What's the disadvantage of teaming up?

If you get a partner that you like, teaming isn't so bad. But if you get a guy that is a jerk, it can really suck the big one.

 

Use your imagination. I'm sure you've run across a few jerks in your time.

 

This is my thinking it would be ok to team with a spouse,but not to many people want to share a bunk in such a small area.

 

A lot of it depends on your personality. For example, I am a contrary old #######, and have a real tough time staying too close to anybody, (other than my wife,) for any length of time. I teamed for a bit, and found that I hated it. I had two different co-drivers.

One of them was OK personally, we got along fine. Unfortunately, he sideswiped a street light pole and didn't stop. (I slept right through it, didn't know it happened at all.) Somebody witnessed it. Goodbye to that driver.

The next co-driver was a total and complete idiot. He had as much personality as a board, and almost as much intelligence. He was the reason I decided no more team driving.

 

I found that I could not get quality sleep in a moving, bouncing, noisy sleeper. One year was enough team driving for me. Some of my co-drivers slept like logs.

http://helpguide.org/life/sleeping.htm

 

As most people know, I team with my husband. I adore this man and have been married to him for 28 years. He adores me and treats me like a delicate little princess. (This means he insists on doing all the heavy lifting and anything that must be done in the heat or snow)

However..........being together in a shoebox on wheels for 24/7 can put a strain on anyone.

 

The biggest problem with teaming up is that you dont know how your co-driver is going to be until you get out on the road. Companies frown on you switching co-drivers frequently.
Here are just a few of ways it can suck.
1. Co-drivers that wake you up for things that should have been taken care of at shift change and pretrip planning.
2. Slackers that pull over and sleep for a few hours but still change shifts after 10 hours. Plus if they dont follow a trip plan they could put you in rush hour traffic.
3. Shared responsibility for damage and late delivery.
4. Having to deal with these people when you are not under load at a truck stop.
5. Co-drivers being too drunk to drive when you receive a load.
6. Co-drivers that eat your food, smoke your cigarettes and drink your sodas.
7. Having to surpress the earge to kick the crap out of some jerk that despertly needs it.

I have had many co-driver some good, most bad. I would certainly do it again. With the right company it is great money.
Despite popular opion this union is not a democracy. There still has to be one ultimate boss and the other must agree with him and follow as close to his plan as possible.

 

My instructor said that when he was OTR, he could never relax and fully trust another driver at the wheel. He said if the truck was moving he needed to be driving.

Compatablity, cleanliness, respect for your team member is one thing, but to put your life in anothers complete control is another.

I would like to team, but like everyone else is saying.....has to be the right person.

Lupe, this is good thread topic.........thanks for starting it.