Couple of questions(team driving)

[Bigtruck]

Hey everyone, Well I got a meeting here at 1:30PM EST today to sign-up for driving school and had a few questions.

Me and a buddy of mine would like to do the team driving for a year or so if possible. I have been sifting through webpages and such and was wondering if, for example me and my buddy want to work together is it guaranteed that we work together full-time? or will we just sometimes team up together and sometimes team up with other people?

Also, what are(in your opinion) the major benefits & drawbacks of teaming up with a friend and/or stranger?

Another quick question which I know the school will help with, is I have NEVER driven a stickshift(been spoiled by automatics my whole life) before and wondering how hard & long it takes to master? I know only practice will help me, but is there a general rule of thumb for how long it takes an average person to get good working with a manual transmission? also once I get good with using the truck, will I be able to hop in a car with a manual tranny and drive it fairly easy or are they 2 different animals all together?

EDIT:Also forgot to ask what is the real job outlook and earning potential as a driver. I know the school is going to say we can make billions a year doing it(not literally of course) but I know they are trying to sell their program. Is it worth getting into trucking now? how bad have gas prices affected truck driving?

Thanks in advance,
Mike

 

[Mike]

The outlook isn't too bad for "team" drivers right now. Companies are trying to fill as many trucks up with team drivers as possible in order to run more profitable.

Benefits

• Once you are both done with training, you can help each other continuing to learn the job.
• Better decisions can be made when there are two people addressing any situation.
• Better earning potential (in most cases)

Drawbacks

• There is a chance that you guys could be very incompatible living in close quarters. If this happens, a friedship could really be tested. Anything about one person that tends to annoy the other, no matter how insignificant is may seem, can become magnified once you are in a truck together 24/7.

 

[Bigtruck]

Well, I have been doing a bit of reseach and have been talking to a few people who have family that are drivers and everyone is saying it's not a good time to get into trucking. Is this for trucking in general or is more for guys who want to stay close to home? I have no qualms being out 3-4+ months at a time solo. But I know my buddy was cringing when he heard we will be out sometimes 3-4 weeks at a time. both him and his girl are extremely jealous types and both will think the other one is cheating on them(proof they shouldn't be together, but hey that's not my call)

So I am wondering, Because I still want to do trucking and get all the endorsements available and go on the road for maybe 6 months, is this desirable or is the trucking industry not even interested in solo drivers anymore? I'd love to do team driving but over the past few days I don't think he'll be able to hang with me. I am used to traveling everywhere from my wildland firefighting days and grew up in a Military family so traveling everywhere is no big issue for me, but I can just imagine now hearing him whine about his girl the whole time and that'll be a huge buzzkill for me. I thought they trusted each other more than that and that he'd be all up for the job, but I am doubting his commitment at this point.

So my focus is switching to solo driving, do I have a chance at getting hired solo or is that a dying sector of the industry?

Thanks in advance,
Mike

 

[FlatBroke]

do I have a chance at getting hired solo or is that a dying sector of the industry?

Thanks in advance,
Mike

Depends on your driving record, physical, drug test, etc..oh yea gotta get your CDL...

You, will get in school usually they have you fill out applications to get pre hire letters...or the school might have you fill out the apps first...

But yea, if you get the CDL, pass the physical and drug test, your driving record is clean...somewhat stable work history...most likely you will be hired..

I don't want to tell you yes you will get hired for sure..cause there is always a chance of not being hired.

 

[Mike]

I know my buddy was cringing when he heard we will be out sometimes 3-4 weeks at a time. both him and his girl are extremely jealous types and both will think the other one is cheating on them(proof they shouldn't be together, but hey that's not my call)

Might be best that he strongly reconsider this profession.

 

[rebel]

Might be best that he strongly reconsider this profession.

or the girlfriend

 

[Mike]

Yeah, that might be the best option, LOL.

 

[Bigtruck]

LOL at G/F comment. Well hopefully I will be on the road with a company in April sometime. I start my classes in March and I believe it's only 3 weeks(10 hr days). My driving record is spotless, my job history is so-so(when the economy was doing good in the mid-late 90's I tended to job hop like a lot of people). I live in MI so the job market is terrible so the past few years I haven't stayed very long with anyone, due mostly to the mundane tasks/jobs I was given. I have no problem busting my rump as long as I got a good job to do.

