Team Or Solo As A Rookie?

So, I got held up on my quest to get into trucking. I was all set to start training with FFE Transport but decided it would be better to wait until I move in OCT and I had 2 motorcycles I needed to sell. Certainly didnt want my wife to get stuck moving everything on her own. Anyway, come Oct 15th I'm gonna be relocated and the bikes are sold so I'll be ready to finally get going. I called each recruiter I spoke to back and explained the reason for my delay and they were all fine. Basically said just call back when ready.

Anyway, now that I'm getting ready again just wondering if anyone has any advice regarding going solo compared to team driving right out of the gate. I've been thinking of trying team at first mostly just to have someone to shoot the breeze with on the road. Just throwing the idea around and wanted to see if anyone has some advice as to which way to go. I'm a loner at heart but at the same time it would be nice to have someone to dump ice water on in the morning after a nice long run thru the hills

Gunner, I have heard its better to go team for a few months to learn what you can from a veteran and then decide if you would like to go it alone from there. Most of the people I have talked to said its easier to make mistakes with someone who has a few years to their credit instead being alone and not knowing what to do. I thought I would pass that along.

Gunner, there are arguments to both sides of the coin. Going team will give you a buddy to lean on and hopefully some help when needed. The obvious pitfall is that there can be personality clashes - hopefully not hygienic ones!

Another thing to consider is if you'd be shacking up w/ another rookie or a veteran. From my understanding, most companies that require team driving (not considering companies that have you dispatched as a 'team' when in training) will have you with another rookie. But this all depends on the company. For example, I believe US Xpress will have you with another rookie for team driving, after training. Not sure about CRST and some other outfits known for teaming. If you are teaming with a vet driver, there would be obvious benefits to that as opposed to being teamed up w/ another rookie. Not that it would be a bad thing to team w/ another rookie, but I think you can see the positives if you'd be with a more experienced driver.

If your end goal is to be solo then you'll want to understand the process per each company, i.e. how long you have to go team before moving to solo, and if that is even an option. Some outfits are strictly team.

Best wishes to you.

If you're a loner by nature you're going to hate running team. You'll have to team with a trainer when you first come out of school for up to a couple of months, depending on the company. You'll know in a hurry during that training period if you want to team or not. Some people like it, most hate it. I suspect you'll be dying to go solo within the first week of running team with a trainer.