How Much Experience Is Needed To Pull Doubles?

Hey everyone! Curious what the experts think is enough experience to start pulling doubles?? Our company offers an increase in pay for it so we are thinking about it but don't want to get ourselves in over our heads either! We have 4months driving now, things have been going really well for us, no major issues just lots of miles!!!

Thank you for your expertise!!

Hey everyone! Curious what the experts think is enough experience to start pulling doubles?? Our company offers an increase in pay for it so we are thinking about it but don't want to get ourselves in over our heads either! We have 4months driving now, things have been going really well for us, no major issues just lots of miles!!!

Thank you for your expertise!!

Hey Amber. I'm no expert, but I started my truck driving career pulling doubles. To be fair, a lot of my training involved hooking and pulling doubles. I struggled with hooking a set at first, but it got easier with time. I've had a few nervous moments. One of them involves heavy winds and an empty rear trailer. If the lead is really heavy and the rear is really light it'll sway a lot.

Another one was when I wasn't sure where I was going and when I figured it out, I had to drive through some unfamiliar local streets with a set. It worked out, but it was a nervous drive.

The biggest pain is backing. I've never heard of a company allowing people to back a set so I'd be willing to bet your company has a policy against it, but I've seen it done. I've attempted it out of curiosity and I can't do it. You have to break your set, drop your dolly, drop trailer 1 and then go back for number 2.

That's all I can think of at them moment. If you have more questions please post them. As far as I know Bob, Auggie and I are the only active members here that pull sets.

I agree with everything Banks said. OD was basically my first job as well, I spent 2 months regional with West Side and one of those was in training.

With doubles you have to be careful of "cracking the whip" if you make a lane change or sudden move too fast, the rear trailer can start to whip around and roll over. Also you need to make sure you can alway go forward, backing a set is difficult and as far as I know against company policies.

So if you pull into a truck stop and there are no pull through spots open you may have to block a pump or get creative. On the road if you get into trouble you can't back out, you will need to break the set in the middle of the road or have a tow truck drag you backwards to safety.

Windy and snowy days can be interesting especially with light or empty trailers, as Banks said they tend to sway especially the rear.

Hooking a set isn't too bad once you get the hang of it, it basically the same as you do now with a few extra steps.

If you don't mind me asking what are they offering to pay for running doubles?

If you have anymore questions I'll be happy to ask.

Hey everyone! Curious what the experts think is enough experience to start pulling doubles?? Our company offers an increase in pay for it so we are thinking about it but don't want to get ourselves in over our heads either! We have 4months driving now, things have been going really well for us, no major issues just lots of miles!!!

Thank you for your expertise!!

Hey Amber. I'm no expert, but I started my truck driving career pulling doubles. To be fair, a lot of my training involved hooking and pulling doubles. I struggled with hooking a set at first, but it got easier with time. I've had a few nervous moments. One of them involves heavy winds and an empty rear trailer. If the lead is really heavy and the rear is really light it'll sway a lot.

Another one was when I wasn't sure where I was going and when I figured it out, I had to drive through some unfamiliar local streets with a set. It worked out, but it was a nervous drive.

The biggest pain is backing. I've never heard of a company allowing people to back a set so I'd be willing to bet your company has a policy against it, but I've seen it done. I've attempted it out of curiosity and I can't do it. You have to break your set, drop your dolly, drop trailer 1 and then go back for number 2.

That's all I can think of at them moment. If you have more questions please post them. As far as I know Bob, Auggie and I are the only active members here that pull sets.

I try to do it from time to time. It amazes me to watch a guy driving for quite some time do it effortlessly.

Of course, we aren't supposed to do it AT ALL! ;)

Thank you both for your input!

Bobcat it looks like we would get an 8cent raise from our current pay if we pulled doubles. We get 60cents now and starting pay is 68 for doubles. Think that makes it worth it?

Thanks again!!

Thank you both for your input!

Bobcat it looks like we would get an 8cent raise from our current pay if we pulled doubles. We get 60cents now and starting pay is 68 for doubles. Think that makes it worth it?

Thanks again!!

Of course it does. Pulling doubles isn't an issue. The issue is the pretrip for an extra trailer and dolly. That's why they pay you more. Though there are certain trailers that like to sway in the rear .....

I get 69 cents so, I'd say its worth it.

Just remember it is double the chance for a problem since you have 2 trailers and a dolly for potential problems.

Plus depending on how the yards you have to go to are set up it can involve having to do a lot of trailer moves. Especially if your rear trailer is someplace you can't hook it.