Re-Thinking Team Trucking

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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:

1. I don’t even want to be around my husband/wife that long.
2. I tried working with a co-driver, but it didn’t work.
3. I ran as a team with a man/woman I was dating, but we broke up.
4. I couldn’t get used to sleeping in a moving truck.
5. My co-driver couldn’t drive, so I couldn’t get good sleep.
6. 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!

H.O.S. for Team Truck Drivers vs Solo Truck Drivers

I decided to write this blog post after reading an article titled, “CRST Petitions for HOS Exemption Allowing Drivers to Use Split Sleeper Berth Time” dated August 21, 2015. This has been a hot topic since the Final Rule went into effect on February 27, 2012. You can click on this link to read all about the changes to the FMCSA Hours of Service. CRST wants to be granted the same exemption status that McKee Foods — the Little Debbie carrier — was granted in March.

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!

Until next time… Be safe and be blessed!

A Team Trucking Truth

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Being part of a team truck driving situation means that you each still have to give 100%. Fortunately, it can also let you slack off, a little bit, from time to time. Perfect example… I fell down a few stairs at home yesterday… OUCH! I hurt my toes and tailbone, and am struggling to walk right now. Well, that can’t stop our 6am delivery from happening in the morning, right?

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This is when you count your blessings, when you have a co-driver! I’ll be able to get in the truck, but may not be able to shift gears, with the clutch, until later tomorrow evening. We have until 4pm to pick up our next load. Hopefully, that will give my body enough time to get (at least mostly) back on track. I’ll be taking some more Tylenol PM and Ibuprofren tonight, so I think I’ll be good enough.

If I was a solo driver, I’d have to put up with all this pain in order to deliver the load in the morning. Or, at worse case, I’d have to delay the delivery until the next day, because they only receive until 1pm. No. that’s not an option because then the “Domino effect” would happen with the next load. But, not being able to rest would delay a total recovery. Ugh… a big downfall of the solo driver scenario! 

We’ve been 2500 miles from the house when one of us has gotten sick, or injured — thankfully not at the same time. If it’s so bad that it could take a few days to get better, we would just check into a hotel until the sick or injured party felt much better. There’s nothing worst than being in a bouncing truck, when your stomach feels like it’s jumping hurdles on its own… Ugh!

We don’t like cancelling loads, or delaying a delivery, so we do our best to take care of business, while taking care of ourselves, and each other. But if it’s a really bad situation, we have no choice, but to shut down and push back the delivery date. I hate that! We both know that’s the last — and dreaded — option, but is sometimes necessary.

If you and your co-driver are truly working as one, when one co-driver says they’re not up to par — hurt or not feeling well — there should be enough trust between you, to not question them. You know you can take their word. Each of you should be looking out for the others’ best interest. This also means knowing when the other isn’t up to giving their 100%, or anywhere close to it.

Remember, team truck driving requires the two of you to be on the same page regarding health and wellness. The beauty of having a co-driver, is that they can pick up the slack and “make it happen” when necessary. Hopefully, this is true with you and your co-driver, too. As long as it’s not being abused, the two of you should still be able to keep your miles, and money, up. Like the saying goes, “Teamwork makes the dream work!”

Have you had a co-driver who abused your determination to “make it happen”? How did you handle it?

Clash of the Team Truck Drivers!

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.

Your input is most welcome. Thank you!

Until next time… Be awesome and be safe!

There’s No “I” In Team in the Trucking Business!

Team truck driving is just that… two people driving, working and thinking like a team. My husband and I started in our truck driving careers as solo drivers. Then, we started working together. Then, back to solo driving. We’ve driving as a team now for five years. And it has NOT been easy! It is getting easier, but sometimes we wait a little too long to get a hotel room to put some space between us.

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When the air is kind of thick between us, we know we still have to work as a team. So, even if I’m cranky, in the middle of a conversation, or trying to get something done on the computer — knowing I’m about to lose WiFi signal — if Mike says he needs help with something, like sliding the tandems or finding the email with the pickup number on it, I have to get into gear and act like everything is all good. First things first, and work — our trucking company — comes first.

I read part of an article, the other day, that made me sick to my stomach, for a few different reasons. The article, “Driver Attacks Co-Driver“, reports on how the male driver beat his female co-driver with a 2×4 piece of wood. It’s not stated — and I don’t believe — they are a couple, of any sort, other than team drivers. Note: although I think team driving is great, not knowing your co-driver well, can be a risky situation. Just my opinion 🙂

The above situation is rare. The disputes between team truck drivers doesn’t usually go that far. However, I have witnessed co-drivers verbally “going to blows” and it’s pretty disturbing. Why? Because, I know that, if and when those team drivers hit the road, the stress and emotions can directly affect the driver’s ability and judgment. Think about it… you probably know a truck driver who has had problems with their spouse or partner, over the phone, right? How dd their mood affect their thought process, and for how long? So, now imagine being face-to-face with the person you’re having a major problem with … and you can’t shake them?

