Requesting Some Rookie Advice Please - Team Driving

Hello all,

I'm looking for some advice from the old hands here. A little about me, I'm new to trucking, but not new to driving, I'm 53 years old and I've been (luckily) semi-retired for two years. I have a modest amount of 'heavy' driving experience, from the start of my career in the military and over the last 10 years, leisure driving a 45' Class A Diesel pusher, towing a full size truck - in fact, I've spent 8 of the last 12 months full timing it. Fully clean record on all counts.

We've settled in Savannah, GA and my Wife still has 6-8 years before hitting retirement, so I've decided to take my CDL test and get back on the road, which is where I'm happiest. I'm hoping to start in Regional or stretch to OTR for 12 - 18 months and then *possibly* purchase a truck/trailer and lease on, depending on the economy or just stay as a company driver if I'm enjoying it. My Wife can work remote, we have wifi/Starlink etc up the wazzu and she's keen to take a trip or two per month with me. We're empty nesters with grown kids and no Grandkids (yet!) I like to be busy, we like getting out from under each others feet. We've been together for 37 years, married for 30 and happy. My career in the past has often had extended travel and periods away from home.

I'm self funding my school, so I can be free to choose an employer and not be tied in if the economy changes or things don't work out with a specific company. The school I've enrolled in, is Roadmaster in SAV, who seem to have a decent reputation here. I went down and visited, completed an application and met some of the instructors and students. It looks pretty professional and well run. I liked the people there a lot. There is a Community College locally, which is cheaper, but the classes are spaced out, fill up quick and I can't seem to find much info, especially in regard to employer relations and/or reviews.

I know Roadmaster are owned by Werner and it's kind of assumed, you'll go work for them, as they direct-hire many of the students. They seem to have a modern training fleet, but they are all automatics. I figure, I'd likely work for a company driver on auto boxes and if I do buy a truck, I'd certainly be buying an automatic. As I enrolled and DOT tested out they submitted my packet to Werner, who came straight back and offered a placement. It's for an OTR position, but it's 'Gold team' driving. I explained that I would prefer solo OTR if possible or regional, in fact, anything other than team. I want to do this job because the big upside is independence, to a degree, and eventually, when I'm comfortable to have my Wife join me. They basically said it's an open offer and if I change my mind, I can come back to them.

So on to the 'sniff test' :-) I asked the placement rep, if they are likely to have any solo OTR or regional positions opening up anytime soon, as I could delay a course start at my leisure if they expect solo positions to open later in the Summer. She said that is unknown, which is kinda obvious I guess *but* they are moving to team driving as a standard for all new starts. Now to be clear here, not a trainer team for on the road training, the actual graduated positions. She did say that once on board, I could laterally shift to OTR or Regional etc etc, but being ex military, I'm very wary of such promises, especially if you're in an MOS that is hard to fill.

Having read a lot of advice on here, I don't want to start this career as needy or snooty. I'm happy to sign on for any established carrier as I see this as my apprenticeship and a necessary part of the process and I'm happy to consider anything, including flatbed, as I'm still in good shape for my age. I just balk at team driving, as it kind of negates 50% of the reasons I'd want to be on the road in the first place. Passing the CDL is first, second and third priority otherwise 'Man plans and God laughs' but, what say you?

Suck it up, buttercup? It's the economy, stupid! Don't look a gift horse in the mouth? Pass CDL and then apply out to other firms and see what's what? Apologies for the ramble, but I'd very much value your opinions, I'm trying to set myself up for success and not sign on for something I may regret a few short months later.

~JP

Well, if you have been reading our posts on here, then you know we advocate going to a school that has training and doing at least one year with that company to get your experience. You may then want to stay on with that company or go ahead and find another company with that one year experience.

You already know that the economy tanked and it's hard to get driving jobs because there are far too many drivers out there. Even good drivers with good records are having a hard time getting another job. Many companies are struggling to find freight to keep their drivers busy and if a person has a minor incident, it's likely they will be let go and have a hard time getting hired on somewhere else. That's how dire the trucking industry is right now. Will it change soon? I think we have to see what the election does to determine what the future will bring.

