Overdrive

Voices 8 | Overdrive | March 2017 Being confident is a good thing. Hav- ing pride in your job is great. Telling veterans of the road who have seats in their truck older than you that they need to retire isn't cool. Especially when you're driving a brand-new wipe-your-snotty-nose truck with an automatic transmission, automatic braking, automatic etc. Have a little respect, and keep your mouth shut about your wishes unless they're to wish another driver a safe ride. We keep the CB on all the time – George always has. Especially now that he's doing oversize, the CB is a valuable tool he can't do without. But every single day, we hear smar- tass comments that are completely unnecessary and generally cause a plethora of other smartass comments that make everyone in range grumpy. If you were in preschool, you'd have your CB taken away and be put in timeout. Sometimes being the one and only person who will break in with some- thing positive can change the entire mood from grumpy bugs to brothers and sisters of the road. I challenge each of you to be that person. Nashville, Friday morning traffic: It's raining, which makes it certain that at least one four-wheeler will scare themselves silly and wreck in some enormous fashion that closes at least three lanes on both sides. Lots of grousing on the CB. "The middle lane wasn't built for you and you alone, Werner." "Come around me, drivah, I ain't moving for you." This quickly devolved into an argument over middle-lane rights and mothers. It just goes so sideways sometimes. One minute you're a lane hog, the next minute you're a bleeding-heart liberal terrorist with questionable ancestry. It's crazy, and it gets old real fast. Especially to the dinosaurs. George cued in with, "Listen guys, it's way too early on a Friday morn- ing in Nashville to be bickering. We need to help each other through this mess, like we should. Come on?" Every single response was positive. "That's right, drivah, you right!" "Amen, brother." "That's a biiiii-iiiiiig ten-fo!" Traffic was still a cluster of squirrel guts, like only Nashville can be, and there were still snarky comments all around, but there was a lot more focus on where the bears and taillights were, and a lot less talking about dumb stuff. The little pack got through Nashville unscathed. That's what it's about, people. Wendy Parker chronicles her journey on the road with her owner-operator husband, George, in the George and Wendy Show blog on OverdriveOnline.com. Scan the QR to read more from her on your phone or tablet. When positivity is futile " I can agree, but often a friendly word has gone unnoticed by some antagonist doing the 'Highway Rambo' routine. Usually it takes recognizing and calling them by their truck name before they suddenly become quiet. It got so bad the last few years of my highway running that I only turned my CB on when I needed some info, and then I was usually very sorry that I had! " — David Allen, via Overdrive's Facebook page. Allen retired a year ago, selling his last Western Star, with 4.5 million miles in the rearview. I wish all you dinosaurs would just retire and let us drive. — Anonymous driver overheard on Channel 19 How to redirect poisonous CB banter Your local dinosaurs have lived through some hairy stuff, drove some hard miles and laid a path for you to enjoy the luxury of a Cadillac cab.

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• Readers: Behind-the-wheel training minimum critical.
• Pulse: FMCSA backpedals on safety proposal.
• The ELD mandate and the “House Freedom Caucus.”
• Dry bulk for the long haul.
• “Build the wall”: Majority favors Trump plan.
• Lawsuit opposes Trump order to reduce regs.
• Industry united against safety rating change.
• Court to review border policy.
• C.R. England plans to appeal fraud ruling.
• Lag growing between CDL training, skills test.
• Big-rig race series returns in new format.
• Rare 96-year-old White 5-ton finds new home.
• Reader Rigs: ’07 W900L an ice cream truck; ’14 389 a “Green Monster”; ’09 W900L a million-miler.
• BUSINESS: Make the most of your tax deductions.
• Gear Guide: Trailer brake drum, wheels, clutches, more.
• FLEET NEWS: Averitt expands in Northeast, hiring drivers.
• 5 APPS FOR THAT: Matching book lovers with recordings.
• RESPECT THE DINOSAURS: Diverse drivers united for a common goal is what it’s all about, Wendy Parker writes. Page 8.
• COVER STORY: Sleight of truck | Imagine arriving at a gate and presenting papers to pick up a load. The man in the guard shack looks confused and says you’ve already been there and that the load is gone. Heists involving false identity and other fraud ar
• Dodging the middleman: While no one service will be “Uber for all” in the fragmented brokerage market, on-demand load-matching services are seeing some success at circumventing traditional brokers and promising gains for owner-operators in rates, freight
• $25,000 awaits top owner-operator: Three owner-operators – Gary Buchs, Philip Keith and Kevin Kocmich – are finalists for the 2016 Owner-Operator of the Year award, produced by the Truckload Carriers Association and Overdrive.
• Maintaining your wheels: A pre-trip inspection for cracks and rust is usually sufficient for maintenance of aluminum and steel wheels. A few other best practices, though, can almost ensure that wheels last as long as your truck.