Team > Solo?

Can't say I've done any teaming unless you count 3 months or so of driver training on another person's truck -- but I can say that too much hometime isn't likely to be a problem if you go for one of the bigger companies, teamed or not.

It's just a matter of finding someone you get along with. If you're a rookie, it's also a matter of finding an experienced co-driver.

Personally, I'd have to be dragged kicking and screaming to become a team OTR driver. No matter how well you like your partner, it's just not as comfortable a lifestyle. You can make more money, but not necessarily much more, depending on the operation in question. Some places will flat-out refuse to hire solo drivers, though, so there is that.

But as I said, I'm no expert, and I know there are drivers out there who love team driving. To each his own.

Anyway, if I were you, I'd get my foot in the door somewhere and then see how I feel.

Oh, and yeah, you can opt to take hometime elsewhere, if you like. I don't imagine it's any different for teams except to the extent that your teammate doesn't want to go where you want to go.

 

I would run team with Nicole Kidman.Anything less nope.
Ashley Judd

 

No teaming for me. When I am sleeping the truck will be parked.
If there is going to be an accident I will be behind the wheel. It's my life and I will not place it in the hands of anyone elses behind the wheel

 

I ran team for a few years and could never get any good sleep while the truck is moving. But that was years ago and back then you felt every bump you hit especially in the Astro 95 we drove. The big issue is how well do you get along with the other driver. I went through a few because I was at the company awhile. Some were ok and some I refused to go out with again.

I'm sure you don't want to sign up with a pig or someone that has some horrible habits or unsafe driving acts. Just make sure you really check it out before you commit.

 

I started out driving team back in 72 in a Freightliner cabover. I slept like a baby when in the bunk. Didn't mind. Did it for 4 years.
Solo now. Thinking of teaming with my son. He's in training with CRST. Let's see how he does, then we'll try it a bit and see if he can stand the ol man. If we can, we'll do it. I'm particular about who the other driver is. Back then, I was just back from the jungles and sleeping in a bouncing cab was heaven compared to a stinking hole in the rain. And I was still young enough to be invulnerable.

 

I team and have a hell of a time sleeping in a moving truck. My codriver however can sleep under just about any conditions. Supposedly teams get better runs and miles but there are weeks I'm in doubt about that.

 

I ran teams for 2 months with a guy who lived 10 minutes away from me. It was ok for the first week and that was it. We had constant arguments, Mostly because he didnt want to weigh heavy loads and he couldnt back up to save his life. He would wake me up to tell me that we arrived at the consignee because apparently, he couldnt do anything for himself.

 

Well when I was in training the guy they had sharing the room with me only lived two hours from me, we hit it off and became friends and once we both got done training we teamed up. You have to have a good connection and be able to tolerate this person for weeks on end seeing as you'll be sharing a small sleeper with them. Now if I had a choice I would take solo over team driving, several reasons for it. First its very hard to sleep in a moving truck with the quality of the roads, traffic, different load and unload times(unloading might fall on your sleep time, and a forklift going in an out of the trailer bounces the truck quite a bit). Second I like to have certain things for comfort, tv, my own food, clothes for two weeks, games, and others that pretty much takes up all the storage in the truck. Third you're spending two weeks or more in a truck with another guy, and if you do it with your significant other you better have a #### good marriage. Like a few others said to, if there is gonna be a wreck I wanna be behind the wheel and not thrown around in the sleeper and wondering what the heck just happened. Teaming has its perks, more money(at times), longer runs, if in a large company lots more drop and hooks. But running solo has its perks, you can park and sleep while the truck isnt moving, you can take your hometime where or when your time comes. When I was teaming we parked the truck at my house and he commuted the two hours home and back to my place when leaving. Personally I would never team drive again, just not worth the headaches.

 

One dweller per truck Not enough room in a truck for more than one dweller

I don't fly either Why I'm not the pilot No one drives me anywhere ever