If you’re just starting out as a trucker, you probably have many questions concerning your career. One of the most commonly asked is whether to drive solo or opt for team truck driving. Solo and team driving have their benefits and drawbacks. It is essential to fully understand the differences between team vs. solo truck driving to help you decide which one is best for you as you start your new truck driving career.
What Is Team Truck Driving?
Team truck driving is not a new concept. It refers to when two truck drivers drive together in the same truck and share the driving time. Of course, solo truck driving is when you haul your cargo alone. The biggest drawback of team truck driving is that you may be partnered with a driver you’re not comfortable with.
Benefits of Team Truck Driving
Why would you even consider team truck driving with a driving partner? To answer that question, let’s briefly look at some of the most significant benefits of team truck driving.
More Money
One of the most significant benefits of team truck driving is that you get to earn more money. Sure, you split the pay in two, but, as a team, you can drive more miles than solo drivers; hence, the pay increases.
Less Strenuous
Being behind the wheel for prolonged periods is strenuous. This is one challenge of truck driving that can be solved by being on a team since you can take breaks while someone else does the driving.
Reduced Downtime
Another major advantage of team truck driving is that your truck’s downtime is reduced. This means you make more money for the company. Because of this, there are more jobs for team truck drivers, as companies love this driving strategy.
Opportunity to Drive with Your Spouse
If your spouse has a commercial driver’s license (CDL), you can form a truck-driving team. This reduces the time that you spend apart while earning more money for the family.
Solo vs. Team Truck Driving
When given the option, which should you choose: solo truck driving or team truck driving? Well, it all depends on your preferences and goals.
For example, solo driving is a better option for you if:
- You don’t want to be away from home for too long. Team driving means driving more miles and spending more time away from home.
- You’re an introvert and prefer not to be around people.
- You want total control of your truck and schedule.
Other reasons could also influence your decision to drive solo. However, when it comes to the solo vs. team truck driving debate, team driving is usually the better alternative, as it means more pay. It also results in more job opportunities.
How to Build a Trucking Team
Team truck driving can be a nightmare for the drivers if they’re not partnered with someone they like. Driving long distances in such an emotionally charged situation is dangerous.
That’s why it’s essential to know how to build a good trucking team. To do that, you must consider your driver’s needs and preferences. For example, if one of your drivers doesn’t smoke, it would be a bad idea to team them up with someone who does.
Other points to take into consideration are the personalities of your drivers. Put those with similar characters together.
Sure, talking to understand your drivers and creating schedules around them may be time-consuming, but, in the long run, it helps you build more efficient teams that bring in more revenue.
Improve Your Ride with Seats and Accessories
One of the biggest advantages of team truck driving is its biggest drawback—the long distances traveled. That’s why it’s essential to ensure that the cabin is as comfortable as possible. If not, it could lead to your drivers developing health issues like backaches.
The solution?
Improve the ride with comfortable seats. Because truck drivers spend most of their time in the driver’s seat, it must be as comfortable as possible. Because they spend most of their time away from home, the cabin becomes their home. That’s why you must accessorize it with options like comfortable truck mattresses, cell phone/laptop holders, and more.
If you want to improve your truck’s comfort levels, feel free to browse our catalog of truck seats and accessories. Alternatively, give us a call on 844-727-7328. We’ll be more than happy to help you pick the right seats and accessories you need for your truck.
