Overdrive

May 2018 | Overdrive | 45 Custom Rigs T his year's Shell Rotella SuperRigs, set for June 14-16 at White's Travel Center in Raphine, Virginia, will feature a truck parade, a fireworks display, live music and more. The theme for the 36th annual SuperRigs is "Tribute to Toughness," a nod to the working trucks that will participate in the show's truck beauty contest. Owner-operators will com- pete for more than $25,000 in cash and prizes, and 12 drivers will be selected to have their trucks in the 2019 Shell Rotella Super- Rigs calendar. Judging for the truck show will take place be- tween 7:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, June 14 and 15, and be- tween 7:30 and 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 16. Trucks will be judged on exte- rior appearance, design, detail/finish, originality and workmanship in the competition for 24 working truck awards. Registration is expected to open soon. A truck parade will take participants from White's Travel Center to downtown Lexington. The parade will be followed by a fireworks show at the travel center. Local bands, DJs and musi- cians will perform through- out the three days. Onsite amenities include a chrome shop, a pharmacy, showers, a movie theater, restaurants, laundry, a shut- tle service and more. $25K in prizes up for grabs at SuperRigs BY MATT COLE JR Schleuger of Britt, Iowa, brought his 1980 Kenworth W900A to the 2017 Shell Rotella SuperRigs competition and won Best Chrome and also was named first runner-up for Best of Show. Great American Chrome_OVD1114_PG.indd 1 10/13/14 2:12 PM

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• WHAT IS YOUR TIME WORTH? Landstar-leased Gary Buchs says you need to know the answer to that question to thrive in this business.
• Business: Tips for better rates Small-fleet-owner-turned-owner-operator-coach Kevin Rutherford presented three seminars at the Mid-America Trucking Show on running a more profitable small trucking business.
• COVER STORY: ‘World traveler’ Globetrotting and working diverse trucking jobs have shaped the 2017 Owner-Operator of the Year into a man of many experiences. But once a month, there’s no place like home for Phil Keith.
• Diversions: More music to truck by Past Overdrive Trucker Talent Search-winning singer-songwriter Jason Lee Wilson brings down the house at MATS; Mary Gauthier’s “Rifles & Rosary Beads” features songs written with military vets.
• How to extend drain intervals With engine oil and filter changes running upward of $300 at some shops, extending drain intervals can save hundreds of dollars a year and thousands over the life of your truck.
• Trailer aero savings can be substantial The responsibility of improving trailer drag has fallen largely on accessories such as skirts, tails and fairings. Such add-ons promise potential fuel savings.
• Truckers reprise ELD protest in D.C.
• Pulse: Self-driving’s “mushy middle.”
• Blowing the whistle on shippers and receivers.
• Load boards “a gamble” for old-school broker.
• Readers more open to gun restrictions.
• ELD violations added to CSA.
• Bill would allow drivers to pause 14-hour clock.
• FMCSA certain driver info secure after outage.
• SuperFan wins Peterbilt’s one millionth truck.
• After error, Cat Acert payments to be reissued.
• Owner-operator couple gets second chance with 379.
• George Parker’s retooled Coronado has a rat on back.
• $25K in prizes up for grabs at SuperRigs.
• Small fleet owner picks up first Bandit Series win.
• Reader Rigs: ’04 379 in the “Limelight”; ’15 389 flatbedder; ’Bama blue ’11 KW; ’15 389 a “voodoo queen.”
• EQUIPMENT SPOTLIGHT Mid-America Trucking Show products.
• GEAR GUIDE Floor mats, tires, LEDs, more.
• FLEET NEWS Carriers still raising driver pay.
• BETTER HEALTH On-the-road lifestyle can put truckers at risk for arthritis.