Also is there a limit for how long I can be OTR? If I want to be gone 2 months or more at a time is that possible or am I forced to go home after a certain period of time? I don't have a wife, kids, etc so I have no problem staying away from home for extended periods of time.

Also how cramped are the sleeper bunks? I know it's not going to be like a motorhome or anything, but what's the average size dimensions? The reason I ask is cause I am wonder how many clothes, basic supplies I can bring with me without cluttering the cab.

Thanks all,
Mike

 

[SilverSurfer]

As to your out time...as long as you want...lol. Regarding bunk size...that depends on the rig. Many have the space necessary to make life a little comfortable, but it is limited. My suggestions about clothes would be this - have seven days of changes and make it a habit to do your laundry once a week.

-ss-

 

[Bigtruck]

Oh ok cool.

Actually if you don't mind explaining how that(time-off) works. as a driver do you just tell them when you're done trucking for a while to take a break or do they offer a chance every so often to go home and you either stay out or take the offer and go home?

It sounds like drivers can almost make there own schedule as far as time home/off but I know I wouldn't want drivers out for 2 days telling me they are taking a week off LOL so who actually has final say as far as you going home or staying out?

Thanks for all your help and sorry about all the questions, just excited and curious.

EDIT: also do truck stops have laundry mats? or will I have to go into a town and go to a local laundry mat?

Take care,
Mike

 

[FlatBroke]

Depends on the company..most offer 1 day off for every 7 days out. But generally want you to stay out 10 to 14 days at a time.

Yes, some truck stops offer laundry facilities as do some terminals for trucking companies also.

 

[SilverSurfer]

Bigtruck...your relationship with your DM will dictate the manner in which you get time off. Generally most companies require you to be out at least 15 days before getting any time off...and then it will usually be 1 day per 7 out.

Even O/O's need to have a good working relationship with their dispatcher. I usually would stay out until I put down 12,500 miles, then take the rest of the month off. You can accomplish this anywhere between 25 to 27 days. But there were many years I would stay out as long as the freight was paying and not worry about time off. At the end of the year, from thanksgiving to the first weekend of the new year, is when I would give time back to my family...but this was a call I could make being an O/O.

Once again...it's very important to have a good working relationship with your DM.

-ss-

 

[Member 2400]

Another reason I love my company.

They have that one day off for each week run policy. But they are flexible about it.

But we've always been able to get more days as needed.
When we moved and needed extra time we got it.
When our son was getting ready to ship overseas we got extra time.
When our grandson was born, when our son got married, when we had company from out of state coming to visit, when we went to Ireland, etc etc

We've always been home or gotten the time off when we needed it ... or even wanted it.

 

[comfygal]

Another team driving question

How do companies handle the training of husband/wife teams? We have 30 days with a trainer and then 60 days second seat with a lease operator. My hubby (and myself) aren't too keen on the idea of me basically living with a stranger for 90 days as it will probably be a man. (Not many female trainers etc available)

We asked our recruiter and she said that we would both go with the same trainer at the same time. Then we would go with the same lease operator at the same time.

I don't want to be skeptical but I just want to make sure that this is something that they actually do. Has anyone heard of this sort of situation?

Thanks!

 

[Mike]

I wasn't aware that was an option. Sounds like a nice option if it is available.

 

[SilverSurfer]

I'd get that one in writing. What causes me to find this one difficult to believe is the fact that 3 people will be sharing the space that 2 people can find to be cramped.

Do understand if y'all are able to do this it will be a very difficult period with 3 people in a truck designed to accomodate 2.

-ss-

 

[OverTime]

Might be best that he strongly reconsider this profession.

Bullwinkle and the others have shared some good information here and shared insight on the truth.....
Good luck in the team thing with a friend... Like these guys have stressed, It can play hell on your friendship. It will either MAKE it or BREAK it..
But it will put undo STRESS on it....

Been there done that....

All the best and G/L....
Matt

 

[Bigtruck]

I am not going to team with him and will try to avoid teaming with anyone at this point. He just isn't motivated enough IMO. I want to be out months at a time up to 4 possibly 6-8 months without going home and he'll want to be home every two weeks so we wouldn't make a good team anyway. I've been doing a lot of research lately and I just don't think he's cut out for this type of career and I don't want to have to stop mid-transit somewhere because he wants to quit.

Thanks to everyone for your input.