Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/269152
March 2014 | Overdrive | 43 Terrance Smith's top safe driving tips include being aware of following distance and speed. Photo courtesy Kim Harris, Miramichi Terrance Smith T errance Smith of Miramichi, New Brunswick, Canada, is a self-described maintenance fanatic. Smith believes that to be a suc- cessful safe driver, the truck has to be in top shape at all times. "You learn real early that you have to do maintenance," he says. "I change my oil every 15,000 miles, and I have the truck greased and checked over every 7,500. It's a personal thing. It costs a little more mon- ey, but I try to keep on top of things." He's learned that when you have only one truck, "you can't stretch things out. It'll come back to bite you." Smith, who turns 63 this year, drives reefer in Canada and the United States for Kingston, Ontario's SLH Transport. Over his 42-year career, he has racked up 4.75 million accident-free miles. For his first 10 years in trucking, he was a company driver. Smith became an owner-operator 33 years ago when he bought a used Freightliner with the help of his father-in-law. He kept that used truck only about a year and has bought new trucks ever since. "I like the freedom" that comes with being an owner-operator, Smith says. He sometimes gets to choose his loads, and SLH allows some other flexibility that he enjoys. "I decide when I leave, where I stop, where I sleep, what I eat, how much exercise." His wife, Roxanne, helps with the books and gives him directions over the phone when he can't find a destination. To maintain his safe record, Smith keeps top-notch equipment, never follows too closely and doesn't drive tired. His truck is governed at 65 miles an hour. "I give all cars on the highway all the respect I can give them," he says. "It's worked for me, and I continue to do it every day." Text INFO to 205-289-3555 or visit www.ovdinfo.com SCAN THIS QR CODE to download the TBR Databook COME SEE US AT MATS BOOTH #18068 Engineered to outsmart road conditions ©2014 CMA, LLC. See more smart money stories at www.DoubleCoinTires.com Discover why more carriers are choosing Double Coin tires over other brands "We like the standardized pricing, and the fact that the National Account Program bills us direct." — Mark Cooper, Cooper Freight FR605 FD405 FT105 FT125 Fuel Effi cient Tire Line Date: 02/25/14 Client: CMA Job #: 01352012 File Name: 0141_CMA_DC_Ad_OV_Cooper_March2014_h_SNIPE Account Director: Henry Artime Editor: Designer: ch Revised By: jb Production: jb Color: 4C/Process Trim: 7"× 4.5" Bleed: none Safety: 6.75"× 4" Fold: none Publication(s): Overdrive Run Date(s): March 2014 Special Instructions: Approved By: Page 1 of 1 Untitled-1 1 2/26/14 10:03 AM Top Trucker TCA_Finalist_0314.indd 43 2/26/14 2:50 PM