While parked at aPilot Travel Center in Ft, Waye, In, we saw two things that caught our attention and sparked an interesting discussion. The first was a young couple, maybe in their early 20s, holding hands, while walking to their truck. What was highly unusual about them, was that they were Amish. We’ve seen many Amish community members, but have never seen any of them driving a tractor trailer, only a horse and buggy.
That conversation was cut short when another driver parked his truck next to ours and got out. This driver looked to be maybe 17 years old, the same age as our youngest son. In fact, he actually looked like one of our son’s basketball teammates! We figured he might be only 18, but stays within the state of Indiana. My husband just shook his head and said, “Boy-oh-boy.”
If you’ve been following the news lately, you may have noticed that things aren’t so pretty in the trucking industry. A few weeks ago I shared an article with our Facebook Page audience titled, “Driver Attacks Co-Driver“. I don’t know exactly what happened in Hubbard, Oh that day, or exactly what their relationship was. It boils down to this… the male driver followed the female driver into the bathroom, beat her up really bad with an object and left the Flying J parking lot. He came back and turned himself into the police.Kelvin Fitzpatrick was charged with felonious assault and criminal damaging.
Now, a few days ago, I read an article, “Werner Driver Stabbed to Death by Trainee.” This article is about a 62 year old driver trainer, with 20 years driving experience under his belt. He was stabbed multiple times, by the trainee, in a rest area. This was going to be Mr. Ruiz’ last trainee because his granddaughter had just received her CDL, and he was going to team drive with her. Mr. Ruiz was due to retire from truck driving in 2017. This story was a true tear-jerker for me! Stanley Polk, the trainee, was way past his emotional limit and should have just walked away!
Here in Georgia, where we live, there’s a major problem on I-16. I read an article, “Three More Die on I-16 As a Result of a Truck Wreck.” Our hearts and prayers are with the family and friends of the victims in this incident. Unfortunately, this was the third multi-family collision, involving a tractor trailer, in the past 60 days!
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My husband and I used to run I-16 on our Savannah route, 3-4 days each week. Although that was years ago, I still remember how easy it was to “set it and forget it.” (The cruise control) I don’t know if that’s the case with this driver, but it’s a horrible tragedy no matter what!
There are many reasons for the incidents that are happening. I think it all boils down stress, being over-worked and poor judgment. A key ingredient is that trucking doesn’t pay what it used to, so drivers are feeling the need to run harder… often times illegally. Trucking companies feel the need to run under qualified drivers, and to run their veteran drivers illegally, too. What’s a driver to do? Even with the severe driver shortage, there are limited driving opportunities in many areas.
The cherry on top is the fact that the feds are always changing the current regulations, and coming up with new ones. The latest I heard on the speed limiters, is that they may actually be harmful to drivers’ health… OH REALLY NOW? I don’t agree with speed limiters, but who am I, right?
Like I said, I’m not a fan of speed limiters, and I’m not sure just how much help they’ll be with getting stressed and overworked truck drivers under control but something got to give! Between the safety of truck drivers from other vehicles on the road, the issues with dispatchers not letting drivers sleep — always wanting an update, and drivers having to run harder to make the same pay as five years ago — I repeat — something’s got to give!
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So, what do you think? What has drivers losing it so easily and not walking away? Are you seeing — and keeping — the same income as two, three, or five years ago? Have you had to make any adjustments to keep your work or home situation running the same as before?
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I saw a rare, and always interesting situation, the other day. As we were about to head into Denny’s to eat at the Flying J in Blacksburg, SC, three men were leaving Denny’s. The three men were team truck drivers, one was a trainer, the other two men were trainees.
