Team Driver Training

Hey all, love this site!

My wife and I are making plans to become team drivers and are curious if anyone has any info on how training may work with married couples? Any suggestions on which comapanies are married couple friendly etc?

I'm sure most companieslike married teams. I believe training will be your problem. You will probably be trained seperately. Once you've both finished training you can start driving together. I'm not 100% on this, but I'm pretty sure they will want to be sure you guys can each drive well enough to be trusted with a rig. The only way to do that is to seperate you guys. I doubt any driver would take 2 people out at once. I can't see there being enough space in the truck.

CRS (Central) will train married couples together. It all really depends on the trainer and their comfort of training couples.

Welcome aboard MCD!

Both answers above are correct. Most companies will split you up during your training period, but a few will give you the option of doing it together. Personally I feel it's really a huge advantage to be split up, as much as you may not want to be.

For one, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

But the real reason it's so helpful is because you'll get the opportunity to learn different techniques and philosophies from different trainers and then be able to combine your knowledge when you team up together. That's a really big deal. There are so many different styles, so many different approaches - nobody has all the right answers and not every style will suit you. So it's great to learn from different people.

Training is also very stressful at times and I think it's better to let a couple get through the stress separately instead of taking the risk of being at each other's throats. You might have the best relationship on the planet but being cooped up in a truck together will test any relationship. But to have you two together and then a trainer on top of it - three people in a truck???? OMG I think I just threw up a little bit in my mouth. I can't imagine it.

I always tell people to approach the beginning of your career like the military. You know it's going to be rough at times and there will be a lot of ups and downs. But you keep your sights set on the goal and stay the course. It's certainly worth it in the end.

I totally agree with Brett !!! If you do a search on my name, you will find multiple posts on married team driving...as my husband trained me for OTR driving. The stress is incredible, and if any other woman is like me ( and I hope none are) stress makes me mad. And its just not a pretty picture at all. Your time with your OTR trainer should be your own. You need to focus on what your trainer is teaching you, and you need to watch what the trainer is doing, and saying, for your benefit.

BUt if Central trains married teams........I have this vision ............no....lets not go there.....

I totally agree with Brett !!! If you do a search on my name, you will find multiple posts on married team driving...as my husband trained me for OTR driving. The stress is incredible, and if any other woman is like me ( and I hope none are) stress makes me mad. And its just not a pretty picture at all. Your time with your OTR trainer should be your own. You need to focus on what your trainer is teaching you, and you need to watch what the trainer is doing, and saying, for your benefit.

BUt if Central trains married teams........I have this vision ............no....lets not go there.....

In your opinion, what's more stressful? Solo or team driving as a married couple.

Well Daniel...ya made me think awhile about that one. It really depends on the situation. if I'm running long miles, and basically know where i"m gonna unload, or load...I'm a happy camper runnin' solo. But I have this problem....I can go to a place 2-3 times..and for the life of me, I can't get the directions visually stuck in my brain. I have to route it every time. So when that happens...I wish TSB was in the truck....cuz he remembers everywhere he's been..AND he's a walking talking Ran McNally. In all the years we teamed, I think he had to open the atleast maybe a dozen times....Now he made ME route trip every load for a year...until he realized I had a brain like a goose...I woke up to a brand new world every day.He finally gave up. I will admit...I have called him at home, to ask how to get into someplace I know he's been...it was humbling, but far better than getting lost...and I have done that a time or two. But with all the pros and cons....I have to admit, I prefer teamin' with that southern boy better than runnin' solo...I can think of lots of new ways to remind him I ALWAYS get my paybacks....