Team vs Solo?

scarface i have a question......i'm starting kinda all over again but have my cdl and i'm going with swift but i just want to get input since you drive 4 them and seem like it's a good company to start off

 

Talked to a Swift driver that pulled into my school today. Not a happy guy. Claimed he was getting about 1500 miles a week for 25 CPM. THAT is McDonalds money, lol!

It seems some people do well enough at Swift, but if you can get on anywhere else, you'd likely be better off.

 

Old Dominion, sir.

 

Too much compromise for the extra $$$, IMO.

 

I don't know how teams do it. I could never share a truck with another dude.

 

I liked running team a lot personally, but did it with a good friend. I wouldn't team with a random stranger though. The company I was with at the time had some great dedicated runs for teams and it worked out well. Made a lot of money and was home weekly as well.

The cons are pretty obvious. If you have problems sleeping in a moving truck don't do it. Even if you sleep well in a moving truck, everyone has those nights where they just can't sleep and it's that much harder when you're in something that's moving. You're trusting someone with your life and you're responsible for their life as well. Living in something smaller than many jail cells with another person can be tough. That's why I'd never do it with a stranger. If you really keep the truck moving constantly it can wear you down. We did a run that was 7000-7200 miles/week at one point and after six weeks of it we both had to take a week off. That last week was usually pretty brutal.

Pay can be good or bad and it depends on both the team and the company. A company that can't keep teams moving constantly won't allow you to make anymore money. If you're unable to run in a true team mode where the truck doesn't stop you won't be able to make more money than solo. I've met quite a few teams that just couldn't hang with the grind of it and they were only hurting themselves by staying a team.

There are some good pros. You don't have to deal with the circus of truck stops and finding parking every night. You don't have to worry about running out of hours at a shipper/receiver. You have a second set of eyes in nasty situations. Nothing like having someone help you navigate through metro areas trying to find a shipper/receiver or there to spot for you while doing some ridiculous blindside. If it's someone you get a long with well it can be nice to have a good companion out there too. Some of my best memories while being OTR were actually during downtime and having a good time together.

I've met some successful teams that didn't know each other beforehand but they were definitely the minority. Most teams that have been together for a good length of time were either husband/wives or friends beforehand.

 

Not surprised; that's the first company that crossed my mind when you posted. My second guess would have been ABF. Good for you.
I remember when the old Roadway had some sleeper trucks out West running teams.

 

lolz mayne I guess that's with all companies some may say it's not a good company some may say it is.......but to be honest I'm just looking 4 something I can be there a year or 2 and just get something local

 

Check with Eastern Seaboard packaging in Orlando. They deliver boxes to U-Haul and movers. They don't require much experience but they only have about 5 drivers so don't hire often. They have daycabs so you make it home most nights or they pay for a motel.