The band had already mulled over using their surnames (à la Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young).

While on their way back from a gig in Toronto, the group had spotted a copy of a trucker's magazine called Overdrive while dining at the Colonial Steak House in Windsor, Ontario.

After this, Turner wrote "Bachman–Turner Overdrive" and the initials "B.T.O." on a napkin.

The rest of the band decided the addition of "Overdrive" was the perfect way to describe their music.