I immediately thought of my own team truck driving situation. My husband and I have some size on us. We usually take runs that are 800 miles or more. So, usually, one of us is driving while the other is asleep. Even in our situation, two people can be a bit much as far as space is concerned. Shoot… I’ll even go as far as to say as far as sanity is concerned! Lol
I remember when I was attending Katlaw Truck Driving School in Austell, Ga that one of the instructors used to be an over-the-road trainer based in California. He said that one trucking company he worked for made him take about four trainees at one time… WHAT?! Yes… there would be five people in the truck at one time… for weeks at a time! I don’t know about you, but there is no way on God’s green Earth that you’d catch me in that situation! I think that’s illegal now, but still…
In the case with the three truck drivers, team driving in the same truck, my mind started wondering things like doesn’t the trainer have to be in the front seat a certain number of hours? So, when does the trainer get some sleep? When they stop to take a shower, how do they get a team shower from one shower credit? Or, how does the pay get split? Does the trainer get a flat salary and the trainees split the mileage?
I know there are certain parts of a training program that are pretty straight forward. I was just curious because their situation is very different. I mean, that’s another personality you have to work with. Another body odor you have to smell… and all this from people you probably never met before it was time to take off for the first time… BOY-OH-BOY!
Seeing these three drivers really made the wheels in my head start turning with curiosity. Have you, or anyone you know, been in this type of team truck driving situation, where there’s more than just a trainer and one trainee? If so, I’d love to hear how that worked out. How long did they have to work like that? The ups and the downs?
Leave your comment in the box below. If you want to let me know your experience, but don’t want it to be public… no problem! I still want to know what you went through if you liked your experience or not. Email me at Ericka@teamtrucking.net and let’s talk about it.
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DON’T WAIT UNTIL NEW YEARS TO GET HEALTHY! START NOW FOR ONLY $99 – SALE ENDS SEPT 30thLately, I’ve been wondering if team truck drivers, especially those new to team trucking, decided to take on a co-driver because there was a drastic change in their trucking career. Or, if they heard or were told, that there’s more money in team trucking. If you read last week’s article on the Team Trucking blog, “Re-Thinking Team Trucking,” you know there’s not much difference in pay between solo driving and team driving.
I don’t have any stats to refer or link to, about this. I’m sure the trucking company recruiters could confirm part, or all, of what
I’m saying. The team truckers I have come across stated the reasons they took on a co-driver. The #1 reason was somewhat shocking to me:
There wasn’t enough freight to stay on as a solo driver – The reason this made my mind go bonkers is because the
trucking industry is still suffering from a severe driver shortage. Hmm…
A few drivers said they were told and are actually seeing a bigger paycheck than when they drove solo. That’s mainly due to the higher number of miles their truck is able to cover each week… more miles should =more $$!
The least common reason solo truck drivers chose to get in a team trucking situation, is because they were told they had a better chance of getting more home time. Also, that their paycheck should remain about the same. This seems like a combination of #1 and #2.
I read an article that said the average age of today’s truck driver is 47. Other industry’s average age is 42. What does that say about truck drivers? Does that mean that truck drivers tend to retire from driving, or at least stick with truck driving until DOT/ FMCSA says they are no longer qualified to drive?
It’s hard for a career truck driver to change job titles, even if they are offered a position in the trucking industry. When speaking to veteran truck drivers faced with this type of dilemma, it surprised me that they wouldn’t consider working in an office dispatching, for example. I guess it’s not easy for everyone to suddenly change their work environment.
Unfortunately, some drivers are making the decision to try out team trucking before retiring from trucking, altogether. Taking on a co-driver beats the heck out of working in an office alongside the same people they’ve been snapping on every day. To team drive or not to team drive? That’s a question some truck drivers are faced with. I’ll be keeping a close eye on the truck driver shortage to see how it is affecting solo and team drivers.
Most team truck drivers didn’t attend truck driving school as a team. Usually, each driver trains and graduates as a solo driver. When they start driving for the trucking company they chose to work with, they’re usually still in a solo driver mindset. Even after graduating from truck driving school, a trucking company requires that you drive with at least a trainer for the first two to three months. Sometimes there will be another driver — YES, three drivers in the truck — at the same time… Ugh!
