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Post by teamtrucker on Oct 15, 2004 11:28:50 GMT -5
Hey Y'all, I'm new here but what I see I like. Hoping some of you can help us out. My Fiancee and I are getting married on halloween, and after that we are looking to get into long haul team trucking together. Other than the Idea that traveling the country, and getting paid to be with each other sounds great, we don't really know anything about what we need to do. What kind of training (school vs. company), what knid of work (expiditing?), or the truths about working for trucking companys. We are at ground ZERO here so anything anyone can add is very helpfull. Thanks! ;D
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Post by Fozzy on Oct 15, 2004 11:51:39 GMT -5
In my opinion you are "romanticizing" the Team Driving thing.
Maybe you need to take a couple of weeks vacation and rent a Uhaul. Set up a matress in the back and without stopping drive from LA to NY and back again! You must learn the hours of service first and then use them to grind out the miles that you will be required to run 5500 miles or so a week.
You'll have to sleep and drive in shifts and this may show you that your time together is actually like a married couple working opposite shifts..you see each other only as you pass from sleeper to seat, and maybe a meal here and there.
You cannot stop for more than fuel and a maybe a shower every other day. The matress in the back would be "home" for you. You'd have to build a wall at about 70 inches or so, so you'll not have anymore room in the cab than a normal tractor trailer.
Do this and then project yourself doing this as a full time job... Team Driving only works for a VERY few individuals for any real time.
I'm being an obvious wet blanket here.. but I hope you understand why... This business is rough! Look DEEP before you incur all the expense of training schools ect.
Fozzy
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snow1
425 Detroit
Posts: 44
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Post by snow1 on Oct 15, 2004 13:13:42 GMT -5
Hey Teamtrucker, Congatulations on the up coming wedding !!!
Hubby and I will be celebrating 19 years this Halloween!! Still don't know for sure who got the Trick and who got the Treat!!! LOL
Anyhow, we are also looking into team driving for the obvious reasons...money, travel, and being together.
There are people who have told us the same things you are being told here. We've found that most of them have never teamed, have a poor outlook, are new to the industry, and have never been married. If they are married, they enjoy being apart.
Your best bet is to talk to and listen to people who are teaming with thier spouse....I've found some great folks over at ClassAdrivers.com . Who have been very encouraging, supportive, and honest about the daily life.
You and your soon to be Wife, follow your heart, but listen to your head...Marriage is tough...Trucking is tough...Life is tough. Try it, if you decide you don't like it, or can't do it...Move on to the next Chapter .
Good Luck and Best Wishes
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Post by teamtrucker on Oct 15, 2004 14:03:24 GMT -5
Believe me I don't think I am romantazizing the trucking life, my last job was as a ambluance EMT. 24 to 36 hour standing shifts, trading off with my spouse will be a breeze. ;D Our biggest proplem is not seeing enough of each other, so close quarters isn't a deterant, and weve been best friends for 8 years, and engaged over a year so obviously we arn't easily sick of each other. Thank you Snow1 for your suportive words, Congragulation on your upcoming anniversery. please E-mail me at : guardianofthewind@yahoo.com if you want.
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snow1
425 Detroit
Posts: 44
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Post by snow1 on Oct 15, 2004 17:54:41 GMT -5
You're Welcome ;D
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Post by Fozzy on Oct 15, 2004 23:18:02 GMT -5
Not the same thing at all. If you were forced to sleep in the ambulance during your "off duty" periods..then you'd have a better idea.
You still really wont see much of each other...
Fozzy
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Post by teamtrucker on Oct 16, 2004 1:35:23 GMT -5
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dhagood
425 Detroit
eschews obfuscation
Posts: 57
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Post by dhagood on Nov 27, 2004 2:17:58 GMT -5
teamtrucker - you have asked for advice, and fozzy has given you some. sorry if you don't like it, but if you're looking for a place that will only tell you the water's fine, come on in, well, this is not what you're looking for. i've never teamed, personally, and have absolutely no desire to start. i love my wife of 20 years dearly, but i could not conceive of living in telephone booth with her (or anybody else). my company, watkins and shepard, runs teams, and has an in-house school that works pretty well i think. the web site is www.wksh.com. i talked to a husband and wife team one day in our santa fe springs, ca terminal. they run from la to boston to georgia and back to la every week for 50 weeks a year. this is like 7500 miles, and the truck literally doesn't stop except for restroom breaks, meals, showers, fueling, and to drop and hook trailers. working that hard is d**n tough, and while it works for them, it sure as hell wouldn't work for me. think about fozzy's advice. he's been around for awhile, and knows whereof he speaks. if you really think team trucking is for you, give recruiting a call at the web site above. good luck...
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Post by truckertom on Nov 28, 2004 12:50:51 GMT -5
Oh, it isn't all bad though, you get into arguments most people would never get into. If you love to travel, you may want to take your days off in cities that you want to visit.
Alot of folks gripe about the hard life the road has to offer and they speak the truth, but some people take to it like they were made for it. Sitting in an office can be a lousey way to live too!
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