Estes Team Driving

Discussion in 'Discuss Your Favorite Trucking Company Here' started by cjbrents, Mar 12, 2020.

  1. cjbrents

    cjbrents Light Load Member

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    After 11 months, and almost a year of solo extraboard, I began teaming with another driver from my terminal. A new company order, which states they are trying to cut back on contractor teams by 25% each year, allowed openings for more teams within the company.

    We run out of the South West region, and couldn’t be happier. Still working only 5 days per week, with an occasional 6th day, and still on the extraboard. We average 5,800 miles, some weeks being 6,900+ and some being 5,400+.

    I’ve been teaming for 9 months, and we’ve only had two weeks that were less than 5,200 miles. The Winter months of 2020 didn’t slow us down nearly as much as we had anticipated. Being solo, I was use to the 1/3 pay cut through the winter, but not this year. Not on our team truck.

    The current top-out for teams is 76.5 CPM. At 18-months, working toward the top-out rate, I’m at 72.25 CPM. I cannot complain about the money, nor the company.

    I’ve heard that my company doesn’t know how to run a team, but this comment has come from two different drivers based out of the Northeast Region. For the Southwest Region, however, it’s a completely different story.

    If you’re thinking about teaming, I highly recommend Estes, or any LTL Carrier. We started with an older KW T680, but after two or three months, we were given a brand new International LT with only 10k miles on the odometer. No major problems yet @ just over 100k miles.

    This post is not meant to be boastful or bragging in any way. I am hoping to just share the information that one may be searching for...
     
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  3. JadeLove

    JadeLove Light Load Member

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    I’m glad you guys are seeing a fruitful tenure out there as a team. That region you speak of is Texas area correct ? The region you’re domiciled in plays a huge roll in how successful you are at the E so count your blessings you’re in the region you are. Safe travels.
     
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  4. KaoMinerva

    KaoMinerva Transcendent God

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    Estes will pay man. Team extraboard makes more and has priority over everyone.
     
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  5. cjbrents

    cjbrents Light Load Member

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    We run out of Arkansas, but ESTES has us marked as the South West Region. Close enough to Texas, though. Best decision I’ve made so far within the company.
     
  6. cjbrents

    cjbrents Light Load Member

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    I believe you’re correct. I met a team on a bid-run, running from Phoenix to Kansas City and back. The guy said they’ve been stuck on the run for two years, and said I was lucky to be extraboard. So I guess it has its perks. The money has never been an issue here for me. I’m loving it all.
     
  7. Professor No-Name

    Professor No-Name Road Train Member

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    Will they hire people without doubles experience? I would like to give pulling doubles a try but not sure where to start with no experience of doing it. I have 20 plus years otr experience and my wife now has 1.5 yrs experience. We've been running team for a year now after she trained for 6 months. We ran solo for her 6 months of training.
     
  8. Muskie

    Muskie Medium Load Member

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    Didn't you lose your seniority running solo by switching to teams? Is it really worth it (your health) being on a truck so long for teams with the small pay increase over solo? Not exactly UPS premium.
     
  9. KaoMinerva

    KaoMinerva Transcendent God

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    No you don't
     
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  10. cjbrents

    cjbrents Light Load Member

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    I had no experience pulling doubles or placarded hazmat when I was hired on. I ran OTR for 2 1/2 years before getting endorsements and getting hired on. They only require 1 year of driving experience. Also, if you apply for a team position, they recommend you bring your own team-mate. So that’s a plus for you and your wife! As long as you both pass the background check and qualify for the position, you’ve got a great chance at getting hired on. The only thing to worry about is if another team is applying for the same open position from within the company, or if someone with more experience with hazmat and doubles apply. Apply anyway
     
  11. cjbrents

    cjbrents Light Load Member

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    I haven’t heard anything about losing seniority. My co-driver has 14 years, and I’ve got 21 months. The pay difference is 4.5 cents-per-mile.

    When you break it down for the year:

    A solo driver usually runs 140,000 miles @ 72 cents-per-mile. That’s $100,800 (not counting drop/hooks or holiday/vacation/sick pay).

    A team driver usually run 150,000 miles @ 76.5 cents-per-mile. That’s $114,750 (not counting drop/hooks or holiday/vacation/sick pay).

    Also, the chance for you to run more miles increases when you volunteer to stay out longer than 5 days.

    In any case, it’s approximately $10-15,000 more than the solo driver.
     
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