How to Become a Team Driver
How to Become a Team Driver - AllTruckJobs.com

How to Become a Team Driver

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It’s no secret that trucking can be a pretty lonely gig. In many cases, you might end up traveling for months with no other company than you, your rig, and the open road. While solo driving does have its perks and is great for someone who enjoys solitude, some just want someone to share the journey with. This is where team driving comes in. Team driving partners up drivers so they can not only truck for longer periods of time, but they also can have a companion to hit the road with. We’re going to show you how to become a team driver as well as the responsibilities and benefits of team driving.

How to Become a Team Driver

Is it Right For You?

The first thing you should consider when you want to know how to become a team driver is whether or not it’s the right career choice. While this may be hard to answer without actually trying team driving, there are a few things you should think about before you embark on a new career.

The first thing you should ask yourself is whether or not you’re able to spend that much time with someone. Even married couples need some sort of space between them, but in this case, you might be riding with a stranger for weeks at a time. While it’s one thing to feel lonely, it’s also important to realize that team driving is a big commitment.

The second thing you should do is consider the financial implications. Remember that you’ll essentially be splitting the money you make with the other driver, so it’s important that team driving is a financially feasible option.

Driver Responsibilities

Before you can figure out how to become a team driver, it’s important to know what team driving entails. It should be obvious that the reason why a person becomes part of a trucking team is to try to run twice the number of miles that a solo driver can run. It should also be clearly worked out how much a person plans to drive during each shift, and what other tasks they’ll be responsible for. This can include everything from cooking, to cleaning, to washing the rig. Communication is key, so it’s important that you all know what your responsibilities are.

Who Should I Drive With?

When you’re figuring out how to become a team driver, you’ll also need to think about who you want to drive with. Many trucking companies will pair you up with a random driver, but it’s always possible that you bring your own. In many cases, a couple will decide to embark on the team-driving journey together. In one instance, podcaster Todd McCann decided to take up team driving with his wife. A more common occurrence is when two solo truckers who’ve become friends decide to try team trucking. Even the best of friends can have disagreements, so it’s important to make sure you’re choosing the right person to bring on the road.

Listen here for a first-hand account from a mother-daughter team on what it’s like to share your rig!

Find a School or Recruiter

When you get to this step in “how to become a truck driver,” you usually have two options. For the inexperienced trucker, finding a trucking school that covers team driving is probably your best bet. Keep in mind that the curricula of most schools are geared toward individual drivers because most truck driving is now solo driving, and the skills for team truck driving are essentially the same as for solo driving. Most of the specific team truck driving skills are social in nature: the ability to work with an individual over long periods of time, to sleep in cramped quarters while the truck navigates traffic, and to go for long periods without seeing your family.

The other option you have is to find a recruiter or job board. A site like AllTruckJobs.com will provide hundreds of team driving opportunities, and all you have to do is submit an application! Working with a recruiter will allow them to do the heavy lifting and find you the best possible trucking assignment as soon as possible.

It’s time to start a rewarding and exciting team truck-driving career today!

Author: Hit The Road Jack

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2 Comments

  1. I’ve had my Class A since 2001, right after 9/11. but there was a hiring freeze, so I took a local Class B delivering home heating fuel. it was seasonal for 3 months. Then applied an received a call from a local welding supply company, again only a Class B driving job. Hired in 03/2002 an have been employed till the present. Job duties are to deliver compressed gas cylinders an other welding supplies an goods. I would like to know what I would have to do to get a Class A job. I’m not a student, but I’m not an experienced Class A driver. I have Hazmat, Tanker, Double/ Triples endorsements, no restrictions. .

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  2. It’s good to know more about truck driving and team driving. You’re right, I bet driving by yourself can get lonely sometimes. It’d have to be the right person, but having some company would be nice.

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