Little victories

I stood waiting with a small group for the “unofficial” kickoff on truck show eve. The setting was the Kansas Speedway infield, where show vendors, OOIDA staffers, board members and families were gathering for some barbecue and blues on the eve of the Association’s big 40th anniversary event.

Cars and shuttles were rolling in, and the handshakes and welcomes were genuine.

Just as dusk began to set in, someone in our group had a great idea.

“Let’s go check out Victory Lane.”

That sounded like fun, so nine of us made the short hundred-yard stroll. We had Randy Schwartzenburg, K.C. Brau, Randy Boswell, Elizabeth Young and Mark Lowthrop, all from Trucker Buddy International, along with Terry Nicholson and Phil Nenadov from Available Trailers and Russ Cramer from Overbye Transport in the group.

From left to right: Randy Schwartzenburg, Elizabeth Young, Mark Lowthorp, Randy Boswell, Terry Nicholson, Phil Nenadov, Russ Cramer, K.C. Brau (Photo by David Tanner)

 We were marveling about the size of the race track from our perspective and about the big truck show weekend ahead.

There was so much more than a photo op waiting for us when we arrived at Victory Lane. There was an epiphany.

Here we were, at a place reserved for winners, whose dreams and hopes and countless hours of hard work are validated.

Nothing could be more fitting on this particular evening and on this particular weekend.

From humble beginnings, what started as a small group of “mad truckers” fighting for the rights of professional truckers was now on the eve of its 40th anniversary celebration.

OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer introduces
OOIDA President and CEO Jim Johnston,
crediting Jim with the reason OOIDA
still thrives today. (Photo by Nikohle Ellis)

Little victories. That was the epiphany. This whole thing, all of the people here, all of us associated with OOIDA and the truck show, all of the members, the guests, the families, the staff, the hard-working men and women who move this country and make it great.

The moment was not lost on the group, and we talked about it. I really felt it when we went inside, and OOIDA Vice President Todd Spencer introduced President and CEO Jim Johnston to the enthusiastic crowd.

“This Association is here today because of this man, Jim Johnston,” he said.

All of those years and all of those victories, the one-on-one battles in D.C. and in the courts, standing up for truckers. The fact that OOIDA has more than 150,000 members.

Life Member Gary Carr (Photo by David Tanner)

“Nice to see you, Gary,” I said to one of them the following morning. OOIDA Life Member Gary Carr was among those receiving an OOIDA Safe Driving Award on the truck show’s festival stage.

“It’s nice to see anybody,” Gary responded. He truly meant it. Not too long ago, Gary had a heart attack while walking to his truck. Quick timing and excellent medical care likely saved his life.

And here he was, on stage at the truck show, receiving an award for 19 years of safe driving from OOIDA and from guest presenter Anne Ferro of the FMCSA. That stage was Victory Lane for Gary and the others, and another one for the Association.

“Fifteen years ago we had 40,000 members. Now we have 150,000,” said Life Member Ken Becker, when I asked him about his little victories. “I am proud of that and I’m proud of all the things we have worked for. We are a good team and we tackle problems as they come along. It’s not about the problems you face; it’s how you overcome them.”

Truckers are constantly faced with the odds. They must abide by rules and regulations that people far removed from trucking make for them in D.C.

Delivering a load safely, professionally and on time can be a struggle, and many truckers look at each day and each load seriously. Each load delivered and each safe mile traveled are a victory.

How about all of those truckers who fight causes of their own? Whether it involves health care, pets, charities or locating missing truckers, someone has to fight the fight, and they deserve recognition.

People were deadheading to the truck show, some of them hundreds of miles, just to make sure they got the opportunity to celebrate together, whether in small groups or at the keystone events. Some were just fine hanging out in the parking lot with their show trucks – each one of them a work of art and a product of extra effort.

If getting there is half the battle, we got there. For one great, fulfilling weekend, we got there.

Victory Lane is more than just a physical place. It is a validation. Celebrations there are real.