Case in point… while working at USF, a driver (who I shall not name) was fed up with his soon-to-be ex-wife and killed her. It was later found out that he planned on driving to the terminal, to kill every person he came in contact with! Thank God he was chased down and killed by police in, what was believed to be, a suicide-by-cop move. Like I said… THANK GOD! 

Some people think that team truck driving simply means, “I drive my hours, You drive yours.” So not true! Team, whether in sports, a relationship or, yes, driving a truck means, “I have your back. You have mine.” If your co-driver is hungry, and you know the company just screwed up their paycheck, so they have no money, would you let them go hungry? I hope not! No food = no energy. So, do you really want them driving an 80,000-lb piece of equipment… with you asleep in the back? Again… I hope not!

I’ve never driven with anyone other than my husband, but I know as a human being, with a heart and soul, that any person I choose to team drive with, would be confident in the fact that I would be a true team member. And, yes, that includes knowing when to say when, and get out of the truck. Safety first, right? 

Team truck driving presents many challenges both, on a professional and personal level. It takes each of member of the team to pull not only 50%, but 100% of “the load”. Be a good listener. Know when it may be time for your co-driver to get a little breathing room. Know when it’s time for you to get some space, too. As a team, you both have the responsibility of keeping yourselves and each other in a fair level of balance… mentally, physically and emotionally.

Until next time… Be awesome and be safe!

The Different Types of Team Truck Driving Pay

There are three different ways to work and earn as a team truck driver:

1. Company Team Driver – You are a W-2 employee of a trucking company, usually with benefits.
2. Contractor Team Driver – You operate as a 1099 contractor with one, or more, trucking companies.
3. 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:

1. commercial driving experience, and
2. CSA score (accidents, tickets, etc)

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:

1. Overhead expenses – how much your fixed expenses cost you (truck/ trailer payment, etc)
2. Insurance –  usually fixed, but can change depending on the company you’re hauling for
3. Fuel – this is an always changing expense that can vary, drastically, depending on what part of the country you’re hauling in. Visit the Team Trucking Resource Page for Dept. of Energy and truck stop info 

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:

1. Schneider – Great dispatchers on the dispatch side.
2. P.A.M. Transport – Great dispatchers on the broker side!
3. 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!

Related articles you might be interested in:

• Walmart Violated Minimum Wage Laws
• FedEx Settles Independent Contractors Mislabeling Case For $228 million

Until next time… Be awesome and be safe!

Team Trucking Temp Troubles

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!

Until next week… Be awesome and be safe!

Team Truck Drivers Get Tired Too!

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!

Until next week… Be awesome and be safe!

Team Truck Driving vs Solo Truck Driving

Depending on the type of person you are, there are many advantages and disadvantages to team truck driving. Do any of these describe you?

• You like loud music ALL the time
• You like to talk on the phone almost your entire shift
• You can’t sleep in a moving vehicle (BIG issue!)
• You are a neat freak (or a total slob)

Then, you are more than likely NOT suited for a team truck driving situation unless it is with that special someone in your life… your spouse, long-term girlfriend or boyfriend… someone who KNOWS you and you KNOW them really well. Think about it… even in the largest truck models, or converted and extended sleepers… you may have a small shower, sink, toilet and dining area, right?

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Well, that may seem like a lot of space for a truck, but after a while, you will feel “cabin fever” start creeping in. The walls will feel like they’re closing in on you. That space isn’t going to feel so big. BUT… when you add another person (and I haven’t figured out how 3 people can live together in a truck… WOW!)… you just cut that oh-it’s-not-so-small space into HALF!

It is true that, for the most part, one of you will be driving, while the other is sleeping, relaxing, etc. But, when you are picking up or delivering your load, the driver will probably want to come out of the driver’s seat, right? That’s when the space becomes smaller. One driver may want to watch TV or play their video game, while the other driver is asleep. Well, if you need to sit on the bottom bunk, where they’re sleeping, in order to see the TV… that can be a bit uncomfortable, not to mention irritating.

There are many other little things that can become BIG issues when team truck driving like, the temperature in the truck, driving habits, privacy (if you’re not a couple) and other topics I won’t get into here. Just remember the saying, “You don’t know someone until you live with them.” Well, if you’re going to team drive in a truck… get ready to really KNOW that other person!

Ok… I don’t want to turn you completely off from team truck driving, though. If you’re a couple, best friends, etc., it could work out very easily for you. Plus, there are a lot of advantages, too. My husband and I were together, as a couple, for two years before we started working in a truck together. I’d have to say that, the path our driving careers took was ideal.

I couldn’t resist!

