Has the idea of truck driving for a living always been appealing to you, but you just never went for it because doing it alone always felt a bit scary?
Or are you a seasoned truck driver in need of a company?
Hauls can be pretty long and you could use some assistance—maybe even from your spouse?
Well, there is a solution for all that and it’s called team driving.
Benefits of Team Driving
Before we dive into the how-to-find-a-team-driver area, let’s go through all the reasons team driving is a good idea:
Higher earnings.
While riding solo, you won’t be able to drive more than 10-12 hours, first because you’ll get tired, and second because the FMCSA-imposed law will not allow you to drive longer than that, which is not the case when you have a partner.
You can drive around the clock, finish your loads faster, and earn more.
Yes, team drivers earn more because they drive longer miles and they can hop on the next load much faster.
Increased productivity.
When it’s two people, it’s easier to get the job done in shifts, plus you can never leave your truck unattended.
While one driver is sleeping or grabbing a bite, the other one is doing the driving.
Hence, the vehicle is always on the move.
Road safety.
Imagine not feeling well or being sleepy.
Having a backup is priceless in these situations.
Another pair of eyes on the road never hurt anybody.
Having company.
You won’t be alone.
You’ll have someone to talk to and that someone may very well be your spouse.
Actually, this is a very common thing – the perfect solution for couples whose job nature is not being home often.
More priority loads.
Team drivers get more priority loads because they can finish them faster.
Priority loads pay more, so that’s a plus.
How to Find a Co-Driver?
Finding the right driving partner may not be a simple task, but there are several ways you can go about finding a partner and they can all be effective should you keep an open mind and a positive attitude.
Team up with your spouse.
Instead of being far away from each other, you can do the driving together and enjoy spending time with each other.
This would imply that you both have a commercial driver’s license (CDL) or that you are at least in the process of getting one.
What better person to share your trucking lifestyle with than with your spouse?
You already have matching personalities!
Team up with a company driver.
You can apply to a logistics company and get paired with a company driver.
A lot of logistics companies out there are looking for over-the-road (OTR) drivers and usually already have people waiting to be teamed up.
Matching experienced with newbie truck drivers is also possible, so new drivers have someone to learn from.
Put an ad out/Post on social media.
Technology has been on the rise the past few decades – all our lives are online and more and more people are either studying or working on the internet which also makes it perfectly possible for drivers to find their driving partner on a trucking platform on the Internet.
Another possibility would be to post on social media that you are searching for a fellow driver to join you OTR. Your circle is already made of people who have experience in the industry, so it would be easier to reach out to someone who would be interested.
You can also ask your Facebook friends to share the post so it reaches out to more people. Facebook, or any other platform of your choice.
Make use of the word-of-mouth technique.
As a driver yourself, you can also talk to other drivers you know and ask them to refer you to someone that’s also looking for a driving partner.
Or you can talk to other random people you know.
Talk with your circle of friends and ask them to help you out, or spread your network, and ask around. Ask neighbors or acquaintances.
You never know who can be a good match unless you try, right?
A lot of problems can get sorted out if we just dare ask, and this is not an exception.
Throughout your trucking career, you have certainly met people along the way that know people with a relevant background, so use that to your advantage.
TRY US. WE ARE IN THE BUSINESS FOR A LONG TIME
We are in the trucking business for a long time, and communicate with drivers all day long.
Moreover, our recruitment team is working hard to reach out to OTR drivers, so they have a list of drivers who are looking for co-drivers.
If you’re interested, simply fill out the driver application from, or call (708) 526-2130 ext.4 for immediate response.
How Much Do Team Drivers Make?
Truck team drivers have it pretty solid when it comes to the big bucks.
Team driving is like a mini money-making machine wherein team drivers make up to $0.62 per mile.
They drive an average of 5,500 miles every week, making from $67,000 to $82,000 annually.
Dandy, right?
Towards Building a Partnership and Road Safety
These are some of the qualities you should tick as you go further down your truck driving team’s experience:
Share space and responsibilities.
It’s crucial that you reach a compromise and mutual understanding.
You need to organize your food and personal items so they are not all over the place; you need to discuss the cabin temperature, even music preferences.
Some drivers prefer driving at night while others during daylight.
Others prefer driving in the countryside, while others don’t mind the bustling city streets.
These are some of the things you will need to compromise over and decide as a team.
Mutual trust.
A strong OTR team means having honest communication and firm trust in your OTR partner.
Confiding in their capabilities and letting them do their shift the way they find it the most comfortable will steer you away from unnecessary fights, awkward silences, and criticism.
OTR teams work best when you set up boundaries and you respect them.
Respect each other’s lifestyle.
In the light of compromises, along come lifestyles. They are all about valuing diversity.
It could be that your OTR friend wants to listen to jazz in the morning and you don’t, or it could be that they want to have tuna for lunch and you can’t stand the smell of it, or it could be that they like singing, and it annoys you, but the key to a success would be balance and reciprocity.
Understanding that you too probably have some habits that potentially annoy your co-driver and just taking that in stride. It’s only normal. As long as there is mutual respect.
Laser focus and sleep.
That’s what partners are for: to help each other stay focused on the road, stay safe, and get enough sleep.
Showing care for your OTR partner, helping them stay focused, making them company when they’ve asked that of you because they feel tired, is yet another key to a successful and long-lasting partnership.
Related Reading : How to Keep Yourself Awake For Long Haul Driving
Plan and double-check.
It’s your co-driver and you against the world.
You two make all the decisions, therefore, you need to plan beforehand who is in charge of what and you always need to check the weather conditions so you don’t get stuck in the middle of nowhere.
If one has forgotten to do so, the other one will. It’s important to be patient and understanding. That’s why you are two on the team–so you surpass troubles and challenges with ease.
Final Words
Team driving means compromising and sharing, not splitting responsibilities; it means maintaining the good condition of your vehicle, worrying about closest routes and weather conditions – together. It means respecting personal space and communicating.
While it is not always easy to match your co-driver’s personality with yours, it does not mean that you can never find the right OTR partner for you. Place an ad, go through trucking platforms that match drivers up, and surprise yourself. Be more active on social media, don’t be afraid to search for a co-driver. Co-driving is a worthwhile investment that will bring lucrative opportunities and priority freights your way.
Make use of that opportunity. All it takes is having a positive mindset and a willingness to make at least some compromises. And if you happen to find the perfect co-driver that matches your personality and/or lifestyle, who knows? Maybe you won’t need to make compromises at all.