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I often ask drivers if they ever thought about taking on a co-driver and I’ve gotten some very interesting responses! Lol The most common answers were:
I don’t even want to be around my husband/wife that long.
I tried working with a co-driver, but it didn’t work.
I ran as a team with a man/woman I was dating, but we broke up.
I couldn’t get used to sleeping in a moving truck.
My co-driver couldn’t drive, so I couldn’t get good sleep.
They didn’t like animals, so they had to go!
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These are just a few of the reasons I’ve heard. It’s funny and sometimes scary, the reasons why people don’t drive as a team. One big misconception about driving as a team is that the pay is way better… SO NOT TRUE! Many companies route their team trucks for longer runs so they aren’t sitting in a dock, killing their hours for the day. Instead, the dispatcher will have them take 900+-mile runs or have their team truck on a “drop and hook” route. This way the team isn’t hitting as many docks, and can keep moving the loads.
If the money is all you’re looking at, think about it very carefully! With a “drop and hook” schedule, as long as the company has the freight to keep the truck moving, the truck and its drivers can make some pretty good money.
When a truck is covering about 5000 miles each week, each driver should earn an income on the higher side of a team truck driving scale. Even when you divide the money per mile by 2, at $.25 for each driver, they’re each still looking at about $1250 per week… not peanuts! That’s not to mention whatever benefits and safe-driving bonuses they may receive. Unfortunately, it often takes a few years for a team to work their way up the driver ladder to be able to get consistent miles like this, but it can certainly be worth the wait!
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A solo driver will cover, at most (legally) about 3000 miles each week. They’ll most likely have to hit a dock every day, taking up a few hours, and cutting into their sleep/ rest time. A solo driver earning $.37 per mile will gross about $1110 at this rate. That’s just a few dollars less than the team drivers in the above example, but the energy and hours to get the job done. Although it is somewhat difficult to get good sleep while the truck is moving, the stress alone can make working with a co-driver well worth the fewer hours of sleep.
In either case, truck driving is not an easy profession. Between dispatchers, shippers/ receivers and other vehicles — other truck drivers, too — it takes a special type of person to get on the road in a 60+ ft vehicle and move loads from one place to another, rarely getting the “proper amount of rest”. Then they get up and do it all over again… FOR YEARS!
The average OTR truck driver’s pay barely tops $40k per year, whether they run as a solo or team truck driver. A company will have you think that their company is the best trucking company to drive for. Every trucking company has its pros and cons. It’s no wonder that truck drivers are looking at any and all ways to make more money.
Let’s face it… you’re going to be away from your family and home for weeks or months at a time. This is the part that many recent truck driving school graduates have a hard time dealing with. And the trucking company recruiters who come to your truck driving class don’t tell you.
A solo OTR driver hears about how great it is to work with a co-driver. A team truck driver is told that driving solo is the way to go. Who’s right? Who’s wrong? Simply put… there is no right or wrong way to work as an OTR truck driver. You have to figure out what works best for YOU! I do know this… the transportation industry has been, and will continue to go through some major changes. Hopefully, these changes won’t drive you out of the trucking industry!
In my opinion, the changes mainly affect team truck drivers. I mean – for solo drivers – 14 hours is 14 hours, right? But, for team drivers, I don’t understand why FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) won’t allow the on and off-duty hours be shortened, if a driver feels the need to call it quits. I understand that 14 hours is the maximum number of hours allowed on duty, but should there really be a double-digit minimum?
Then there is the sleeper birth hours of service exemption. This exemption is what CRST is requesting FMCSA to grant them. This exemption – in short – will allow CRST team drivers to switch between on and off-duty more often. Meaning, a driver wouldn’t have to be on duty for at least 10 hours. The driver could be on duty for as little as three hours. CRST said their drivers are complaining that driving for 10 or 11 hours is too long to be behind the wheel. Hmm…
I have no issue with the CRST team drivers’ complaint. My biggest issue is… if these companies are being granted sleeper birth hours of service exemptions… then why are the small independent owner operators? What is the difference between them and us? I have nothing against CRST or its drivers. I’m just wondering why they would qualify for the exemption, but a one or two truck operation would not.
