“Team driving” means two drivers sharing the same truck, taking turns behind the wheel. On paper, it sounds simple. In real life, it’s a whole different story. It can either be one of the best experiences in trucking, or one of the hardest. Here’s what we’ve learned:

 

• It feels like a trip. 

When the other driver is your husband or wife, your father, your son, your brother, your cousin, or even your best friend from childhood, team driving becomes more than work. You’re traveling the country together, seeing new cities, trying new foods, and making memories while still making a living.
• Helping hands. 

When the truck breaks down, or something needs fixing on the road, it’s much easier when you have someone you trust right next to you.
• Profitable miles. 

With two people, the truck keeps rolling longer. More miles mean more income and challenges that seem hard alone become easier as a team.
• Good company. 

Long days don’t feel so long when you can share a movie, a story, or just conversation. Having someone there helps keep depression away.
• Raising up the next generation. Many fathers say team driving is the best way to teach their sons the business the right way—one mile at a time.

 

• Schedules don’t always match. You might want vacation when the other person doesn’t. That means compromise.
• More stops. When your teammate needs the restroom or a break, you’ve got to stop, even if you don’t need to.
• Sleeping struggles. Some drivers simply can’t sleep while the truck is moving. That’s a big problem on team runs.
• Breakdowns hurt double. If the truck goes down, both of you lose time and money, not just one.

 

At the end of the day, team driving is all about who you’re with. If that person is family or someone you truly enjoy spending time with, then it can feel like the best job in the world, a rolling vacation with someone you love. But if you don’t get along, it can feel like the walls of the cab are closing in on you. So, think twice who you choose to go on the road with!