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Do You and Your Partner Have What it Takes to Succeed as Team Drivers?
More potential loads, higher pay rates, less impact from hours of service rules -- these are just a few advantages of team driving compared to going solo. But team driving isn't for anyone. And savvy solo expediters can still do very well for themselves financially.
So, before you move forward with a potential driving partner -- whether it's your spouse, relative, friend or acquaintance -- keep these five considerations in mind.
1. Decision-making
As a solo driver, you only have yourself to worry about. You make your own decisions on what types of loads you'll take on and where you deliver them.
Teams, however, need to agree upon parameters for proper decision-making, says veteran expediter Linda Caffee who teams with her husband Bob. For example, there are times when the other person is asleep when dispatch calls, and you need to know what types of loads you should accept, without having to disrupt the other driver's sleep. If you set up clear guidelines upfront, you're better equipped to make good decisions when those situations arise.
2. Sleep Quality
This is an advantage for solo drivers because they get to sleep in a non-moving vehicle.
But experienced teams know how to help each other get quality sleep while the truck is still on the road. The key is being considerate of your partner. Caffee's advice: "Keep the cab quiet. Drive smoothly. Start soft, stop soft."
3. Flexibility
Keep in mind that you're operating in very tight quarters with your partner for several weeks at a time. "You've got to live in a small box with another person and have to accommodate someone else's schedule, whether it's stopping to use the restroom or eating," says Caffee. "And for Bob and I, getting ready for the day is almost like a dance: when one of us bends down, the other reaches up, both of us maneuvering around each other to do what we need to do."
4. Compatibility
How well do you know your potential driving partner? Can you envision getting along with that person while cooped up in a truck for long stretches? The expedite lifestyle can put a lot of stress on your team relationship, especially if you're not compatible in terms of personalities.
But compatibility also has to do with whether or not you both live close to each other. For example, if you're not a married couple or relatives that live in the same house, it usually works best that both drivers live near each other. It's not real practical when drivers live far apart because one driver or the other will have the extra burden (and cost) to travel the additional miles to get home. "The ideal scenario is when the two partners live within a few miles of each other," advises Caffee. "They can go home, get away from each other, and do their own thing before they get back in the truck for the next load."
5. Trust
If you decide to move forward as a team, can you trust this person with your life? Because that's precisely what you're doing as a team driver. When that person is driving, you're trusting that he or she will be responsible on the road and have your back at all times. Otherwise, without mutual trust, the relationship is doomed to fail.Although there are a lot of inherent advantages to team driving, it's not for everyone. So, use these five points to determine whether your potential partnership can stand up to the rigors of expedited trucking. This way, you can ensure that your team will be in the best position to capitalize on the lucrative opportunities the industry has to offer.