Options For An Inexperienced Couple Looking To Do OTR As A Team?
Topic 1644 | Page 1
JC, companies absolutely love husband/wife team drivers! We have a couple husband/wife team drivers here on TT.
I went through one of the most fast paced company-sponsored training programs at Central Refrigerated. Its more like a boot camp or a tryout. They'll teach you but they wont spend forever on you if you're not getting it. You both need to do our High Road CDL Training Program. It will get you ahead of the class and you'll come into school being a know-it-all. So definitely make that a priority as well as reading on our forum. This site is a treasure chest of information. Take advantage.
However, when you'll complete your driving exams you'll be issued a trainer. Most of the companies do not allow two students for 1 trainer per truck. There's just not enough room, its already chaotic enough with 1 student for 1 trainer.
So for that 4-5 weeks of training (training length depends on company) you two will be separated. Don't worry the time goes fast. But just keep in mind that you two probably wont see each other during that time.
Another thing is, make sure you two are both mentally ready for this. Team driving is no easy task. The truck hardly stops moving. You'll have to learn how to sleep in a moving vehicle. One person drives while the other person sleeps, and vice versa. My wife went with me for two months last winter and we definitely had fun. But being around each other 24/7 in the space of a walk-in closet proved to be challenging sometimes.
Now, this job is a great one if its for you. But I would like for you to know the reality of the challenges. I do not mean to discourage, but I do want to make you aware so you don't come in blind.
It does sound like you have a great plan going! If you have any questions feel free to ask!
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
JC, Welcome to the forum!
Daniel is right on in his response, and there's really not much to add, but I just thought I might provide you with a link to some Company-Sponsored Training programs just in case you haven't found that information on the web site yet.
Feel free to ask any questions that may arise and we will do our best to point you in the right direction.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
Company-sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.
I know a lot about this particular subject. My husband and I just finished our training with CRST. If you read my posts in the CDL Training Diaries section of the forum you can see what the school was like.
We started on August 5th at the school in Lancaster, TX. I really recommend using Brett's online cdl training classes. The CDL Practice Test Android App is amazing as well. It helped us both through school.
Then we went to the company orientation which was four days long. On the fifth day they will separate you and put you into a truck with a lead driver for 28 days. Do whatever you have to, to stick it out. It's tough and you will want to quit many times, but if you stay strong you will get out on the other side and have a great job, lots of fun and some experiences that you would have never got to do with any other job.
CRST just announced a new payscale as well. New drivers will receive 25 cents a mile and there are a lot of incentives to get a lot of miles. If you want more info just check out their website and talk to a recruiter. Though I will tell you not to believe everything the recruiters say. They don't know as much as they need to.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
- Any combination of vehicles with a gross combined weight rating (GCWR) of 26,001 or more pounds, providing the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of the vehicle being towed is in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any single vehicle with a GVWR of 26,001 or more pounds, or any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 pounds.
- Any vehicle, regardless of size, designed to transport 16 or more persons, including the driver.
- Any vehicle required by federal regulations to be placarded while transporting hazardous materials.
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Hey There -
My partner and I want to become team drivers. We are both inexperienced and will need to go through training. Does anyone know other's who have started this way... two inexperienced driver's training and then working together?
We are hoping to find a company sponsored training/work solution to get us started for the first year or two. Do you think this is possible to achieve? Feels like if we did a private CDL training solution it would be far more challenging to get a job as team driver's together since we are both inexperienced. Have you heard of trucking companies that will accommodate an inexperienced couple starting out at the bottom?
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
Company Sponsored Training:
A Company-Sponsored Training Program is a school that is owned and operated by a trucking company.
The schooling often requires little or no money up front. Instead of paying up-front tuition you will sign an agreement to work for the company for a specified amount of time after graduation, usually around a year, at a slightly lower rate of pay in order to pay for the training.
If you choose to quit working for the company before your year is up, they will normally require you to pay back a prorated amount of money for the schooling. The amount you pay back will be comparable to what you would have paid if you went to an independently owned school.
Company-sponsored training can be an excellent way to get your career underway if you can't afford the tuition up front for private schooling.