Training?

There are no insurance requirements that forbid it. A couple of owner/operators have taken on family members this way but it is expensive and restrictive.

With experience and a good driving record insurance is usually less than $6,000 a year. Put an inexperienced driver on and it is usually more than $9,000. In addition, Progressive is often the only choice. They usually restrict your operation to a 500 - 700 air mile radius.

Then most owner/operators aren't interested in running team. And there is the chance of breaking equipment.

I wouldn't say it is impossible but it is highly unlikely.

 

I would probably not offer such an arrangement, but only because I'm doing it myself. Let me explain.

I know me pretty well and trust myself not to do risky things, especially in the equipment that I've spent a fortune (to me) on and is the core of my business. I went to the doctor and got a DOT physical, just barely squeaking by on the blood pressure, likely caused by the stress of starting this business in the first place. I went to driver services and passed the written test with flying colors the first time, which I should have since I've had a full commercial license before. I've driven large trucks years ago, including a little bit with semis. I did confirm that I was drug-free by joining a consortium and peeing in a cup. I ran a DMV report and criminal background on myself to be compliant and make sure I'm a safe, law-abiding driver. Permit in hand, good to go.

The insurance man didn't blink when I asked him about coverage. No problem. Your lack of experience is offset by your age and good driving and credit record. Additionally I'm already paying a high premium as my driver (my son) has a ding in his driving record that won't come off for another 14 months. That's also compounded by being in business less than three years - new carriers without an established safety record are more risky so they charge for that too. So the added risk of me was only a small $1,000 increase in the annual premium I'm paying already, which is about double what more experienced carriers pay. I'm all set now.

Permit requires a full CDL driver on-duty in the other seat. No problemo, I have one on payroll. Well, he can only run 14 hours on duty which must coincide with my drive time. So teaming would only gain us 3 hours drive time on a good day. Not much additional profit in that. Additionally, with the details of getting my business set up and not losing everything in the process, I will finally be able to go out on the road after six months. Sometime in September, I will finally be in a position where I can get away from my office without letting things get out of control. The strategy is to get a few weeks of wheel time to be able to return and ace the driving test. Which is another challenge, as I must schedule the test in advance. I will either have to route the truck back home in time for that, or rent someone else's equipment and find a CDL passenger for another small fee.

Now that I've gotten a tiny bit of current wheel time, here's my thoughts. Having a CDL is a bit like having a concealed carry permit. It's pretty exciting to think about the privilege you have earned, and your confidence is high. When you settle in and head out, you suddenly realize that you are the pilot of 30,000+ lbs of mayhem that is barely under control and very capable of ending someone's life in an instant. Ending a lot of lives depending on the traffic, including yours. Just like having a loaded gun in your pocket.

So ask yourself - would you want you in your own truck? And at what price?

 

I love the all-encompassing disclaimer at the end of this post-that way, nobody could possibly take offense. It isn't at all like "having a rookie in your cruiser." It's a lose-lose proposition for an independent/small carrier. The insurance, if it can even be had, is more expensive and probably more restrictive (which means less revenue) with an inexperienced driver. Finding good drivers with experience is a serious challenge in this industry-finding ones with no experience is basically impossible. Roughly one in ten people that start in this industry last a year. That's not from the big, evil, soul-crushing carriers and driving schools, it's because most people can't hack it at this kind of work, and that I know of, there's really no good way to predict who will and won't be able to do it.

I started out with Schneider Specialized (now Maverick Specialized) in May '03, went to their training school and the whole nine yards. I got great training, made some rookie mistakes, finished my year-long contract, and moved on, eventually to my own truck and then my own operating authority. Despite all the flack they get from people (on these forums and elsewhere) who had no business in this industry in the first place , these large companies have some pretty stout training programs.

So yeah, this is me telling you to suck it up and pay your dues-if you pay attention in training and use some common sense, you'll be fine. If you need a hand, then holler at somebody, whether it's here, or the lunch counter at the truckstop, or the CB. I don't have time to check on each individual driver that I think might be a rookie to make sure they don't need help with something, but if you'll ask for help sliding your tandems or fixing a light, or ask whether or not you should take US 60 to get around paying the tolls for the WV turnpike, I'll be glad to help.

 

No offense taken ultraclassic. Looking back on your op, I can relate - the concept of apprenticeship looks a lot simpler than it is. With 20/20 hindsight, I'd have been farther along had I spent less money and put myself in the same school my son went to. The only problem is that I was not in a position to disappear to Newport, AR. for 3 weeks. I worked full time as a senior project manager up until July 1, and really got the carrier business on the road in March. Two full time jobs at once made that out of the question.

josh.c makes some good points about being cut out for this type of work, and I think he's mainly talking about the daily grind about OTR trucking. I think there's more to that in terms of driving talent. I saw the same thing when I worked as a mechanic. Some people have talent that gets refined in training and others actually have to learn how to do it. About the best example I can think of is in the many threads about floating gear changes. The first group has a natural feel for it, the second group has to use the tach/speedo and think it through. Both groups are capable, but the "naturals" are usually less stressed when they get into a jam.

Same thing about helping out. The ones that sit there griping and never do anything about it are generally just as bad as the ones they gripe about, trying to make themselves look better. Or just miserable people that shouldn't be out in public. I don't usually get into other people's business, but if I see someone struggling I'll step up and offer a hand. How it gets received has a lot to do with your approach. If you can offer help without making the recipient feel stupid about it, everyone comes out better. On the other hand, if someone insists on doing something the hard way, I just move away and make sure they don't break my stuff in the process.

 

I'm sure having a rookie cop ride along has it's own stresses, but that rookie cop has been through months of training and psychological testing before he gets to you. When you get done with your shift with the rookie cop, you get to go home. I'd really encourage you to look into the bigger companies that do their own training, they have a setup that's much more similar to the mentor/rookie setup you're describing than an O/O taking out a totally inexperienced driver. They train you in the classroom and in parking lots and on the road for a month or so, then put you in a truck with a trainer for several more weeks on the road hauling freight.

 

Call to Insurance company; Hello Chris this is Dan hey look I took on a trainee......Yea I a guy that wants to learn how to drive a truck.............HOW MUCH!!.......YOU CRAZY #### TRUCK AINT WORTH THAT MUCH.............DROP ME YOU CANT DROP hello hello chris