Team Miles per day

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by davey86, Jun 21, 2011.

  1. davey86

    davey86 Bobtail Member

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    My wife and I will be starting CDL school in the fall and were wondering, realistically, how many miles per day can/should a team drive?
     
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  3. s140s

    s140s Bobtail Member

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    When I was trying to get back for holidays, me and my co drove 4500 miles in 4 days. This includes a 1 drop and 1 pick up. You can drive as much as you want to. 1100-1300 was what I did with my partner, Left 8-9AM and drove until 2-3AM and both of us went to sleep. If we had a tight schedule we drove non stop.
     
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  4. soloflyr

    soloflyr Medium Load Member

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    Lots of variables to consider in this one, time sitting at shipper/receiver waiting to get loaded/unloaded, fuel stops, personal breaks, traffic, average trip length, scales/DOT, construction zones.

    Both would technically have up to 11 hours driving if the other parameters didn't get in the way.

    As a solo driver I average 60-62 mph for the most part, somedays more somedays less, so 660-682 mile days are quite possible for me, 700+ days are possible but not common for me. I don't drive a 62 mph truck, that's just my average speed when out on the open road away from the cities for the most part.

    If I was teaming I would try to work out a 10 on/10 off schedule with my partner. Allowing for some variables beyond our control would mean sometimes going over your 10 hours but all in all I think it would be workable that way.

    Mind you I have only teamed 1 time back in the 80's for about 6 months, don't think I will ever do it again either. It just doesn't work for me.
     
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  5. BigJohn54

    BigJohn54 Gone, but NEVER forgotten

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    Most modern-day loads and companies aren't well suited for teams. IMHO, expedited or reefer freight might offer the most miles opportunities.

    Most drivers will tell you, as an average, a husband wife team will do about 1.5 times what a solo does. That would suggest around 1000 miles a day. Running Recap on a 6/7 day schedule, the potential would be 6000. I don't see this happening often with the many factors that affect it. If I were planning it from a conservative standpoint, I would plan 4400 and target 5500.

    Still without coast to coast refer runs or "hot" expedited freight, the loading and unloading will kill your miles. Loading and unloading combined, with city driving and dock time will take from 3-10 of your 14 hours in a day. With a team, one driver could still have hours, but in many operations the other will use their hours loading and unloading. If you run 600 mile runs, you load unload every day as a solo driver. Many companies are taking more of a regional approach (500 - 600 miles) to moving freight these days.

    As a team you need runs at least in the 1000 - 1200 mile range to load and unload every day. So you can see the miles are in the long runs. IMHO, teams need 2000 - 3000 mile runs or freight that is so hot the forklift gets to the dock thirty minutes before the truck, to really get the miles.
     
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  6. davey86

    davey86 Bobtail Member

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    Thanks for all the responses, we appreciate it! BigJohn, what would be the best company to hopefully go with for reefer?
     
  7. AchioteCoyote

    AchioteCoyote Light Load Member

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    I too am interested in the team driving thought, considering that I did solo-driving back in 2001 and wasn't so successful in making the miles. I will be in the process of "re-learning" the trucking industry, as well as going through CDL training, etc. I am opting for team-driving, considering that I want to learn as much as I can through the experience of driving as a team.

    My thought back in 2001 was that I wanted to get on the road, by myself and make all kinds of money. THAT doesn't happen. There are hundreds of different scenarios that occur from Origination X to Destination X. Combined with the fact that MOST fleet carriers seem to calculate mileage on a straight-line mileage system, versus an actual-mileage system... the solo-driver is typically at an "un-winning" battle with attempting to make mileage, while trying to overcome Shipper / Receiver issues, weather issues, construction issues, and DOT issues. It seems to me that the fleet company solo-driver is essentially "walking two miles, uphill in both directions" while they attempt to make their particular mileage goal.

    I too am interested in the average company-fleet, team driver mileage that could be expected.

    I will be going through training, I will be a "new driver" and I think that I will be taking on a team scenario for the remainder of AT LEAST six months AFTER I have been trained as a qualified driver.

    I would like to know the average mileage that a company team-driver could make in a week?

    Thanks much!!
     
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  8. 123456

    123456 Road Train Member

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  9. BigJohn54

    BigJohn54 Gone, but NEVER forgotten

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    I have never run team and never will. I will offer some numbers based on my research and what is practical for a single operation. IMHO, for the purpose of planning and budgeting I would expect 4800 - 5600 per week.

    It would be possible for a team to drive 9 hours each per day, at 62 MPH, indefinitely using the 70-hours/8 days recap. It is highly unlikely that this will happen.

    If you are running coast-to-coast, I think 6000+ miles might be possible if the traffic; shippers, receivers and dispatchers all cooperate with you.

    If you want miles find a smaller reefer company that runs coast-to-coast teams, loose leaf logs and has a high FMCSA score on fatigued driving. While I am not really recommending this, I guarantee you will get the miles.
     
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  10. DirtyBob

    DirtyBob Road Train Member

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    Just like solo, there's slow days. but we usually get 1000-1200 done in a day. Running the 10 on/10 off works best for us. Now this doesn't mean 10 hours from start to finish but 10 hours off your 70 which sometimes means running out your 14. There are days we break from it though, especially if we're heading towards home time, we'll just run till our 11 driving is out.

    If we both ran solo we'd probably have more total miles if you added both of ours up. Usually one of us in a week will be at 3000 and the other around 2500-2700 which we both usually ran 3000 solo. With the team pay we still make more with the slightly less total miles though.

    I find it more consistent than solo, at my company at least. They're actually not particularly set up will for team loads but it gives you more options. If a load needs rescued, and we see to be the go to guys for that, you keep moving. If there is no team run you can still run a solo load and deliver early or swap with a solo guy to finish it. Solo loads are great to get your 34 in too and you're still under a load. Then, you have to think about all the times that maybe you missed a load because you had to take your 10 off when it's ready and you get stuck, where we don't have that problem.
     
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  11. plentygood

    plentygood Road Train Member

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