'Too stubborn to quit'

A surprise gift for OOIDA President Jim Johnston. OOIDA
officers Todd Spencer and Bob Esler on the left.
(Photo by Nikohle Ellis)

OOIDA President and CEO Jim Johnston got a surprise during the VIP barbecue event on the Kansas Speedway infield Oct. 17. He was presented a portrait by the OOIDA Board of Directors and Association employees.

OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer set up the surprise.

“There are years in the past where we never thought anything like this would have happened and we are thrilled you are all here to share our 40th anniversary,” Spencer told attendees.

“I’ve been around for a long time, but this guy standing beside me – Jim Johnston – started this thing. … I can say tenacity and things like that, and those words are appropriate. But the truth is, he just a lot like other truck drivers. He’s so damned hardheaded.

“He decided to start something to represent truckers. He stuck with it. … When virtually everyone else was gone, he was there alone and could not admit defeat. He built an organization. People say all the time truckers can’t get together. Hell yes, truckers can get together and they can represent themselves in a business-like manner.

“We may be kind of a strange family at times, but when we stick together, it works better for all of us.”

At that point, Jim was still thinking it was a welcome speech to guests. Truckers cheered as Board Members Gary Green and Robert Esler edged up on the left with the portrait, a token of recognition, appreciation, for the many years Jim has dedicated to truckers.

Jim’s smile said it all, but he did get in the last words.

“Todd had it partway right,” he said. “Actually, I was too dumb to know I couldn’t do it and too stubborn to quit.”

Jim Johnston's speech

It arrived a day later than initially planned due to weather, but OOIDA President Jim Johnston addressed the truck show crowd on Saturday evening.

Introduced by Executive Vice President Todd Spencer on the truck show’s main stage, Jim spoke about the need for truckers to take their concerns to Washington, D.C., all those years ago. There were some real eye-openers for the truckers once they arrived and saw what they were up against.

“We decided the only way to deal with this was to start an organization capable of giving truckers a strong voice,” Jim said. And that’s precisely what they did.

Jim and Todd were joined on stage by OOIDA Chief Operations Officer Rod Nofziger, who led the crowd in singing “Happy Birthday” to OOIDA – 40 years strong.

We captured the speech in a video, and I must make a personal apology for the shaky camera in a few places. I was juggling two cameras and a backpack. But the important stuff is here, which is of course the speech, the thank-yous to members and OOIDA staff.

Rod summed it up for the crowd: “This celebration has been all about you, it’s been all for you.”

Fun and games

You could feel the truck show energy everywhere you looked on Saturday. This was especially true in the games area and in the pet oasis.

Pets, games and fun are the theme of a video captured and edited by truck show volunteer and friend of the LL staff, Glori Berkel.

You’ve got your small dogs, and one very large white poodle. There’s even a cat on a leash.

The kids in the play area had a lot of fun with the beanbag toss and face painting.

Those youngsters racing to the finish line are making that “creeper race” look easy. We tested those things out at headquarters, and we’ve got to say it was tough. Good job, guys.

Now, who’s that piloting the mini-truck and trailer near the end of the video? That must have been a fun way to get around the truck show.

Thanks for the video, Glori.

OOIDA members show off hard-working, eye-catching trucks

Winners of the OOIDA Heart of America Trucking Show Truck Beauty Competition.

What a great 40th Birthday celebration. Forty fabulous show trucks parked, thousands of watts of candle power. And members with numbers so low, many have been part of OOIDA since the beginning (or darn close to it). The power of the passion that you bring to our association was never more evident than it was at Kansas Speedway. Chilly temps and freezing sleet didn’t deter the drivers or the judges from delivering the goods and their decisions.

Senior Member Jerry Mies of Mies and Sons Trucking based
in Colwich, Kan.;won  Best of Show Working Combo 
with his2013 teal and white Peterbilt 389 and 2010 Walker 
tanker called “Lactose Limousine.”