As for running team, that's all I did for the 5 years I drove from 88 to 93. When I came back out on the road in 2014, I had to run team and I did it with my brother. After 2.5 months he was allowed to moved to another truck and for the first time in my life I went solo. I've been solo and a company driver since. I would NEVER own a truck nor will I ever run as a team ever again. You will run as a team during training or have a dedicated trainer where you are the only driver, that depends on the company. Either way is just a short period of time and you will learn from having somebody else on the truck with you. As for having your wife with you, companies may require you to have at least 3 months solo experience but most are six or more months before you can have a passenger. It's something you need to look into.

Here are some links that you should go through and read so you have a better idea of this lifestyle:

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

Hello Jon, always nice to see new members posting.

From what you yourself said, team driving is not for you. It’s not for many people. It would drive me nuts and I’m already almost nuts. It’s obviously up to you, but you can make things work solo, especially since you are in a position to wait until you get the starting job you think will work for you. Maybe ex-team driver Stevo Reno will give you his advice since he has endured team driving and lived to tell about it.

About Roadmaster. My buddy was an instructor in Savannah until just a few weeks ago when there was a big upheaval and a number of their instructors quit. He was one of them and has gone back to driving. From my conversations with him, Roadmaster in general is not a very good place to train. I’m sure you can do it, but I think their best instructors in Savannah have left for other jobs.

I might possibly be able to put you in touch with him if you want to know more about what happened there.

If you have read much on this site, the overwhelming recommendation for training is company paid, company sponsored training. If you have already committed to Roadmaster, then just do everything in your power to make the best of it.

Paid CDL Training ProgramsApply For Paid CDL TrainingHigh Road CDL Training Program

• Truck Driver's Career Guide
• Brett's Book: The Raw Truth About Trucking (free online version)
• High Road CDL Training Program
• CDL Practice Tests

As was said, we recommend company provided school and training. If you are worried about a contract, which as you probably should have already read many times over here, you shouldnt be, but nonetheless, a few carriers are no contract. I know Knight is no contract, but its highly recommended to stay at least a year with which ever company you go to. Im not necessarilly pushing any one company over another, do your research in the links that others posted, read the CDL diaries and keep in mind that all carriers serve to function the same, they just have differences in how they go about it. The deciding factor is how you go about it.

If you and your wifes living situation will tolerate you being gone a lot, and you have experience with that, life will be easier. Im in a similar position in that my gal is close to retiring, but that in its ownself is a challange. I can tell you from personal experience, that even though I thought our relationship was OTR proof, its taken a tremendous amount of work to keep it in balance.

Speaking of balance, assuming you successfully complete getting your CDL, complete training and make a year accident and incident free, theres a good chance that you probably have a high work ethic and tendency to push hard. Those qualities can make a great driver but place a toll on your home life. Learning to ballance the two early on is valuable. But keep in mind, that the foundation of your career, even if its your retirement career is laid in the beginning. It takes being away from home mentally as well as physically to develop the good habbits.

Obviously, teaming is not recommended to start, it brings up many complications and you likely will find the easiest most direct path is the one to take. If you and the wife get along traveling and living in a compartment smaller than a walk in closet, which magnifies any annoying behavior, after you get established, then start taking her along, but thats a bit down the path for now. My gal and I travel really well together, we frequently go to Europe for weeks at a time, we road trip well and Ive taken her for a week or two at a time on the truck. We tested it gradually and found what works and doesnt. Even then, my truck is my cave and my sanctuary, there are times where I just dont want anyone else there no matter how close they are in my heart.

Jon, since you're already enrolled at roadmaster I'd stay there if I were you and apply with other companies. Maybe the school can help you with that. The worst case scenario is you end up taking the open team driving offer with Werner, it's not like you'd have to do it forever. Take what you can get right now.

Hello Jon, always nice to see new members posting.

BK & ID Mtn GAL;

Thank you so much for the responses and welcome, I really appreciate it. Lots of food for thought. BK: on the Roadmaster intel, I'm kinda unsure, I have until Monday the 15th which is my start date, I can pretty much bail before then if I want to. Finding an alternate, would be interesting as RM is 15 minutes from my house, but obviously I don't want to make a mistake out of the gate.

