professionally since 2008. She gets flak from other truckers because her Volvo has an automatic transmission, but Springer, who drives a 1999 Kenworth T600, says he's glad to have another big-rig trucker on board. "She's a nice kid, even if she doesn't shift gears," says Springer, who owns Snortn' Boar Transport. "She's a professional truck driver, and we are set up to handle the oversized loads, unlike the pickup truck drivers. If I had it my way, the whole cast would be made up of truck drivers." Springer doesn't comment on Sam- ko's tough-girl persona except to say that he's a fan. And he says she's had her share, like all of them, of over-the- top crazy loads. 877-9NO-IDLE | www.GenuineWebasto.com Webasto Idle Reduction Technology: Tested & Proven Ice Road Truckers, Vlad Pleskot and Hugh "Polar Bear" Rowland, rely on Webasto heaters in extremely cold weather to make sure their engines start and their bunks are warm. By using Webasto idle reduction technology they are also saving fuel, reducing idling and saving money. Contact Webasto today to learn how you can too! Untitled-8 1 10/27/14 10:29 AM Text INFO to 205-289-3555 or visit www.ovdinfo.com " Sometimes people will recognize me at truck stops and ask me about the show. Truck- ers will recognize my truck and wave or blow their horn. " — Jessica Samko