On a hot streak that shows no signs of cooling off, Senior Member Jerry Mies of Colwich, Kan., brought out his Lactose Limousine – a 2013 teal and white Peterbilt 389, pulling a 2010 Walker tanker. Mies and his family racked up six trophies, including Best of Show Working Combo.

“I knew I wanted to be here as soon as I heard about this show,” Mies said. “I’m a member and I know how hard everyone works at the Association. I’ve just started doing truck shows, and this was great. I had the chance to talk with so many people who have similar goals. I hope you do it again next year.”

Member Scott Rud of Byron, Minn., won Best of Show 

Working Bobtail with his 2000 silver and red Peterbilt 379.

OOIDA Member Scott Rud of Byron, Minn., knew he’d be at the party. He hauls the booth display for Minimizer – a company that makes sturdy, lightweight truck fenders, bracket kits and accessories. His truck, a sparkling red and silver 2000 Peterbilt 379, has become a familiar sight at truck and trade shows across the country. Until now, Best of Show had eluded him.

Shawn Helt of Helt’s Turf Farms out of Pleasant Hill, Mo.,
won Best of Show Limited Mileage Bobtail with his 1965
Jade Green Peterbilt 351 named “Helt Up.”

“I was never sure about even entering my truck. To me, it’s a nice truck, but I look around and see trucks that are that nice or better.” Well, this time the judges thought his truck was better than nice. They liked it all the way to a Best of Show Working Bobtail win, along with several class trophies.

Best Limited Mileage Bobtail went to Shawn Helt of Helt’s Turf Farms, Pleasant Hill, Mo. Their 1965 jade green Peterbilt 351 runs like a champ and looks like a dream of days gone by. The needle nose and butterfly hood drew newcomers and old-timers to share stories and appreciate the artistry of this restored beauty.

Best Limited Mileage Combo honors were given to Life Member Leonard Eads of Timberline Trading, Lathrop, Mo. His 1998 burgundy Peterbilt 379X and Savannah logging trailer did

Life Member Leonard Eads of Timberline Trading, Lathrop,
Mo., won Best of Show Limited Mileage Combo with his
1998 burgundy Peterbilt 379X and 2000 Savannah trailer.

much more than turn heads. His trailer unfolds and telescopes to accommodate trees of all sizes. What a great opportunity to learn about another segment of our trucking industry.

Wash ‘N’ Shine is a type of class designed for trucks that look good, but maybe haven’t cleaned up quite as detailed as some others. It’s a strictly hands-off visual examination of the truck, along with a presentation from the driver. Some folks just never quit wiping their trucks down – outside, inside, front to back and underneath – until rags down is called. It’s just how they’re wired.

Peter Burrows of Buhler, Kan., and his sparkling white Kenworth T600 was awarded Best Wash N Shine Bobtail, while Jan Huey of LB Trucking out of Greensburg, Ind., took a happy walk to the stage to receive recognition for her 2010 metallic gray International ProStar pulling a 2004 Utility Reefer. As company truck drivers, Jan and husband Ron are preparing to get into a brand-new International ProStar when they get back home. And I’m sure they’ll make that one a force to be reckoned with.

The trophies just kept getting bigger and better. Provided by Rockwood Products and proudly made in the USA; Carl Carstens and his team delivered the rosewood and acrylic trophies just a couple of hours before they were awarded. This was just-in-time delivery at its finest.

People’s Choice award went to Senior Members Howard and
Cindi Bohn out of Odessa, Mo., and their 2013 Tahitian green
International LoneStar, “Tahitian Treat.”

A true highlight of the show was the recognition for People’s Choice. This award was voted on by the thousands of attendees, and selecting their favorite truck was not an easy job. When the tallying was done, the clear favorite was a 2013 Tahitian green International LoneStar, named Tahitian Treat by OOIDA Senior Members Howard and Cindi Bohn from Odessa, Mo. Sparkling inside and out and decorated in a Tahitian Tiki bar theme, this truck wowed from daylight to dark and earned three class trophies, including one for their lights at night.