We all know fatigue is one of the biggest concerns amongst truck drivers, trucking companies, and trucking regulators, right? Wouldn’t it make more sense to let drivers decide when to come on and off duty, if they are tired, without having to stop the truck altogether?
I don’t know all the stats and what calculations go into making some of the regulations. I do know this… the best person to make a decision about driving is going to be the driver. Does this mean the driver always makes the right decision? NO! The stats on accidents tells the truth there. However, there should be more options for the driver.
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That’s my take on the FMCSA Hours of Service sleeper birth rule and exemption. What do you say? Should the small trucking companies be able to apply for, and be granted, the same sleeper birth exemption as the big companies. Let’s talk about it!
Once a team truck driving situation has been established between two people who “don’t know each other from Adam,” from what I hear, it usually takes the first week to know if they’re going to be able to get along, well enough, to keep working as a team. If it’s a really bad match, they usually know in the first day or two. In that case, the small space will seem much smaller and can be about as bad, if not worse, than Clash of the Titans! Butting heads will be hard to avoid, making a dangerous situation, more futile!
If you’re not sure whether you and your new co-driver are a good match, here are some tell-tale signs that your team truck driving experience with this co-driver won’t last long. If he/ she:
Plays their music too loud – When you’re asleep, does it seem like your co-driver turns the music up louder than usual?
Talks really loud on the phone – Again, does there seem to be a more dramatic laughter, “hootin and hollering” in their conversation?
Changes the truck temperature – There’s usually a separate control for the bunk than for the cab. Is your co-driver keeping the temperature at an extremely high or low temperature, maybe to irritate you? This will be really annoying if there’s no curtain to divide the bunk from the cab.
Is not interested in socializing – I know we need space from our co-drivers, but if your co-driver would rather eat at a table alone, and hardly says more than two words to you when you’re both awake, maybe waiting to be dispatched, for instance. Do they put their headphones on, to listen to music, to avoid talking to you?
These are just some of the situations I’ve heard team truck drivers complain about their co-drivers doing. I haven’t experienced these kinds of rude behaviors, first-hand, but I can imagine how it would feel. My biggest objection to any of these scenarios is this… if your co-driver has done something, or has a habit, that rubs you the wrong way, speak on it. No two people, even those — especially those — in an outside relationship, are going to get in this tiny space, and not do something that their co-driver doesn’t like. Yes, there may be some attitude that comes with their response, when you ask them to adjust or stop doing that, but if you both are mature enough to iron out the bigger details — like the music volume, phone conversations and heat or a/c temps — you’ll each have a better understanding of how to work out the smaller issues.
Bottom line is this… there is no perfect situation when getting into team truck driving, just like when getting into a relationship, right? There will always be something about your co-driver that you don’t like, and vice-versa. What you should be looking for, in a co-driver, is someone who works your nerves the least. Meaning, a person who listens to the same type of music, is mindful of your sleep habits (if you’re a light sleeper, they know to lower their voice when they’re on the phone), and is considerate of how much room their “stuff” will take up, in the truck.
If you’re complete opposites, from the word ‘Go!’, for your safety, and the safety of your co-driver, you probably need to get with your dispatcher, or whoever matches up the team truck drivers. Talk to them about changing co-drivers. Remember, this is strictly business, but you do have to get along on some sort of personal level, too. If you have changed co-drivers, and you’re on co-driver #5, you may need to realize that you may not be suited for a team truck driving situation. Yes, more mile=more money, but is it really worth the aggravation? When I was in school, every recruiter said that, “it’s no problem to keep switching co-drivers until you get with one you could tolerate.” I’m wondering how true that is.