I'm not sure if there's a way to get in touch with your buddy, seems like there's not a direct message capability on this board. If there's any way at all to contact him, I'd really value a steer on the current situation. I do have to say the two guys I talked to today seemed genuine and no b.s. We visited outside for a bit as they were taking a vape break and I think I got some decent input - they certainly weren't painting a 'roses around the door' picture of the current state of things. In fact, much of what they said is echoed here, get on, build experience, respect your DM , keep your head down, be reliable, accommodating and hard working and things will generally be good after 12 months OTR. There were pretty balanced on the companies out there, again, they pretty much said, that it's degrees of separation on strengths and weaknesses but a pretty universal success formula. Interestingly, the only company they were really cautious about was Prime.

I think my mind is set on avoiding the Team driving, I know whatever happens I'll have to team in training with an instructor from 4 weeks to a couple of months, but that's the admission ticket, but I think that's probably the limit for me.

Thanks again

Jon, you can email me or call me and I’ll talk to Chris and see if I can connect him to you for a chat.

brucekelly780@gmail.com 608 219 4599

Hi Jon, I too, was like you, I totally was against team driving before I started 9/9/19. But I was a member here 3-4 years, reading and sucking up all I could. Life kept getting in the way, until I eventually just pulled the trigger and jumped in with both feet, and an open mind. And the economy was in way better shape back then too.

Turned out CRST was close to my house (45 mi) and had all I needed to stay at the terminal dorms. We got bussed both ways to off site school they contracted with then. Within 10 days I had my CDL , and was ready to get rolling. I ignored all the negative reviews or rants by people that couldn't cut it (terminal rats) I will make up my own mind by my own experiences in life. I never looked elsewhere than here at TT for my early learning about truck driving.

So it took me 4 co drivers to find 1 that I could get along with, we actually became friends outside of trucking. 1st 2 I had were NOT drivers, they couldn't do more than a couple hours, and have to park to sleep!.....First classmate would not sleep while I dorve, so by the time it was his shift he would need sleep, and he was a hazard behind the wheel. 2 weeks in, I bailed on him. 2nd guy was older guy, know it all type, with a big loud mouth, it was embarrassing sometimes how loud he talked in or out of the truck. He too couldn't drive for crap, and was tearing up our truck, and trailers. Finally got away from him after 6-9 months.

CRST had lots of bad reviews and the like but I thought I will see for myself, they can't be that bad, they;ve been in business a LONG time. Just as I thought, they were not that bad at all. We had a DM , 1 of 4 top guys by regions. He kept us rolling on long hauls, so even though the starting CPM was low, we made money and the pay rose of course. We' done a couple 7,200-7,500 mile weeks, it was tough, and wore us out, but well worth it in the end. I stayed with them 22 months until on a physical was told my blood sugar was too high. (never felt like it) So I ended up parting ways to work on the medical thing, 5 months. Took a job with a company my last driver went to, for a solo otr gig. They were great, treated me very well from the start, in cpm and giving me a brand spanking new 2022 FL.

So yes team driving can suck, but it's sometimes a way to get started, then ya can move on later. Never regretted my time at CRST, no matter what things came up during my time there. It did take a bit of getting used to, being 2 grown men sharing a small cabin space, but it was what it was. In the end it was a good experience in that lifestyle. Yes SOLO was far better alone in that same size space!! And the freedom from someones possible bad attitude or habits.

Werner, RM was my original choice but it didn't work out. Same with Knight, and couple others.

Good luck in what ever you go with Jon, time will fly by faster than you think !

All, thank you so much for the considered replies, I've been at RM today and have been dealing with some 'shenanigans' via email this evening. I won't go into detail, as I don't want to color my personal experience for anybody else.

Bruce, thank you so much, I have your address and an email is inbound to you, please feel free to delete your deets as I now have them.

I'll update the thread once I've worked this out.

Cheers all,

JP

I just *love* the Prime bashers. I am by no means a Kool-Aid drinker in blind support, but they have been dang good to me. I have far exceeded my 1, 3, and 5 year goals, and I'm only approaching my third anniversary (May 6th.) As has been said, always critically analyze what is said around the smokers bench. I have yet to meet anyone at "the bench" that wasn't trying to spout a load of cow pies.

The bottom line is, it doesn't really matter whose name is on the door, if you are a lazy and shoddy driver, you won't wind up being trusted, and will box yourself into minimal pay.