Truckers Report Jobs

Find Trucking Jobs

Company Driver Company Driver Dry Van Dry Van Flatbed Flatbed Refrigerated Refrigerated Specialized Specialized Owner Operator Owner Operator
More Trucking Job Searches ⌄ Fewer Trucking Job Searches
⌃

Getting along with a Co-driver

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by lifesafight, Sep 7, 2011.

Page 1 of 3
  1. Sep 7, 2011 #1
    lifesafight

    lifesafight Light Load Member

    109
    10
    Jul 15, 2007
    East Orange, NJ
    0
    I need some tips on how to get along with a co-driver. I am under the eight month contract with CRST. I had an argument with my lead driver because he kept comparing himself to me. He would talk about what he had when he was my age and that really got to me. I then teamed up with a co-driver and it only lasted two weeks partially because I was due for home time and because we could not get along. He behaved more like he was on vacation than a person who wanted to make money. I am home now and I will be teaming with someone again. I am very anxious and starting to think that the co-driver thing is not for me. This last co-driver I had had a few months experience and he always wanted me to be awake when he got to a shipper or receiver. I complied after he woke me up one day because he was stuck on a guard shack and was ordered by the guard not to move because he was going to tear it down. I had to get up and help him get out of that situation. I told him to wake me when he got to a shipper or consignee even though I was driving the night shift and trying to get rest in case I have to drive again the next night. One day he woke me and I began helping him. He says he did not like what I was saying and how I was saying it so he told me to shut up and get back in the berth. I was furious and contacted the fleet manager who put me on the list of available drivers and gave me the numbers to some available drivers. I don't like snitching but I did not want to get into a back and forth argument with him. I thought that would be unprofessional. I think in the future I would not call the fleet manager but I really did not like what he did. I felt like he was abusing me. I really feel like quitting all together but I'm under contract. The other issue is that I am openly Muslim and that adds to the complexity of things due to the mood of the nation regarding my religion.

    Thank You
     
    lifesafight, Sep 7, 2011
    lifesafight, Sep 7, 2011
    #1
    Smaggs Thanks this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Sep 7, 2011 #2
    comingback4good

    comingback4good Light Load Member

    92
    7
    Aug 26, 2011
    Michigan
    0
    comingback4good, Sep 7, 2011
    comingback4good, Sep 7, 2011
    #2
  4. Sep 7, 2011 #3
    comingback4good

    comingback4good Light Load Member

    92
    7
    Aug 26, 2011
    Michigan
    0
    Just make sure you have some idea who you are getting in the cab with. This is what can happen when people get nudged into team driving without making sure they can co-exist. Even the roomiest of condo cabs are a pretty small space if you can't stand each other.
     
    comingback4good, Sep 7, 2011
    comingback4good, Sep 7, 2011
    #3
  5. Sep 7, 2011 #4
    Big Don

    Big Don "Old Fart"

    17,996
    35,643
    Sep 8, 2007
    Utah's DIXIE!
    0
    Team driving is not for everyone. But when it works, it works very well. I'm curious about your people skills here. Not asking you to respond, but to ask yourself a few questions. Like, "did I say or do something that contributed to the problem." and "What could I have done differently that would have avoided this problem."

    Sometimes diplomacy is what is needed. Sometimes biting back that sharp answer, and turning away anger with a soft answer is the key.

    And sometimes, it is just plain time to take somebody out and kick the dog crap out of them. You just have to know what kind of response is needed.
     
    Big Don, Sep 7, 2011
    Big Don, Sep 7, 2011
    #4
  7. Sep 7, 2011 #5
    THBatMan8

    THBatMan8 Road Train Member

    1,478
    469
    Feb 13, 2011
    Wherever I park
    0
    Some people can never be pleased.
     
    THBatMan8, Sep 7, 2011
    THBatMan8, Sep 7, 2011
    #5
  8. Sep 7, 2011 #6
    brsims

    brsims Road Train Member

    5,296
    6,521
    Aug 8, 2009
    Meadville, PA
    0
    And some drivers just aren't cut out to be team drivers.
     
    brsims, Sep 7, 2011
    brsims, Sep 7, 2011
    #6
    Big Don Thanks this.
  9. Sep 7, 2011 #7
    Smaggs

    Smaggs Pie Crust

    1,405
    695
    Apr 12, 2011
    Pittsburgh, PA
    0
    I couldn't be a team driver... not yet or right now, anyway.

    I'm happy sleeping in a truck that someone else isn't farting in.

    You have more will power than I do. I don't last long in confined space with other people. Especially arrogant ones.
     
    Smaggs, Sep 7, 2011
    Smaggs, Sep 7, 2011
    #7
    venne, 48Packard and phillip65942 Thank this.
  10. Sep 7, 2011 #8
    dave26027

    dave26027 Road Train Member

    1,284
    804
    Sep 10, 2009
    Dallas, Texas
    0
    I prefer pneumatic co-drivers. You can't go to prison for beating an inflatable doll.
     
    dave26027, Sep 7, 2011
    dave26027, Sep 7, 2011
    #8
    48Packard, Foust, DoneYourWay and 2 others Thank this.
  11. Sep 7, 2011 #9
    flyingmusician

    flyingmusician Road Train Member

    4,288
    10,905
    Feb 25, 2011
    Jamestown, NC
    0
    I get along great with my co-driver.........I dont' have one.

    that's the only co-driver I could ever get along with lol

    my personality and disposition is such that I could never do it. People who team drive have to be social creatures or it just never will work out....not to mention the one in a million shot at getting someone you can actually get along with for that many hours in such a confined space.
     
    flyingmusician, Sep 7, 2011
    flyingmusician, Sep 7, 2011
    #9
  12. Sep 8, 2011 #10
    Brandonpdx

    Brandonpdx Road Train Member

    4,240
    4,049
    Dec 27, 2007
    Elkhart, IN
    0
    Yeah team driving would be a no-go for me unless it was somebody I knew well enough to be fairly certain it wouldn't be disastrous. Anybody who's had a roommate from hell would would have a healthy amount of concern for how badly it could go. Husband and wife teams are usually pretty good because there's far fewer personal space issues involved and you're dealing with a known entity you (theoretically) enjoy being around.
     
    Brandonpdx, Sep 8, 2011
    Brandonpdx, Sep 8, 2011
    #10
    Cochise Thanks this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

    • Page 1 of 3