One day we stopped to take a shower and eat at the TA in Amarillo, Tx. Now, I’m from “The Village” section of NYC, so I know not to judge, and have seen just about every type of couple there is. This day, we saw the most “Odd Couple” of drivers ever… She was a tall, heavy-set black woman who reminded me of the main character in the movie, “Precious” and he was a very short, skinny white man who reminded me of Joe Pesci. I’ll admit, I thought he was training her because she seemed like she was new to the truck stop environment. He seemed more relaxed and in charge. Well, come to find out… they were actually a couple! She had just gotten her Class A, so he was, in fact, training her, but not for a company, but for his own company. It was the cutest site to see. Definitely different!
Now it’s your turn… what, if anything, would you change about your co-driver? How long have you been team truck driving with them? Are they your first? What advice could you give to rookie team drivers, that could help them settle any major issues with their co-driver.
There are three different ways to work and earn as a team truck driver:
Company Team Driver – You are a W-2 employee of a trucking company, usually with benefits.
Contractor Team Driver – You operate as a 1099 contractor with one, or more, trucking companies.
Independent Owner Operator Team Driver – You are responsible for everything.
Note: There are different ways to enter into a team truck driving situation, so for the sake of time, I will be covering the contractor and independent owner operator scenariosas if you are 50-50 partners. Ok, let’s break down the different types of team truck drivers:
1. Company Team Driver
This is the easiest scenario to explain. Simpy put… when you are hired as a company driver, you are only responsible for your basic tasks like maintaining your logbook, pre- and post-trip inspections and load pickup and delivery. The company, or companies, you drive for, will be take care of all the financial responsibilities of operating the truck.
Company team drivers, at this point in time, are earning approximately $65,000 per year, for each driver. Pay for any driver, team or solo, will always depend on two major factors:
There are many benefits to team driving for a company. For some people, just the hassle of not having to keep up with USDOT and FMCSA regulations, is reason enough to drive for a trucking company. Many people have tried driving as a contractor or independent owner operator. Unfortunately, truck driving is no different than any other business…they go out of business, in the first 18 months, largely due to money mis-management.
2. Contractor Team Driver
As a contractor, you are responsible for keeping all of your trucking company’s records in order. You are also financially responsible for fuel and maintaining your equipment. So when a tire blows out, guess who has to pull out the cash or plastic? If you guessed YOU… you are absolutely right?
Well,one of the great benefits of being a contractor, is that you will usually make more money. The crazy part about being a contractor, is that, as I write this blog post, there is a huge issue going on involving trucking contractors around the country right now. It is about this very issue… contractor pay. You can click here to read about the strike, at the California ports, going on right now.
My husband and I have never worked as company drivers, so I can only go by the experience of our friends and family who have, plus what I’ve read online. However, we have worked as contractors, both as a team, and individually. We’ve pulled for USF (now owned by YRC), Forward Air and Velocity Express.. As individual contractors, we each earned about $72,000 gross revenue per year. As a team, we earned about $160,000 gross revenue per year.
Although your driving record and infractions will not determine your gross revenue, as a contractor, please remember that three major factors will determine your net income:
Overhead expenses – how much your fixed expenses cost you (truck/ trailer payment, etc)
Insurance – usually fixed, but can change depending on the company you’re hauling for
Yes, you could make pretty good money as a contractor team driver, but you have to look at everything involved. Being your own boss sounds great, and many people become contractors for this reason. Unfortunately, there’s a lot more to it than saying when you do or don’t go to work. You have to look at all the different aspects of self-employment. One big issue, these days, is healthcare… Uh Oh!
3. Independent Owner Operator Team Driver
The third and most complex way to operate as a team, or solo, truck driver, is as an independent owner operator. This is also the most expensive, but usually most profitable way to operate. In my opinion, the aggravation of all the paperwork, alone, can make you want to go drive for a bigger trucking company… UGH!
