OTR Trucking, Should he do Teams or Solo?

It's gotta be his choice. Personally, I hate and I mean hate team driving! Truck never stops if it's dispatched right, so you got to learn to sleep while the truck is rolling down the road. Plus, if your fiance and his teammate don't get along, that truck will get real small real quick.

Pay is also something that cannot be determined by the team/solo debate. Pay is determined by company payscale plus mileage plus how your fiance drives. If he can keep the left door closed and get on down the road for a decent paying outfit, he's gonna make money. If not, he may want to look into a different field.

Hometime is according to company policy. These days, solos seem to get a better hometime policy than teams do. Alot of companies offer weekly hometime as a benefit of driving for them. Teams typically run coast to coast, and don't get home as much. Plus, coordinating hometime can be real difficult if your fiance and his teammate don't live real close (like within 50 miles or so).

My take is that solo is the way to go. The only teams that I personally know of that are successful are husband and wife teams who deposit both paychecks into the same bank account. And I've heard plenty of nightmare stories about "forced" teams. Check the CRST threads to see for yourself.

 

This is my thought on it. He may be doing team but if his trainer is good the trainer will be up with him while driving. I cant see any trainer letting a trainee driving while in the sleeper just out of school.

 

I can. Happened to me. My first job back in '98 was with Arrow. My trainer was asleep within two hours of my driving the truck. And that was straight out of school and orientation. Happens all the time.

 

I will refuse to drive team with trainer. I dont do team.

 

I don't do team, period. And I want to be a trainer. I guess I'm gonna have to buy my own truck first so I can train the way I feel it should be done (trainee drives, I sit and watch and advise). The only time trainers and trainees should team is when the trainee is being trained to be a team driver. Team drivers need additional training, including learning how to get good sleep while the truck is rolling. A skill I never learned, and don't want to.

 

hello, this is my understanding of it. full agreement with all that has been saide so far. I have NO interest in team driveing.
only upside is team is LONG haul each driver is allowed to drive 11 hours that means alot of miles those miles are paid to the team ( wich is split between you ) you generaly can make more money.

however that leaves each person an hour the truck is not rolling, load unload or drop and hook more likely, fuel, logs the 3 s's. does not leave you much else if that.
and out weeks if not months at a time. the xtra money is not worth it to me pluss haveing to be stuck with some dip sh*& that may wreck us. NO THANK YOU

I'm new to all this and am just getting my feet wet still looking into schools myselfe i'm pretty sure this is what i would like to do but want to do it right and smart.
I know i will mostlike ly have to sacrifice everything for a while till I get the experience but idealy looking for a reginol gig out 14 home 2 or better 5 out 2 home.
while ago saw a shnider job 14 out 7 home that would be great if the miles are there beats 21 days out with a few days between runs in my book. if i'm going to be stuck sitting would rather be home not in a terminal know what i mean. but that is rare. hurry up and wait and wait seams to be the norm from what i gather.

remember i'm new this is just mho wish you both luck and safe passage

 

According to the information I received PAM Transport is promising that "OTR Team Drivers are paid for all truck miles." which "means you are paid for your miles + your co-driver's miles." Sounds good to me, pay me while I'm a sleep- Yes Please!

 

You realize, of course, that the quoted team pay is split between each team member. So, if the team pay is .40 per mile, you EACH get .20/mile.

 

Driving solo or teams has its pro's and con's. You can get lonely driving solo, but you can find friendly truckers to talk with. On the other hand, you are forced to be with the team drivers situation and better be able to communicate well and compromise well. The cab of the truck can get very small very quickly. But a good team can really enjoy the experience. Good luck.