text:  The smallest carriers with direct customers, however, can hang on through tough times or even prosper as long as demand for their customer's product remains at least somewhat stable. Owner-operators in it for the long haul make direct business with customers a principal goal. Owner-operator Business 101 is provided by OverDrive's Partners in Business program. Go to OverDriveOnline.com to the Partners in Business section of the website for more detail on this and many other topics.