what's the advantages of team driving

^^^ Ought to be a Sticky.

 

I've talked to a couple of different guys who started out as team drivers and say it's a great way to start. I guess the thinking is that you always have someone there to help with backing, navigating etc. Not for me but I could see how some would like that in the beginning.

 

Just make sure the log books ARE up to date. That way, in case of an accident, no one can say he wasn't driving.

 

I find it hard to believe that you can't think of even one reason to run team, with the exception of a husband wife teaming, --- which just might be one of the situations many Big truck truck drivers would never consider attempting. No doubt there are those who drive Big trucks to get away from a spouse.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, ...... I hear.

Darkwing, there are advantages to runnin' team when you first start out, --- IF both team members are compatible. There's no "I" in "TEAM".
A well matched team has been compared to a good marriage. Not in a romantic way, but rather support. Each has the other's back. Each team member will have their strong and not so strong abilities. One may be better with backing or night driving, while the other may be better at paperwork, and a trade-off agreement is reached.
If each member of a team counts every mile and feels put upon if their driving miles are greater, chances are that team isn't really a "team". More like two solo drivers in competition with each other. Personally, I prefer to be behind the steerin' wheel over sittin' in the jump seat, but you do what'cha gotta do to make the operation run as smooth as possible.

Show me a team where both members give 110% and I'll show you a successful operation. Gettin' along well with a teammate isn't really that difficult, --- if we set our mind on the task at hand. As in a marriage, compromise is a necessary ingredient. Don't leave home without it.
COMMUNICATION is the key ingredient. Nit-pickin', whining, pouting, silent treatments and temper tantrums can be dangerous distractions and should be avoided. If there's a problem, voice your concerns. Get it out in the open to resolve. With time and communication a team should gel to the point that they run efficiently, like a well oiled machine, --- taking things that once were worrisome in stride. Things that, at first, were stressful just thinkin' about will become second nature.

What's important to successful teaming is:
CONFIDENCE in yourself as well as your co-driver. It will improve with time.
CONCERN for your co-driver as well as the operation as a whole.
COMMUNICATION, --- if something needs to be said, say it.
COMPASSION/UNDERSTANDING, --- different strokes for different folks. You may have your way, and your co-driver has their way of doin' things. As long as it doesn't interfere with the smooth operation, live and let live.
COMPROMISE/CONCESSIONS , it's not a you & me thing, ---- it's US. One of the team may find it necessary to change the way they'd normally git-er-dun. Don't take it personally if that's the case. Top priority is the operation, not the individual.

And the most important attribute, ----
ATTITUDE. The better your attitude, the better and smoother things will run.
Guaranteed.
A bad attitude promotes misery and stress for both team members and is responsible for many early burn-outs.
Set your mind to succeed.
ANYone can fail.

I ran team for a couple of years when I first started out. Some aspects were difficult for me, like sleepin' in a moving (cab-over), but I learned how to tolerate it. While building my confidence it was nice knowing I could count on help if I needed it.
Whether or not there's a benefit to runnin' team all depends on the individual. Some folks aren't very flexible and tend to be intolerant. Those folks will never know what a smooth runnin' team operation is like, --- often puttin' the blame on others for their own short-coming.
A well gelled team is worth their weight in diesel fuel, ...... or gold, --- whichever is worth more at the time.

It's good to pick the brains of experienced Big truck truck drivers to obtain information prior to makin' an important decision. Just keep things in perspective, and remember, ................... the reason why some folks DON'T want a certain thing, is the same reason other folks DO want a certain thing.
I prefer drivin' at night.
How 'bout y'all?

Tell y'all what, ---- I'll do all the night drivin', AND handle drop&hooks, includin' backin' 'er into the dock, for a slice of huckleberry pie.

Deal?
or
No Deal?

We can flip a coin to see who polishes the aluminum during home time.

Take pride in your ride.

​

 

Because your teammate may only want to stay out 3-4 weeks

 

Good luck finding a co-driver that will stay out that long. I have trouble finding one that is willing to stay out 6 weeks.

 

I said the same thing heading into training, and going solo, but the mind needs rest away from the truck. When you're new, and adjusting to the road, you're not going to be able to get the kind of rest you need to stay sharp, and safe. My first trip out, I stayed out for 3.5 weeks. Once I took my home time, I slept for 15 hours straight. A few hours after waking up, I went back to sleep. I wanna say it took me 3-4 months before I completely adjusted to living out here. Now, I sleep better in the truck than at home. When you're new, you're paying extra close attention to not making the wrong turn, or be late, or not get into an accident, which is draining. My point, take your time when you finish training, and go into things gradually. To put too lofty of expectations on yourself. In my opinion, your main focus in being new should be to get as much experience as you can, then the rest will come naturally.

I give those that drive teams a lot of credit. I personally would have a hard time doing it. Some value home time, others value the equipment they drive, whereas I value my space and comfort which is hard to have driving teams. The only way I'd consider going team is if I trained a couple of weeks every other month or something, just to break up the monotony. Sleeping during training, yeah right.

 

Well, obviously the disadvantages are all listed here.

Plenty here make the point that theoretically the miles you can do don't always happen in reality. They can though. It'll pretty much depend on how dependable you are and the company you are with. If a company can't support a team freight wise, there is no point in doing it. 5,000 miles a week should be a horrible week, not a good one. If they can support a team, you're going to have to show you can run and do it consistently.

My partner and I worked our butt off doing normal team stuff, having slow weeks and good weeks. We showed we could perform better than most and got a dedicated now that's 6700-7200 miles a week.

There are advantages outside of miles and pay though. Not giving a crap about if you'll run out of hours at a shipper/receiver. Having someone sitting up front with you in the city can be helpful. Backing up, you always have a spotter you know you can trust if the need arises. Sliding tandems is easier. You rarely have to join the circus known as parking at a truck stop after dark and the solar powered trucks shut down already. If you prefer day or night driving, it's easier to stay on one or the other if you both like the opposite or one doesn't care either way. Me, I rarely see more than two hours daylight. Decent social interaction as well.

Aftershock hit the head on the nail with how you must work together though. Compromise and communication. Made a good point too about miles and being alright with the fact you may do more at times than the other, but it usually balances out long term.

I have it easy though. I team with a good friend that I rode with when he was solo before I even thought about driving let alone getting my CDL. We already knew we could both live in a truck together. We have a good time on the road together. It's also been good for me as he has over 13 years experience and I'm able to learn a lot day after day. I'm not sure if I could team with anyone else, and this is coming from someone who honestly enjoys teaming. I personally don't know how two random people are able to pull it off, but from the sounds of it they rarely do.

 

That is funny as one of you will want off in half that time. Don't believe me, ask any trainer/trainee on how long it takes for them to sick of the other party in that truck you share. I teamed for six months running reefer east to west coast. Would I do it again?? No. Just because you are single and have no kids does not mean you can not make good money running solo. Some people will disagree and some will agree when I say I believe you can make decent money to live off of when driving solo.

KH