I ran team (with my wife and as a solo) with Swift.

You got your order wrong, but I won't get into that.

What is your primary goal in going team?
You will get more miles than a solo, but since your checks aren't going to the same account it really won't make that much difference --- make a spreadsheet using what miles you have now. When I had my parting with swift i was making .35 cpm split, my wife was making .34 cpm split.

Any truck no matter what the size will get small quick, even if you are very familiar with the other person. You will have little or no privacy.

 

I started out driving teams with more experienced drivers, drove teams through my first winter. Was it easy?? Even with a compatible driver??

NO!!

Was it worth the additional stress, getting on each others nerves, (that will happen, even with a first class team mate; it's just a reality of team driving.) trying to sleep in a rolling truck, and spending most of the time feeling very tired??

YES!!

It was good learning to drive a 40 ton missile on snow, and learning to identify black ice, troubleshooting, and learning to back with a more experienced driver. It made me a better driver, and I gained considerable experience in a short period of time. Because we ran hard, and we delivered JIT loads on time, we always got plenty of miles. The down side?? Virtually no down time.

Eventually, my team driver and me both came down with the flu; one of the hazards of spending so many hours in living and working quarters about the size of a walk-in closet.

After that, we never seemed to regain our rhythm, and we went our separate ways. We did part ways as friends, though.

 

Teaming with the right company that has ample team freight (1300+ miles avg trip) could be "ok" but unless you're into a groove running 6,000 miles week, teaming can be more of a "job from hell" than anything. Also, the partner compatibility will make it doable or not.

I'm not sure what swifts pay scale is but if it .33 single, and .36 (team..split) and assume 2800 mpw single and 6000 mpw teaming (very optimistic consistently) there's probably not more than a $100 benefit to go team.

Also with teaming you can expect less time trashing around truckstops spending money, but poor sleep and rest may be an ongoing issue, you may well get teamed up with an incompatible partner who may never shower and/or has other filthy habits.

Home time issues are often very difficult to work out reasonably with team. Few trucks are really designed to accomodate clothes and other belongings for 2 permanent occupants. No real 'personal time', very little time to enjoy certain areas you may would like to take in while getting your break.

Driving is difficult enough when you can "do it your way", but I don't want any part of teaming. I get the job done, enjoy idle time during 10 hr and restarts, don't have to deal with another's personal problems and jabbering on the phone all day. I could go on. Teaming is not for everybody is what I'm trying to say and the income increase potential is there, but may not be worth it when the freight sucks.

 

you know you'd love it. ;-)

 

Kevin....I like the avatar. There's a business along the highway in Red Deer that has a sign that says "BJ Services." If you tell your kid the company name and they start laughing it should cause some hesitation.

I'd also mention....do you trust their driving skills? It's your life, and if it is worth $100 extra dollars a week then enjoy. Rkeck speaks for me on teaming....no thank you.