One of the hardest choices was the one made by OOIDA President Jim Johnston. Jim visited with the owners and drivers who proudly displayed their trucks and shared stories of life on the road. Senior Member Richard Hanning of Shawnee, Kan., decorated his 1985 blue Peterbilt 359 with his membership certificate from 1992 along with decals reflecting OOIDA’s history.

Life Member Richard Seyfang’s trailer proclaims his feelings on the back doors of his trailer – “If You Don’t Think OOIDA Works For You, You Must Be Wearing Socks and Sandals.” OOIDA Member Al Becker of North Lima, Ohio, spoke about how much he values being part of the OOIDA family.

Life Member Victor Holthaus from Axtell, Kan., impressed 

OOIDA President Jim Johnston with his 1978 white 

and black Peterbilt 359 and 1996 Timpte grain trailer. 

Holthaus has 4 million miles on the truck – 

most of which he put on it himself. That clinched the 

President’s Choice award from Johnston, pictured at right.

The President’s Choice Award was given to Life Member Victor Holthaus of Axtell, Kan., and his 1978 gray, white and black Peterbilt 359 pulling a 1996 Timpte Grain Trailer. With more than 4 million hard-run miles, that truck and its owner are a pretty solid reflection of where we came from to get where we are today. Looking great, overhauled some, but still standing tall getting down the road.

The Heart of America Truck Beauty Contest showcased trucks from all the major manufacturers: Peterbilt, Kenworth, Freightliner, Mack, Western Star and Volvo. From California to New York, Florida to Washington and everywhere in between. From hauling logs to delivering milk, these are some of the best representatives our trucking industry has to offer – yesterday, today and into the future.

Event sponsors included OOIDA, Rockwood Products, Minimizer, Lincoln Chrome and PrePass.

The life you save ...

OOIDA Life Member Rick Ash mouthed numbers while counting each person that walked by him in Health Walk.

As OOIDA members Penny and Kelly Thigpen of Logan, Utah, walked by, Penny playfully distracted Ash's count.

"Seventy-three ... seventy-four ... seventy-five."

Ash, chairman of Trucking Solutions Group, laughed even as he continued counting. And for good reason.

Saturday's Health Walk, hosted by Trucking Solutions Group and sponsored by OOIDA Medical Benefits Group and Inter-Americas Insurance Corp., had more than 200 truck drivers signed up – a new record, Ash said.

"We've been doing this since 2010, and this is the highest turnout we've ever had for a health walk," Ash told the crowd. "We're really excited!"

The Health Walk proceeded for the length of the grandstand at the Kansas Speedway – three-quarters of a mile – and back to total 1.5 miles.

Ash said the Health Walk has become an annual event at the Mid-America Trucking Show and the Great American Trucking Show.

But the program isn't merely about building numbers.

"Thank you for participating," Ash told the crowd of mostly drivers and spouses.

"The whole idea behind this is to be healthy," Ash said, adding that being healthy can help drivers be safer.

"The life you save might just be mine."

Promoted

My wing man, "Mini Me," judge-in-training, and daughter, Samantha Jones goes with me to lots of truck shows. She tends to lurk around long enough that I wind up putting her to work.

The past couple of years we've taken to calling her judge-in-training at Shell Rotella SuperRigs. She keeps me and the other judges in line and has taken to pointing out the finer points of trucks.

Her training paid off. Here at the Heart of America Trucking Show, she judged her first truck. I will say she nailed it.

Forrest Lucas reconnects

Wherever you find cars, trucks or any motorized vehicles – and whether they race, haul the nation's freight or take Grandma to church – you're going to find Lucas Oil products.

And while many people have become familiar with the success story of company founder and former long-haul trucker Forrest Lucas, they may not know that he's still got trucking on his mind.

