OOIDA Life Member Mike Nichols is a second-generation truck driver with over 30 years of experience in the industry. Mike spent 25 years behind the wheel and several years in freight sales and operations/dispatch. He is currently a leased owner-operator pulling dry bulk tankers loaded with food-grade products. Mike was recognized as Overdrive’s Trucker of the Month in July 2024.
Mike believes he would be a great addition to the OOIDA board of directors as he has been a loud and prolific advocate for the American small business trucker and company driver alike. Mike says he has embraced an advocacy role for close to 25 years by routinely speaking with the media regarding the issues and controversies affecting small business truckers. He has submitted numerous op-ed pieces and participated in interviews with media around the country.
Mike says his top three trucking concerns are 1) foreign-owned and operated companies and drivers competing in the American marketplace causing overcapacity, reduced rates, diminished safety and a negative public perception of our industry, 2) declining infrastructure and the political and administrative indifference to repairing and maintaining the infrastructure and 3) emission regulations that are antithetical to the logistical requirements of a first-world country.
Mike would like to see the OOIDA membership count double so as to garner more political clout and expand on the array of benefits available to members. He says that he is focused on doing what needs to be done to increase membership numbers and continue OOIDA’s mission of advocating for the professional truck driver.
In his free time, Mike enjoys motorcycles, muscle cars, bird watching and reading history.