Team Driving

Since I really want some input, I am going to bump this up to the top.

 

I ran team with my father from 97-98 til he retired with a medical condition lost a lung basically. Well he ran the Day shift I ran the Night shift worked out great for us and the company we were with. Never will forget that night pulling out of the coolers in Salinas heading for Chicago about to turn left cop in Pursuit hopped the median slammed into the side of the trailer bounced off and kept right on going. I was like #### there goes my night. Made sure the logs were correct real fast. Set the brakes grabbed the sat system sent in the accident macro and called 911. Before I even called the accident in the Police knew about it.

Just had to wait for the cop to get back CHP to show up the LT and Sargent to get there being a Pursuit crash all in all took 3 hours.

Last trip we had with our old truck also. Then 3 weeks after we get our brand new one we are in Upstate NY getting Cheese for CA 5 teenages as a prank put a Excavator tire filled with Cement in the middle of the road in Binghamton. I slammed into it at 50MPH dead center into the middle of the bumper you would have thought I had thrown an anchor out of the rear. we went from 50 to ZERO in less than 50 feet according to the skid marks left. They caught the kids on that one and charged them with attempted Murder. Teaming can be fun but the late night driving can be boring as hell.

 

most places try to keep team trucks moving min 1000 miles pre 24 hours. team trucks normaly get drop and hook, live load/unload, HOT loads as we call them l that have to get to the reciver A.S.A.P. and mostly FTL. Pay is also a few cpm more then solo drivers , not sure the going rate in the south for a team but here in the north its 46-52 cpm. and the truck only stops for 24-26 hours after one of you has used up the 70 hours if on electronic logs if on paper it could less but thats a whole diff issue with creative logging I dont advise you to do. Play by the rules and dont have any problems. ive also herd the DOT dont bother teams as much for the logbooks but sure do check the trucks more since a lot of teams only stop for fuel and do 1/2 ### PTI 's if at all.

when I started out we did team and the company wanted us to run hard only stoping for fuel and they set up deliveries as such with fueling and PIT figured in to 30 min every 24 hours. needless to say we had to speed a few km over the speed limit to have time to eat and shower. I can tell you dont give in to that B.S count on running the truck max of 22 hours out of 24 if the company doesnt like that then find one that does cuz you do need to eat shower and stop to pee.

 

Good Morning Craig,

You might want to ask your trainer about company policy - HOS for teams. Some companies really mirco manage teams, as they are a very important part of the companies profit potenial. I know one company that used to pull their teams off the road during certain hrs of the early morning, due to fatigue and accidents. It may all up to the team to determine whats best.....but I would look into that.

 

Thank you so much, man this forum has been awesome. I have heard of teams that run 5 hour shifts but I see a bunch of problems with that other than I can see no way it would be legal. You also would never get any good sleep. In addition, USX runs elogs so it would be a dissaster if something went wrong. I am thinking that a set schedule of 12 hours each per day would be preferable to just running until your 14 was up and switching. I could be very wrong about this so I am looking for input. Which do you think is better/sustainable? Which do you think would be less stressful? Is there something I am not seeing? I am very conversant with HOS rules/issues and pay. Thanks again for all input.

 

I would take a look at the teaming forum over at Pumpkin Driver .com That company has many successful husband and wife teams.......and focus on that part of the industry. Most are very friendly, so join the forum and start sending some PM's to get some perspective on how that company recommends it is done. There are many companies that base their team operation on the standards and methods of the Big Orange Pumpkin.

 

Great advice. Will do

 

Craig what is your current driving schedule with your wife? Does Anna drive 12m to midnight? Or has this changed?

 

I drive nights. We recently changed our schedule. I now drive 7 pm to 7 am Central time. It was killing me missing all the baseball games on the satellite radio. Works great for us. Anne is very happy. The only tough part is coming out of home time. Takes me a couple of days to get back in the groove.

 

Glad to hear Anne is happy, happy wife happy life! Stay safe.