I caught up with Forrest during a busy but chilly Friday during the Heart of America Trucking Show. He was preparing to record a spot for TV at the Lucas Oil booth, but the rain had his crew scrambling to find a dry place to finish the shot.


Forrest Lucas is a proud OOIDA member
(Photo by David Tanner, Land Line Magazine)

Even with the change in plans, and the rain coming down mid-afternoon, nothing could dampen this man's enthusiasm to attend and be associated with OOIDA's 40th anniversary event. Not even the cancellation of the Kansas rock concert he had sponsored for the main stage would get him down on this day.

In fact, he was all smiles. Being here, among the truckers, was enough.

"I wanted to reconnect with the owner-operators," he said. "We've been busy, but it's time to reconnect."

Forrest Lucas' story has been well-documented, but it was still cool to hear him talk about the beginning.

He told me it all started with a desire to develop oil products for use in his own trucks. Everything – the racing, the dedication to research and development, the naming rights to the NFL stadium in Indianapolis – is a result of and an extension of that desire.

This is a man who seems to have a bit of everything on his plate these days, but Forrest Lucas has never forgotten where he came from. He has tremendous respect for the nation's truckers, and he told me he wouldn't miss OOIDA's show for anything. He's been a member of the Association for years.

"The owner-operators ... if it hadn't been for them, we wouldn't be here today," he said.

"Every time we do something, we keep the truckers in mind."

The cream of the crop

FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro (pink scarf on right) with a select group of OOIDA Safe Driving award recipients.

One doesn't have to stretch too far to see the humor in the fact that during the presentation of OOIDA Safe Driving Awards by FMCSA Administrator Anne Ferro the audience was being pelted by rain and sleet.

OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer certainly didn't miss it.

"This weather isn't a big deal for people who drive a truck in all kinds of weather," Spencer said with a laugh. "No step for a stepper."

The OOIDA Safe Driving Award was developed because many drivers do not stay with companies year after year after year. And, in the absence of any program that recognized safe and responsible driving for all drivers, OOIDA developed its Safe Driving Award. 

Rather than focus on miles driven, the OOIDA Safe Driving Award -- sponsored by Shell Rotella -- recognizes years of safe driving. 

The collection of drivers presented with OOIDA Safe Driving Awards by Ferro had more than a few years under their collective belt. Try centuries.

The number of 10-, 20- and even 30-year awards was impressive. The 40-year awards were as well. But the coup d'etat was .... wait for it .... wait some more .... 62 years of safe driving. OOIDA Life Member John Taylor was recognized for 62 years worth of safe driving. 

Missing a friend

When benchmark events in any life – even those of an association like OOIDA – happen, inevitably conversation turns to memories of events and friends who have been made along the way.

The Heart of America Trucking Show is no different.

One name in particular is coming up time and time again: Dale "The Truckin' Bozo" Sommers.

As you probably know, Dale died last year. To this day, while he is still sorely missed, the fonder memories and smiles outweigh the sadness.

Those late nights that many of you tuned in to listen to Dale while he was on WLW, you heard him chatting with OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer quite a bit. Todd would stay up late and the pair would wrestle with the issues facing truckers into the wee hours of the morning.

Sharon Sommers presents Dale "The Truckin'
Bozo" Sommers' OOIDA Life Member jacket
to OOIDA President Jim Johnston.

Dale was a staunch – to put it mildly – supporter of OOIDA. He would go so far as to ban callers from his show until they became members of the Association. He was a firm believer that if you weren't in on the fight and supporting OOIDA, you didn't deserve the right to complain.

As much as Dale loved OOIDA, the Association loved him. Dale was presented with an award of appreciation well before his death, but after numerous medical issues began taking their toll.

That mutual admiration was recognized once again at OOIDA's Heart of America Truck Show.

Sharon Sommers, Dale's wife, was in attendance to present a gift of gratitude to OOIDA President Jim Johnston. The gift? Dale's coveted OOIDA Life Member jacket carefully framed with some photos of "The Bozo" by OOIDA Member Jan McCarter.

