Team Driving For Swift Transportation -- Driver Pay

I am currently attending driver training through Swift Transportation in Little Rock, AR. I never really thought about team driving until a few of my classmates pitched the idea to me. From what I've read on this forum, thetruckersreport, and YouTube, it seems that both drivers are splitting the pay for total miles driven. And that actually makes sense.

However, I've been told that Swift Transportaion, specifically, pays both drivers for all truck miles. In other words, if you and the co-driver run 5,000 miles this week, you both get paid for 5,000 miles at whatever rate of pay you're currently making. You get paid for all miles, not half.

Is there any truth to this? Does Swift Transportation, specifically, pay in this format to their team drivers? If so, I am highly considering team driving with a fellow classmate. I am aware of the usual concerns with working with others within tight quarters, the arguments, etc. I flew in a tin can for six years with others, and the quarters were tight. So that part of it doesn't bother me at all. I'm only interested in the pay.

Besides all of the above, I've read and heard solo drivers say that team drivers can make a lot of money, or make a comment similar to "team driving is where the money is." As you probably know, I've been searching for the answer to my original concern for quite some time, and I'm coming up empty handed. Is there anyone from Swift Transportation that could possibly shed light on how team drivers are paid?

Thank you all for reading my lengthy post, I'll try and keep them short and sweet from now on. Any and all advice is welcome,regardless of what I've previously stated. Stay safe.

Chris

Hi, Chris! Welcome to Trucking Truth! I've driven Solo for Swift for just over a year now.

To answer your pay question, the truck earns what? 50¢/mile? Then the two drivers split that evenly. So you really get paid 25¢/mile yourself. But wait! You get paid while your buddy is driving! You get paid while you're sleeping! Also, team drivers get the coast-to-coast long runs because there's no stopping to sleep. Since your truck is moving nearly 24/7, that's how you guys get the big bucks. (There will be times you do stop - for a meal or laundry, etc.)

So you flew in a "tin can" with others? A C-130 or such? (Did your aircraft have an R in its designation?) Those missions take their course, then you land and everyone goes their separate ways. (I did that in the 70's.) But you and your teammate are more like conjoined twins. You will be literally living at arm's length for days on end. In a closet. That's a tall order.

Also, my thoughts go like this: for the effort you put in to a team operation, compared to solo driving, it's almost a wash. Add to that the advantages/ disadvantages of the team situation, you may just be better off on your own. I'm just sayin', and its all up to you.

Thanks for the welcome! Thanks for the response! Olive Branch? I grew up in Byhalia.

"To answer your pay question, the truck earns what? 50¢/mile? Then the two drivers split that evenly. So you really get paid 25¢/mile yourself. But wait! You get paid while your buddy is driving! You get paid while you're sleeping! Also, team drivers get the coast-to-coast long runs because there's no stopping to sleep. Since your truck is moving nearly 24/7, that's how you guys get the big bucks."

25¢/mile. Well, since the pay is split, then it's almost as if I drive the 2500 miles, and he drives the other 2500 miles of my 5,000 mile scenario. Is there any kind of incentive pay? Any extras? Is it worth it, even if I decide to go that route? Are there advantages to team driving?

"So you flew in a "tin can" with others? A C-130 or such? (Did your aircraft have an R in its designation?) Those missions take their course, then you land and everyone goes their separate ways. (I did that in the 70's.) But you and your teammate are more like conjoined twins. You will be literally living at arm's length for days on end. In a closet. That's a tall order."

The tin can was the RC-135, and I sat at arms length from my fellow engineer/technician for 11-19 hours per mission, and had to room with another guy the entire length of the deployment. My point in saying that was that I have no issue with getting along with others, despite their habits, I've even had roommates in the past that were really awkward. I have a way of working well with others. I really don't mind having the company, especially since I will be a new driver and full of excitement and fear all at the same time.

If I decided to go team and, for whatever reasons, it isn't something that I like, would swift allow me to go solo?

Welcome to the forum Chris.

The short answer to your question is "yes", Swift will allow you the option of returning to solo status if the teaming thing doesn't work out.

However there are other elements to consider. First and foremost your classmates are recent acquaintances, you don't really know them beyond the several weeks of school. Do you know enough about them to entrust your life with them?

Up to 11 hours of every day your teammate is driving,...while you sleep. I can't tell you how to feel about that, just that you need to think about it. You will be trusting you life and livelihood with someone you barely know, who has no more experience operating a CMV than you do. As I am sure you know, a team is only as good as it's weakest link. Not trying to be negative, but offering a reality check.

If you are comfortable with and can accept the above, my suggestion is to hold off on making a commitment to teaming until you have experienced several weeks of team driving with your mentor. You will be in a much better position at that point to make an informed decision based on experience.

Good luck and safe travels.

CJ, Welcome aboard!

Personally, I think it is a big misconception that there is more money to be made in teaming. I can't tell you how many sad stories we've heard from new drivers who "lost" their team partner and then were required to find another while they lingered with very few miles during the weeks long transition because they were on a team dispatcher's board who couldn't give them the loads he had because they couldn't make the delivery times as a solo truck.

A good solo driver can make just as much money as a team driver without all the extra problems that come with teaming. Simple things like getting home can become problematic as a team. What if you live in different parts of the country? What if you have different times when you each need to be home? What happens to your paycheck if your partner gets sick with the flu, or has some medical emergency?

I'm not really trying to discourage you from it, but want you to consider some of the problems that can hinder your success at it. If I were to team with someone it would be someone I knew well for a long time and had made sure we had the same goals and objectives. To do well at this job it requires a lot of commitment and a strong work ethic. I work a dedicated driving job where there are 15 other drivers on the account, and I can only think of one of them that I'd be willing to team with - and he just decided to quit and pursue a different driving job. Now, what woul happen if your partner decided to go find a different job?

The most desirable teams are husband/wife teams because there is already a commitment and bond there.

Just giving you some "food for thought."

I team with my wife for another mega, Prime. I can safely say I do not really make any more money personally than I did solo (oftentimes less due to losing the 5cpm bonus of a lightweight truck).

Teaming works for us because we basically doubled the income of me driving solo.

To be honest I'm not that excited about the team bonus structure Prime has in place, I may jump ship at some point after my wife gets a year of driving in.

CJ, These guys have added more than I put out.

Really short answer now is: you'll make about as much solo as with a team. You might really enjoy the team style is you are super compatible with your teammate. Or not - living in a closet isn't for everybody.

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Were you maintenance? This could be riveting. Check your regular email (spam?) for a PM.

I'm just getting started out...literally just now starting out. I've finally found the company I want to work for, after much research, and during that research, I've learned that some push teams, others get you solo from the start after all of the training. I have heard that team drivers make more, but the downsides are pretty big, too. The company that I want to work for puts you out solo, and thanks to all of the replies here to the OP, I'm now pretty certain I'd rather solo. Thanks all.

And what company might you be driving for, Val? There may be several TT members who are working there.

And what company might you be driving for, Val? There may be several TT members who are working there.

I'm not yet, actually. I have to get through training first and hope I get hired on. If I did, I want to go with Knight.