Overdrive

Custom Rigs 38 | Overdrive | April 2017 C arol Schneider fell in love with trucking as a child, being the daughter of a 13-truck fleet owner. "I used to get in his dump truck and try to hide so I could go with him instead of school," Schneider says. She's now been driving for almost three decades. She spent her first 11 years hauling steel and aluminum, but after that job took a physical toll, she started delivering produce with her husband, Phillip. Today, the owner-operators from Joplin, Missouri, are leased to Flee- nor Brothers and haul commercial- grade explosives and other hazmat products for the mining and con- struction industries. They run 48 states and all prov- inces of Canada and Mexico. They drive a 2017 Kenworth W900 Icon custom-painted in viper red with jagged black stripes on the sides. Some custom work includes Hogebuilt extra-long half fenders, clear turn signals, stainless-steel trim for the sleeper windows and interior chrome dash accessories. Their dog, Star, a 55-pound stan- dard poodle, has fur dyed to match the truck, which is named "The General." Schneider says the name is "out of respect for all military personnel and with the pride of our personal family military history dat- ing as far back as World War I." For Schneider, driving has meant seeing places change and making new acquaintances. "My favorite part is meeting the people – you meet someone new every day," she says. "We've watched cities go from tumbleweeds to thriving. We've watched the whole border be rebuilt, and after 29 years, I still see something new every day, and I still learn something new every day." BY DEANNE WINSLETT Couple's '17 W900 Icon designed to honor military Saluting family history "The General" is powered by a 550-hp Cummins ISX and Eaton 18-speed. The Kenworth Apache paint scheme is custom and was done by Thunder Grafix of Joplin, Missouri, to honor past, present and future military members. The back of the cab also features a military-themed painting with the words "All Gave Some, Some Gave All" written below it. Carol and Phillip Schneider's 2017 Kenworth W900 Icon is named "The General" to honor Carol Schneider's family military history. Star, the Schneiders' poodle, is dyed to match the truck.

• Cover
• DON’T PLAY WITH KNIVES: Wendy Parker’s trucker husband, George, says cutting bread while rolling isn’t a sharp move. Page 6.
• COVER STORY: ELD Buyers’ Guide
• 26 Niche hauling: Traveling events
• 31 Overdrive’s Most Beautiful: The Top 10
• 36 Drive Test: ‘Better and smarter’: Volvo SuperTruck achievements in weight, aerodynamics and visibility pave the way for tomorrow’s design.
• 4 A full-court press over ELDs, hours.
• 5 Pulse: A buyers’ market for used trucks.
• 8 Novel honors the community of travelers.
• 10 Saying no to first-come first-served abuse.
• 11 “Arbitrary” training time better than none.
• 12 A weak 2016: Miles up, income down.
• 12 Landstar contractor named year’s top owner-operator.
• 13 Restart study affirms status quo on hours regs.
• 16 Safety fitness rule pulled after industry pushback.
• 18 Jim Palmer trucker named Goodyear Highway Hero.
• 38 Couple’s ’17 W900 Icon designed to honor military.
• 40 Reader Rigs: ’05 VNL 780 has a far-out paint job; ’90 379 a custom heavy hauler; ’16 Lonestar a forklift hauler; resurrected ’95 379.
• 24 BUSINESS Autonomous truck race heats up.
• 42 Gear Guide Engine, alternators, LED lights, more.
• 48 FLEET NEWS Schneider giving tanker O-O’s a choice.
• 60 5 APPS FOR THAT Finding the best fuel stop near you.