Sharon, or "Lumpy" as listeners to Dale's show will know her by, told Jim of Dale's love and passion for the Association and felt that his jacket belonged best with the people he had supported, and fought the battles alongside.

I don't know if Jim teared up or not when he was accepting; it was too hard to tell through my own.

Here's to Dale. Still missed and still loved.

St. Christopher Fund booth making a splash

One of the first places I headed to this morning at the OOIDA Heart of America Trucking Show was booth No. 322 to meet up with the St. Christopher Fund’s Director of Fundraising, Denise Pittenger, and fellow SCF board members Joyce Brenny and Linda Caffee.

Joyce and Linda are both OOIDA members doing double duty. Both were here to enjoy the show, and both were finding the time to donate their time to the St. Christopher Fund, too. Linda's always on the move -- with the Trucking Solutions Group and Team Run Smart, too. Joyce -- who owns Brenny Transportation in St. Cloud, Minn.-- told me she was presenting a check for $1,000 to the SCF, a gift from the drivers at Brenny. She has 50 drivers and some of them made donations and gave up vacation days to make this donation. How amazing is that? Hats off to you Brenny drivers.

It's a chilly morning here at the Kansas Speedway and, despite the light rain that passed through, the action inside the exhibit tent.was busy. In fact, the rain succeeded in "encouraging" people to come inside the giant tent.

Linda Caffee and Joyce Brenny

I was talking to a couple of truckers there about the SCF. Their main question was how many truckers the St. Christopher Fund has helped. Here's the answer. Since it was founded in 2007, it's helped nearly 850 financially strapped truck drivers sidelined with medical conditions. Total assistance through the end of September is – are you ready for this? – $455,610.49. When I tell people that, they're blown away.

Who do they help? Here's a few reports from just last month. The fund recently paid the mortgage for a 54-year-old trucker diagnosed with liver failure. For a 50-year-old trucker with cancer, SCF paid the electric bill and his mortgage payment. For another cancer-stricken trucker, SCF paid medical bills and electric bills. For a trucker with a brain injury, rent was paid.

The SCF’s credo is “Saving lives and families one driver at a time.” These are neat people doing cool things.

It's official ... the show is open

While a brief shower threatened to dampen the opening ceremonies of the OOIDA Heart of America Trucking Show, just as if perfectly planned it stopped long enough to kick off the 40th anniversary celebration of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association.

The Kansas City Police Department color guard presented the flag while OOIDA Member Jan McCarter belted out a spine-tingling rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.

Holding down the fort ain't so bad

The day before a truck show, any truck show, the excitement builds all day long. The Heart of
America Trucking Show -- a celebration of OOIDA's 40th anniversary -- is certainly no exception.

A bunch of folks have relocated to the Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., and are prepping for the show. They're parking show trucks, helping vendors set up, parking attendee trucks -- you name it and they are probably doing it.

They probably feel pretty special. The picture is a sneak peek at some of the competitors that Field Editor Suzanne Stempinski sent me, trying to rub it in that she's playing with cool trucks already and I'm here at the office.

But a lot of us are holding down the fort one more day at OOIDA's HQ before we hit the show tomorrow.

Normally, that might be kind of a bummer. But honestly it's been really cool. We have a number of longtime members who are able to come and take a tour of the building -- some for the first time.

We've had the chance to visit with Lee and Kari Fischer, Shelle Lichti, Wilson Miller, Bob Ruckman ... to name a few. And I see some more heading in the door now.

They all are some cool people who have been around a long time and have some amazing stories to tell about the Association and just straight up truckin' memories.

It's going to be a great time with everyone at the show. We promise to blog and share the best stories (and maybe even a tall tale or two) that we hear at the show, so those of you who are unable to attend won't miss out.

Friday morning, 10 a.m., the show will open. I can't wait.

