RIDE ALONG Possible?

You would be welcome to go along for the ride, but I am the captain of my ship, and my rules within my cab are law.

I will not subject myself to teaching someone how to do the job without any recompense ever again. As a rookie/wannabee you are not my equal, and I will likely not live long enough to see the time when you are.

I was told once that my partner, who was a complete novice, was my equal in every respect. That will never happen again.

Re: my previous post. I will clean the toilets in an AIDS clinic with my tongue before I drive team again.

 

Rember this, Trucking is a lifestyle, not a job.

 

Simple break down..........and the reason I won't EVEN consider team
driving.

My son got a job at a company I worked for.....I got to train him.....

Not to drive you understand...my training consisted of showing him
the route and associated paperwork.

To further clarify, I trust my son with my life in a big truck......only
4 or 5 other drivers I've personally met over the years make that list.

I love my son and we share the same interests in music, food etc.

The thing is that we just couldn't share the same truck for 5 days without
wanting to kill each other..........

Imagine that with a total stranger you're not sure you trust and being
cooped up in a truck for however long the trip.

 

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

Most company drivers aren't allowed to have anyone else in the truck without written permission. Many trucking companies will only allow a few specific people to ride along, such as a wife or adult child, but only with written permission and sometimes after they pay for additional insurance.

Owner operators have all of the financial risk of the trucking company above and may also have limitation on them from insurance companies or dedicated shipper agreements.

It's not as easy to carry a rider along as almost everyone out of the industry assumes. While a driver could probably get away with picking up a hitchiker from time to time, there are many unexpected ways to get caught and the penalty for getting caught can be loss of your job.

Where is the rider going to sleep when the driver sleeps? Some trucks have bunk beds and manyhave only one bed. How do you feel about letting some guy on the internet sleep in your bed while you are at work?

About the only way this happens is if you already know a driver and you talk that friend into taking you along. I wouldn't expect to be able to talk a stranger into this deal.

The space in a truck is about the size of an apartment's bathroom or closet. Think about sitting in a closet with another person for a few hours or few days. I'd try it once if it was for my wife or my girlfriend, but not for both at the same time , but not for some guy on the internet. Even assuming you aren't a serial killer or like Broadway show tunes, it's a tough sell.

 

Space is definitely at a premium even in my Volvo VNL 780 which has the most spacious sleeper cab one can get without going custom. I trained team for six weeks when I hired on as a company driver, and that was not impossible, but I don't recommend team driving except for married couples. Simply going for the ride will mean purchasing extra insurance.

 

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I HAVE to reply...

My husband and I got our own authority last October and have been driving team since.

Those who said they got on their own nerves are so right. Many times I don't like myself and I really dislike my hubby.
It's HARD! I don't care how much you think you and another would get along, you'll want to kick them in the head more often than you think while living together in a truck. At least once a week I'd really like to choke my hubby and I love him dearly.... and I'm pretty sure there are nights he's plotting what truckstop he can ditch me at.
A simple difference in opinion can turn ugly.... quickly.

For the driving part... I trust my husband's driving over ANYONE. It's still hard to sleep just because the truck is moving. It's just difficult to get used to.

 

Hey, Tanker Yanker!!! Um, I mean Tankergirl80... for a minute there, I thought you were Lori Petty!!! With a CDL-A, of course...

 

Hey, Truckers: Any chance I could ride along for a shift somewhere in the NY metro area with someone? Preferably for JB Hunt Intermodal or another intermodal gig. I'm very interested in learning more about trucking and am happy to return the favor in any way I can.

Thanks Guys

 

You just made me snort out loud LOL. I think it was the "other peoples odors" that got me. Gawd does that bring back some old memories