We started out working together, delivering locally. Then we went over the road after a couple of years. Long story short…  knowing someone really well helps a team truck driving situation A LOT! Like I said, there are a few key examples when having a team driver, or even just a companion, works out great! For example:

• If you’re like me, you don’t talk on the phone much, so I talk to my hubby for a couple of hours while I’m driving
• You don’t have to eat alone
• If you have a few days off, and you’re not home, you have someone to hang out with
• When you’re in a new area or a construction zone, and the navigation just went KAPLUNK!
• When you have to back out of a place and there’s a lot of on-coming traffic, and you don’t want to call the cops

These are just a few of the highlights to being in a team truck driving situation. There are some others, but I think you get the point. The #1 issue with team driving is personal and professional stress. I don’t care what your relationship with your co-driver is, stress will always play a major role in your attitude and how you relate to one another. It’s easy to say, “Keep your personal problems at home,” but when you’re in a truck with someone else 24/7, for weeks or months at a time… you ARE at home. It’s hard to sleep knowing the driver is pissed off, right? I won’t even get started with when the paycheck isn’t right!

To sum it all up… team truck driving is not for everyone. There is no right or wrong way to go about it…. company team, contractor team or owner-operator team drivers. What I will say is this… look at the situation you’re coming from, be ready to shift directions if needed and know when to take a break. My husband and I know that when we start fussing with each other over little things… “Why didn’t you put a new bag in the trash can?” or “Didn’t you see the sheet was coming off the mattress corner?” it’s time to check out of the truck and into a hotel! Lol

I hope this helped give you a better understanding of the difference between team truck driving and solo truck driving. If you do now, or have ever driven as a team, we’d love to hear your story. How did it go for you? Did you like/ dislike team driving? What do you think are the biggest pros and cons of team truck driving? What advice would you give to those who are interested in team trucking driving? Please leave a comment below, or contact me, and let’s talk about it!

Hello team truck drivers…

… and those thinking about being a team driver 🙂 My name is Ericka Richardson. Over the past couple of months, I have been thinking about what communities or groups exist for team truck drivers. Well, I couldn’t find any! I know there are companies who may encourage their team drivers to interact. These companies may even have events their team drivers can attend. I wouldn’t know because my husband, Mike, and I are Independent Owner Operators. We’ve never been company drivers, so I really don’t know what they actually offer. I know what they say, but we know how that goes, right?

In case you haven’t read the About Us page on our website, let me tell you a little bit about us. We’ve been in trucking for 12 years. We’ve been team driving for about 10 of those. We both started off in straight trucks. I started as a “2nd Van Driver” with Fedex Ground. Mike started at USF Distribution (that warehouse closed about 4 years ago, I think). After leaving Ground and going to work as Mike’s helper for 6 months, I took my own contract with USF. We did 100% touch freight… Ugh!

After the contract continued to pay less and less, but the work load kept increasing, Mike and I put our 30-day notice in, and obtained our own authorities. Now this was back in 2006, so we got a couple of Nextel chirp phones, a clunky device for our wifi and a Microsoft Streets and Maps disc to print out our directions. Yeah… compared to now, we were roughing it! Lol

It only took a few months of being over the road in a straight truck (yep, we went as far as Cali, Idaho and Mass), to realize there had to be a better way! The money nor the freight were enough to handle the bills, plus we had 3 kids losing their mind at home! We got stuck in Lynchburg, Va on a Friday. We were looking at spending about $200 that we really didn’t have, if we stayed. I decided we needed to deadhead home and I would enroll in truck driving school on Monday morning. That was 2006.

Fast forward to today, we still have our ups and downs, but thank God, the downs come far and few in between. Over the years we’ve met a lot of other couples, sisters, brothers and friends who team drive. One thing that’s missing, from what I see, is a type of hub where we can express ourselves. Get support, tools, advice, etc. Yes, you could go to any trucking forum or group, but I really feel team truck drivers deal with something solos don’t… that other person!

And just so you solos know, dealing with another person, in such a small space, is not like living with an animal in the truck. It may be more closely compared to having a cell-ie in prison, depending on the mood in the air, but thankfully we can pull the truck over and take a break, before someone breaks the other’s spirit! Lol

So, I just wanted to give you an idea of who I am and what angle and thought process I’m coming from. I’ve had some of the most awesome conversations with other team truck drivers… and it’s usually NOT about trucking. So, yes, feel free to speak your mind on (almost) any topic you want. JUST PLEASE KEEP IT CLEAN! The main focus of this community is to be there for one another… PERIOD! Let us know what you’re challenges are… what road blocks you’re facing. Also, let us know what you’ve figured out to help you get through a tough situation. Chances are… someone else needs to hear it too. Keep in mind, “There’s no such thing as a dumb question, except the one that’s not asked.”

I look forward to hearing your feedback. Don’t forget to Like our Facebook Page and, if you haven’t already, we’d love for you to join our Facebook Group – Team Trucking. Sign up to receive your FREE weekly newsletter with trucking updates and events. You’ll also receive our blog post. There will never be a charge… NEVER!

Until next time… Be Blessed and Be Safe!