Re-Thinking Team Driving

Hi hal.Drivers that team and doesn't know eachother before hand rarely works out just ask the folks at CRST,they are a team operation company.If team driving doesn't work out some drivers will get out and stay at the nearest hotel and call their company in the morning.There's a lot of give and take in teaming especially if you don't know anything about that person.Why do you wanna team?Do you think you'll make more money?Better think again especially because you're new.All you have to do is the math and then you'll see the money isn't there.You won't receive anymore miles then what a solo driver gets and you'll make less.Werner for example,the solo's get like 25 cents per mile and teams get 35 cpm split which is 16 cents per mile.Unless you have a friend that's driving I wouldn't consider going team.Far as I know companies don't put drivers with experienced drivers to team.They do have bill boards in the drivers lounge with drivers looking for someone to team with.Most the drivers at these starter companies are far from exp drivers.Many of the trainers are newbies.

 

I would never do it.

 

this is a hard road for people who do not know each other. You are living in 60 square feet (if you count the square footage of the upper bunk) You can make better money but it is pretty hard to sleep while trusting someone you do not know to not kill you. My wife and I have teamed for almost 4 years and we love the lifestyle but married teams have it easier. With a good team company like US Xpress you can expect 5500 to 6500 miles a week and they pay $0.48 a mile after training. You split that with your teammate but you get paid for all the miles the truck rolls, not just the miles you drove. We always took home over $1,000 a week each as team drivers at USX.

 

Oh, and they will team you up and it will be with another newbie

 

Well, the questions you ask have been answered a 100 times over, and I agree with most of the replies right here, so - I'm going to have to ask you - Why do you want to team, and What are your expectations of it - more pay, miles, the companionship - the assistance in learning?

I wouldn't team for less than 45 cpm, and it'd have to be the wife, family (well, no scratch that), or a good friend. Darn it. I've only got about 3 of those, and they hate driving. I guess just the wife. And she's sick of it now.

Grrrrr. Just go solo. No wait - that's me.

I need more coffee.

 

My boyfriend also drives,we seriously considered teaming but never did.But if we was to team now I have no doubt,I know we would get along like when we first talked about it.Teaming isn't for everyone I sure wouldn't even try with someone I don't know.So this op hasn't started driving yet,do you think he could make good money teaming at USX right after hes completed training compared to the exp team drivers ?

 

Depends on the attitude - I know one team that runs real well over there, but they do a lot more than just sit and wait to be told what to do - they're very proactive with dispatch, shippers and recievers.

What say you, No No, Craig - does that statement stack up?

 

I hear that,it makes a world of difference if both are willing to pull their own weight.