Arriving in Kansas City? Avoid the orange barrels

Welcome, welcome. We're already hearing from members en route to the big show, and a few early birds are already arriving. A few dropped by headquarters this morning for a quick visit and building tour before the official truck parking begins at noon at the Kansas Speedway site. The excitement is building, certainly.

Here's a tip to help you avoid playing orange barrel chess as you hit the Kansas City metro. A few through-routes are messed up right now due to construction.

Kansas City, Mo., is doing some work on I-670 this weekend. That's a popular shortcut and alternate to I-70 through downtown. You'd best stick to the I-70 signs if you're traveling east-west through Kansas City, Mo. The state DOT says the I-670 alternate will be closed starting at 8 p.m. Friday evening and lasting through Monday morning.

That's not the only travel advisory. Interstate 35 has been slow-going for quite a while nowadays thanks to lane reductions. So, if you're coming up from the south, it's best to find the I-435 West/North part of the loop and use it to get to the speedway. I-35 from the north looks decent, but you can still grab the I-435 loop and head to the Kansas side that way.

Everything out by the speedway itself looks good, so once you've avoided downtown Kansas City, Mo., you should be in good shape.

Here's some lowdown from MoDOT's website:

New Work Today and Updates/Changes
I-670: Utility work will close I-670 between I-70 and Holmes St. from 8 p.m. Friday, October 18 through 5 a.m. Monday, October 21. A marked detour will be in place.
I-670/ I-35: Utility work will close the ramp from northbound I-35 to eastbound I-670 from 8 p.m. Friday, October 18 through 5 a.m. Monday, October 21.
I-670/ Broadway: Utility work will close the ramp from Broadway St. to eastbound I-670 from 8 p.m. Friday, October 18 through 5 a.m. Monday, October 21.
I-670/ I-35: Utility work will close the ramp from southbound I-35 to eastbound I-670 from 8 p.m. Friday, October 18 through 5 a.m. Monday, October 21.
I-70/ 10th St: Utility work will close the ramp from 10th St. to eastbound I-70 from 8 p.m. Friday, October 18 through 5 a.m. Monday, October 21.
I-670/ Route 71: Utility work will close the ramp from northbound Route 71 to westbound I-670 from 8 p.m. Friday, October 18 through 5 a.m. Monday, October 21.
I-670/Wyoming: Utility work will close the ramp from Wyoming St. to eastbound I-670 from 8 p.m. Friday, October 18 through 5 a.m. Monday, October 21.

Travel safely. We can't wait to celebrate with you.

How much do you know about Kansas?

Kansas is one of those remarkable places where rural America really mixes it up with city oases. You can be at the Kansas Speedway, The Legends retail center or Nebraska Furniture Mart -- and minutes later you can be in rural Kansas soaking up the history at the National Agricultural Hall of Fame in Bonner Springs.

I’m always surprised that people know so little about Kansas. Working at OOIDA’s headquarters just east of Kansas City, Mo., we are often asked if we are in Kansas. The answer is no, but we are close.

Your pit pass to OOIDA’s Heart of America Trucking Show

Live from turn one at the Kansas Speedway … the Land Line media blog – Tales from Turn One – is your pit pass to the show scheduled for Oct. 18-19 in Kansas City, Kan.

During the show, we’ll be blogging on the whole 40th anniversary event, the people, the games, the show trucks, antique trucks, the seminars, vendors, entertainment and more. Think of us as your “Prairie Truck Companion.” Check it out at landlinemag.com. Also – watch all of our OOIDA social media pages for news, pics and video clips.

During the Heart of America Trucking Show, the “Land Line Now” team will be at the Kansas Speedway, bringing you the latest from the show. “Land Line Now,” OOIDA’s Sirius XM radio show, airs daily from 7 to 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. to 12 a.m. Eastern time on the Road Dog Channel 128.

If you can’t make the show and miss the multimedia blowout, don’t fret. The November issue of Land Line will feature complete coverage of the action – all the events you want to read about.