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Team driving - advice on driving for Swift O/O or company driver

Discussion in 'Swift' started by friendoftrucker, Mar 6, 2013.

  1. Mar 6, 2013 #1
    friendoftrucker

    friendoftrucker Bobtail Member

    6
    4
    Dec 14, 2012
    0
    So my friend (he's been in the US for 1.5 yrs - good English and a green card) who has been with Swift as a new driver since November is looking at options of team driving. He has an opportunity to drive with someone from his country who is an O/O driving for Swift. He will pay him .20 a mile for all miles. If he drives with Swift as a company team driver Swift will pay .16 a mile.

    Pros and cons that I can see for teaming with the O/O - better pay BUT - no insurance (the cost of getting this on his own seems much higher than through Swift) and no pension options, not a company employee - that worries me for his work history record, and if things don't work out it could end quickly and he'll have to find another job. Also he would need to pay all of his taxes on his own, which I guess would be quarterly or at the end of the year.

    Pros and cons of Swift company team driver - a little less pay but lots of insurance options at a more reasonable price and pension, building a decent work history record, and I assume if things don't work with one team driver he can look for another and just run solo until he finds one or stay solo.

    A little background - since he is young and relatively new to the US, he is asking me for advice (I'm not as young, but I don't have a background in trucking). He is very happy with Swift and he is getting decent miles running solo - around 3000 a week, just a little trouble getting home time. His ultimate goal is to save enough money (and establish a credit history) to become an O/O in the next few years. He is not interested in leasing.

    So since I can only guess what the pros and cons are, I would like some input so I can give him more sound advice and not just what I am guessing. Thanks for your experienced advice!
     
    friendoftrucker, Mar 6, 2013
    friendoftrucker, Mar 6, 2013
    #1
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  3. Mar 6, 2013 #2
    Scarface1978

    Scarface1978 Light Load Member

    123
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    Aug 26, 2012
    Granite City IL
    0
    Team driving is a joke and a scam but that truck can go twice as far but if ur lucky u make a little more than a solo driver it's not worth it really Ive made $1500 a week solo and team drivers only make about $1200 wk hell I average $1000 to $1200 a week.

    if he wants to make money he needs to think about mentoring you get paid at your pay scale for every mile the truck moves ya u miss out on the first week but good pay those last 5 weeks, my mentor was making $1800 to $1900 a wk when he was running team with student.

    thats my 2cents teaming is a scam and the company makes twice as much while they screw the driver it makes sense for couples but they might as well lease together.
     
    Scarface1978, Mar 6, 2013
    Scarface1978, Mar 6, 2013
    #2
    friendoftrucker Thanks this.
  4. Mar 6, 2013 #3
    friendoftrucker

    friendoftrucker Bobtail Member

    6
    4
    Dec 14, 2012
    0
    Yeah Scarface when I did the math for him, he's grossing about $780/wk at .26 a mile and 3000 miles solo. He would gross $800/wk at .16 a mile and 5000 miles as a company team driver and about $1000/wk and 5000 miles as a team with O/O. I will have him consider mentoring in the future, but he needs to learn a lot more before then. Thanks for your input.
     
    friendoftrucker, Mar 6, 2013
    friendoftrucker, Mar 6, 2013
    #3
  5. Mar 6, 2013 #4
    Moosetek13

    Moosetek13 Road Train Member

    14,676
    18,450
    Nov 1, 2010
    Burnsville, MN
    0
    I would also consider that home time as a team driver might be harder to get as needed, unless both are from that same area and want ht at the same time.

    And Swift insurance is not really that cheap. I am paying (single, just me) ~$41 per week for very basic medical and vision. (Besides vision I added only 1 basic option, out of a dozen. And vision is only $1.27 per week.)
    Triple that for really good coverage. And in the slower winter weeks, I barely even make that much.

    My sister looked at what I was getting, and what it cost, and said "Wow, that's really a lot".
     
    Moosetek13, Mar 6, 2013
    Moosetek13, Mar 6, 2013
    #4
    friendoftrucker Thanks this.
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