As an independent owner operator, you have all of the same responsibilities as a contractor PLUS, you are responsible for obtaining and maintaining your own insurance and your company’s quarterly IFTA reports. A perfect example of regulations that you have to keep an eye on, as an owner operator, is the latest news on a possible hike in insurance minimum requirements and some other proposed changes.
The biggest difference between obtaining commercial insurance through a company, and on your own, is that your down payment, and monthly payments, will be 100% based on your driving record, length of time driver and CSA score. This could easily be the difference between paying $8,000 per year or $22,000 per year in insurance premiums! (Yes, I know someone paying this much. Call Progressive and get a quote. You’ll see why they’ll insure anybody! Lol)
Although freight and fuel prices have been changing like the weather this year (I think it has to do with politics), we have been able to average right around $300,000 per year over the past few years. That’s not as much as we could earn, but we choose to spend more time at home, than a trucking company would allow. Plus, we keep our household expenses a little below average (I think).
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What this all boils down to is this… if truck driving, as a team or solo, is what you want to do… GREAT! Or, you may already be a truck driver, but are trying to figure out what the difference between the types of truck drivers, I urge you to do your homework. Don’t just take what you read here, or what companies have told you. Talk to actual drivers, dispatchers and trucking company owners. Get all your facts together before you make a decision or any move.
In doing some research for this blog post topic, I looked up a few companies we’ve either hauled for, work with or have heard good things about, from other drivers… team and solos. I’ve listed a few here, but I urge you to do your own research and homework if you are interested in doing business with any of them. Just keep in mind… NO trucking company is going to tell you everything, just the good stuff you want to hear so ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS!
Here are a few trucking companies and resources to check out:
Schneider – Great dispatchers on the dispatch side.
OOIDA – Great insurance rates and a HUGE advocate, in DC, for truckers!
If you have any questions about anything you read here, please feel free to ask it in the comments section below. You can always email me,at Ericka@teamtrucking.net, too 🙂
We love feedback! Did I miss anything? Do you have any info to add? Please feel free to leave your comments or questions in the comment section below. Thanks!
When you’re driving a truck as a team, with a co-driver, there are a lot of little things that can become major issues. The biggest issue, between Mike and I, is the temperature in the truck. We each have skin conditions that are great affected by temperature. Mike has eczema. Because of his eczema, Mike’s skin gets really dry and irritated in the heat. The warmer the temperature, the more his skin develops bumps and rashes all over.
I, on the other hand, have psoriasis. So, for me, my skin is more comfortable in warmer weather. The cold air makes my skin feel like it’s burning. In colder weather, I develop blisters, and rashes start forming on my back. This is extremely uncomfortable and makes it hard to drive when the inside of the truck is too cold.
In the truck, we have a temperature control for the cab, and a separate control panel for the sleeper berth. When I’m driving, I do keep the cab temperature control on cold and with the fan on the highest level. The sleeper berth fan doesn’t blow as hard, therefore it’s hard for Mike to get good sleep because it gets pretty warm back there.
When Mike is driving, I simply turn the vent toward him and I can sleep like a baby! I snuggle up under the covers and it’s Good Night Nurse! Lol
I love the spring and summer seasons, but try to stay running south and west during the fall and winter months. Besides the fact that my whole body aches, inside and out, in the colder months, I hate having to dress in heavy clothes, boots and jackets. I moved from NYC for a reason and Atlanta is still not far enough south!
The curtain in our truck is the kind that covers the windows so, when it is extremely hot, like it’s been this past week, Mike makes a tent. When I’m driving Mike will pull down the top bunk and tuck the comforter under the top bunk mattress to let the comforter hang down. This keeps all the cold weather from coming to the front of the cab… GENIUS!
It’s always a great situation, in the truck, when you and your co-driver can come up with a compromise. But, sometimes it takes thinking outside the box, to make sure both of you are comfortable. It’s extremely important that each driver get the proper amount of sleep. It’s also very important that each driver be comfortable while on duty, especially while driving.
