team Driving

Wife and I team- we like it. Trust is important, I couldnt do it with anyone but her.

Many good points- yes you have to very patient for sure. Always remember the person behind the wheel is driving not you. We help each other when we go to deliver or pick up, sure is great having an extra set of eyes looking for street signs. I dont know what I would have done in many cases without her.

We both have our strong points and weaknesses, we help each other with these. That helps alot, never leave your partner hanging, always be willing to help. There will be days you get worn out, it will be better in the end if you help out.

It takes a bit of adaptation for sure, we like it. I would tell anyone to give it a try and see. Never know until you try it. As far as saftey goes, yes there are times you basicallly have to call your partner up front. I have called her up to put the seatbelt on. Heavy snow, ice uaually I end up bringing her up front until I can find a safe plce to park.

I say go for it

 

My last job was in a straight truck,the company required teams.My last co-driver WHAT A NIGHTMARE!!I couldn't believe he was allowed to drive.Imagine this: 6'4" 460 lbs.,smoker,and a diabetic.When he first got on the truck I gave the benifit of the doubt.The first paycheck he got was only $67.00(he had issues).Now most diabetics would purchase the right foods to eat(we had a fridge in the truck),no,he spent his entire $67.00 on CIGARETTES!!How can I sleep with him driving if the possibility of "shock" is just sitting there like a time bomb??I called the truck owner and told him the situation and why I was soo upset about being put in a truck with him.I'm mean MY life is on the line here!!The owners response was to just deal with it.We were OTR what was I to do?I spoke with other drivers from the same company that had teamed with this guy and said the same thing,he didn't manage his diabetes right.

Needless to say,a few days after I called the owner he called all of his drivers and said he was changing to independant contracting,he laid out the terms as follows1)drivers are to pay for fuel.
(2)he still wants to control what loads we took and where we deadheaded to wait for a load.

Now,I'm new to the industry,but what's wrong with that?I weighed the pros and cons(I needed a job) and even if I was not driving with "diabetic guy" decided that the owner didn't have the drivers' interest at heartand said no to IC.A few days later we got a load that brought us back home and got off the truck.I found out that there were 6 out of 14 drivers that left because of the IC terms.

Now that I have experienced team driving I refuse to ride with a smoker again.I'm working hard to take better care of myself,my weight has become an issue(for the med card index) so I'm trying to get in better shape.I've lost 12 lbs. so far but would like to lose about 10 more.I prefer to run solo but if teaming is required I'll do it.Although I am a lesi I have no issues co-driving with men as long as they are cool with me.You have to be careful of who is in the truck.

 

Washington:

1) i would not do it; In fact, i forbid you to do it; i think team driving should be outlawed and i am seriously contemplating introducing legislation to make it illegal if i get more time.

2) Getting along was never a problem for me. It was the sleep problems that are inherent with team driving; You may think you can sleep well, but you're really not. And this is going to screw your health up big time AND in addition it may pose a serious safety hazard to yourself, your co-driver and anyone else on the road. This is not worth it for ANY amount of money.

3) Read #1 (and #2) again. If, for some reason, you decide to ignore #1 (and #2), then try to do it with and only do it with a company that uses Freightliner Cascadia, Cascadia ONLY.

4) The only exception that can override #1,2, and 3 are if you employ a 5 on 5 off 8 rest program or similar:

Example: You drive for 5 hrs, the other driver drives for 5 hours and then the truck STOPS for 8 hours.

OR you drive 8, the other driver drives 8 and the truck STOPS for 5 hours.

Or similar/equivalent plans. You are still moving faster than a solo driver with these plans and thus, it may work out with dispatch, scheduling etc.

If, and only if, the above examples are met, then maybe i give you my permission to proceed.

If not, you're just screwing yourself no matter how much money is involved; The supposed more money you make teaming will go to medical bills later on and then some. Trust me.

 

Sounds like my brother and i, we teamed for a week and a half and got home 2 days before xmas, went to moms for xmas and didnt say 2 words to each other. Put us in seperate trucks and we will follow each other anywhere for weeks without any problems.

 

2000 - 2500 miles a week for a team? Well, that takes care of 4 days tops, what did y'all do the other half of the week?