Team Driving with Swift? Can you make good money?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by silenced140, Jan 2, 2018.

  1. silenced140

    silenced140 Light Load Member

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    I've had a driver leader suggest I try Team Driving. This person claims team drivers can average around $1,100 a week net.

    I realize there is a lot of BS involved though.. working in cramped spaces for long periods of time.. getting sick of eachother, as well as trusting your life in somebody else's hands etc etc...

    But assuming I can handle the BS.. do they really get consistent high mileage? Is the extra money actually there?
     
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  3. Crazytrucker77

    Crazytrucker77 Heavy Load Member

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    Here is the main issue with team driving. All the money the truck earns is split between both drivers. So it depends on what the truck makes per mile on rather or not it's a good idea. For instance I know someone working for Schneider as a team and a solo when he doesn't have someone available to drive with him. As a team he told me the truck made 65 cents a mile. Sounds great don't it. Well not if you aren't teaming with your significant other cause then you only make 32.5 cpm. When he drives solo he made 42 cpm. See the problem.

    The only advantage to teams mostly is the miles. But is it worth putting up with sleeping on a moving truck, living with someone you don't know 24/7, and having to wait until your partner can get somewhere with a bathroom when you need to go in the middle of your rest period. Just might want to weigh the pros and cons. I myself am a solo driver making 36 cpm home on weekends for a 34 and I bring home an average of 700 - 800 a week for only 5 maybe 6 days work. It's all about putting your time in and finding a company that can make you money. The last company I worked for OTR I was bringing home 900 - 1000 a week and only averaging 8000 miles a month. They had really good accessorial pay. If you want to make team money but don't want to be stuck with the same people you can always train drivers if your employer does that.
     
  4. silenced140

    silenced140 Light Load Member

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    You've given me a good amount to think on. Thanks for your imput!
     
  5. akfisher

    akfisher Road Train Member

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    You can net 1100 without team buddy! Really wanna be stuck in a truck putting your life in someone elses hands?
     
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  6. RustyChops41

    RustyChops41 Light Load Member

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    The team life is 24/7 hustle. The truck only stops for fuel and :30 breaks. Inevitably you'll both be skipping daily showers and neglecting hygiene. And if you think living in the truck is crowded solo, wait until two people live in it. Add in trying to sleep on some of the worst freeways in the industrialized world, and I'm out of there. Solo for me, .44 cpm, and doing a good 3500 miles a week nets a good $1100 plus per week.
     
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  7. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Quest Global has guarantee minimum weekly salary of $1200.00 for each team member with the average being $135,000.00 split. Fancy trucks with APU, refrigerator, etc.
    Average length of haul is 2300 miles.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
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  8. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

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    Abilene Motor Express - coast to coast teams @ 72 mph.
    [​IMG]
     
  9. RedRover

    RedRover Road Train Member

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    I made 75k last year at Swift and most of that was from team dedicated. If you find a good teammate and have a good DM, you’ll make 200 or more average per week. You will also rarely sit.

    4000 miles to the truck is 1000 gross per driver. 6000 miles is 1500 gross. Your dm ain’t lying. What are you averaging for miles solo with your dm? What terminal?

    I had a teammate I had to drag coast to coast but we got 6700 plus miles a week while we ran and a 34 every #### week in a Denver in a nice hotel with a bar. He couldn’t sleep with me driving and so he quit and went back to training.

    Teaming ain’t for everyone.
     
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  10. thelushlarry

    thelushlarry Road Train Member

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    It is extremely difficult to get along with someone 24/7. There is lots of times i get into arguments with myself! Good luck!
     
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  11. TripleSix

    TripleSix God of Roads

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    I was just going to tell him to AIM HIGHER.
     
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