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So, yes, over 10 years later, Mike and I are still coming up with ways to live with each other while operating our truck as a team. There will always be challenges and hurdles in team trucking, but I don’t think there’s any problem we can’t find a solution to.
If you’re out here team trucking, what problems have you and your co-driver come across? What solutions help you two get over those hurdles? What words of advice do you have for other, maybe less experienced team truck drivers? You’re input is very important and much appreciated… Thank you!
Many solo truck drivers think that team truck drivers should never get tired… REALLY?! More than one driver has said that, since there are two of us, in the truck, there is always relief. OK… I’m listening… HA! The driver obviously never had a co-driver because that seemed to be the most ludicrous statement I’ve ever heard! Yes, last week, I did mention that your co-driver can be a huge help… I won’t deny that part. But, let’s take a look at a few of the main reasons why team driving is not always a relaxing situation:
Less sleep – When sleeping in a moving truck, no matter how good your truck’s suspension system is, you are not going to get the same amount of good sleep.
Hours of service – Think about it… a team-driven truck has TWO people who can legally log 70 hours, right? Well, that’s a lot of movement. It seems like 11.5-14 hours “Off Duty” will give you plenty of rest, but that’s often easier said than done
A crazy schedule – As a solo driver you should be getting at least 10 hours “Off Duty”, right? Well, a team truck can easily take a 2500 mile run that takes 2-1/2 days. This causes each co-driver’s body to change sleep schedules. If your body is used to sleeping in the day, by the end fo the week, you could be driving in the day.
Overall, a working as a truck driver means you are in one of the most unhealthy occupations in the world. This also make driving a truck unsafe. Click here to read a great article on this topic, “American Crisis -Health Of Our Nation’s Truck Drivers.” Along with ER nurses and other professions that require an individual to work against their body clock, the unforeseen stress can easily make solo and team truck drivers restless and sleepless.
It’s important to know your limits. As I said before, when my husband and I start getting on each other’s nerves about little things, it’s time to take a break. Whether we break for just a day or take our 34 hours off, we just need a little more space than the cab of Baby Blue allows. This holds true even for solo drivers, too! When your dispatcher, spouse, kids… whoever or whatever gets you so stressed out that you’re not paying close attention to traffic, pedestrians, etc. TAKE A BREAK! No load or job is worth losing your license or your life or the life of another person.
Hopefully, if you’re thinking of going into a team truck driving situation, this will help clear up any misunderstandings. Having a co-driver can be a great thing, but I caution you to take a good, close look at who you’re getting into the truck with. I’ve heard some great stories, but I’ve also heard many more horror stories of drivers, who were strangers, getting into team trucking and it didn’t go too well.
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If you have any questions or concerns about team truck driving, or trucking in general, feel free to leave a comment below or shoot us an email. We’re here to help!
Are you a solo or team truck driver? We’d love to hear your input! What great and/ or horror stories can you share? What advice could you give to someone interested in becoming a professional truck driver? Let’s talk about it!
ther driver parked his truck next to ours and got out. This driver looked to be maybe 17 years old, the same age as our youngest son. In fact, he actually looked like one of our son’s basketball teammates! We figured he might be only 18, but stays within the state of Indiana. My husband just shook his head and said, “Boy-oh-boy.”
ese are just a few of the reasons I’ve heard. It’s funny and sometimes scary, the reasons why people don’t drive as a team. One big misconception about driving as a team is that the pay is way better… SO NOT TRUE! Many companies route their team trucks for longer runs so they aren’t sitting in a dock, killing their hours for the day. Instead, the dispatcher will have them take 900+-mile runs or have their team truck on a “drop and hook” route. This way the team isn’t hitting as many docks, and can keep moving the loads.
age OTR truck driver’s pay barely tops $40k per year,
ffect on February 27, 2012. You can
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