Why Do We Demonize Team Driving?

When I was with CRST. Females had this option followed by the statement that due to the smaller percentage of women in the company that they may have to wait awhile. I saw many male/female non couple teams in my time there.

You will never convince me team driving with a stranger is safe. Regardless of how picky you are in choosing that teammate. You just don't know what you have until the newness of being polite wears off any the real character traits come through. Never mind the fact you don't fully rest in a moving truck or you have to wake up 3 hours into your shift to guide your co driver into a dock. Or the worst is waking up to the smell of smoking brakes going down Donner then realizing they are yours and seeing your code over is oblivious to it.


Never again

 

That is me! I can't hand my life and my livelihood to someone else, Just not going to do it. Thanks for this thread!

 

Just because that is YOUR experience with the company YOU are with, does not make it true for ALL companies. I know with your vast wisdom and experience, you believe you are right. But guess what, some of us who have been around a bit, just MIGHT have a bigger picture.

 

Been thinking about team driving once I get my CDL, but not really sure what all companies are good for new drivers other than CRST. I have been looking at Prime and Schneider for solo, but how are they for teams?

 

Twice my company has paired me with female drivers. I'll be honest, I'm not a fan. I grew up playing sports and always bonded well with "the boys". I find I can be myself more when I'm paired with another male driver. Granted, I'm the youngest driver at the company, but I can always find some common ground with the guys. The women on the other hand were great drivers and ran hard, but I felt there was a complete lack of privacy and some awkward moments. It might not ring true with every male/female team, but in my experience, I'd prefer to drive with men.

 

The OP seems to be confusing team driving with apprentice training. The two are different and should be discussed differently. Yes, if you're unskilled with the truck/trailer and company policies, it's mandatory you run with someone who can PROPERLY show you the ropes. If you can't learn trucking in a reasonable amount of time, it's not fair to the trainer. Once you learn the basic skills, then you can begin to think about "teaming" or running solo. Running as a trainee is not teaming and if you've been running with someone for 3-5 months and still feel like you're uncomfortable if you had to run solo (by choice or by force), trucking probably isn't for you.

 

I don't demonize team driving, it's just not for me simple as that. Being in a truck with someone else weeks on end can get old really fast. The money may be good, but it's not worth it to me. If I want to pick my nose and listen to loud music, I can without worrying if I'm bothering someone else. May be petty reasons, but that's reason enough for me.

 

I look at it like this ... in a true teaming environment (running 5500+ m/w) you're chances of being involved in a fatality accident effectively double ... and for what? Maybe another $50-$100 week? thanks. It can be fine if there are a number of key elements in place (same home location, same smoking/music pref's, same work ethic, same goals, same family home-time wants, etc) Just one of those missing? It can be a living hell if endured long term (by one party and/or the other)

There just aren't a lot of quality teaming gigs available. Any week with less then 4,500 - 5,000 miles has got to be miserable for both unless you're at home in between a regular turn. That would be manageable.

 

its a van thing. Doesn't float for the rest of us.