ANY INPUT PLEASE?
Topic 6439 | Page 1
I'm certainly not an authority on this, but have you confirmed Covenant will take you both as rookies AND team drivers? Everything I've read on here says most of the companies put rookies with experienced when it comes to teaming. Since money is a concern I would make sure of that before you both make the leap.
Also, since she currently has a job, can you go to school, get out there and running long enough to develop the experience that companies would require you to have before she makes the jump? Seems like you'd want that known quantity (her paycheck) until you've been on the job long enough you can depend on your steady income.
Good luck!
Johnny, Thanks for sharing with all of the readers on Trucking Truth your issues. I would do the following things right now:
Call your recruiter and talk to them. Explain what your goals are, explain how you and your wife want to team drive with one another. I don't know if they would put you on the road right off the start together, since you are both newbies, but you need to talk to someone at your company and find out the details that we can only guess about. Once you have those answers, make the decision that is the best one for you and your spouse.
I have been making it a point to stay in touch with my recruiter and let them know what is going on with me so that we can be on the same page about my progress. I feel like by doing that, if there are any bumps in the road, we are both informed and can handle it together. Additionally, if your recruiter can not give you some solid answers, ask them who you would speak to who can. Don't stop asking until you get your questions answered.
I wish you all the very best of luck and hope to be on the road very soon myself.
Kindest Regards,
Pepper
HOS:
Hours Of Service
HOS refers to the logbook hours of service regulations.OWI:
Operating While Intoxicated
Johnny G., great pic of you and your beloved wife. Truly hope you all get questions answered and do what is required to make a go of husband-wife team driving if that is what you both want and need.
Great questions. But no one replied to the 15-yr old felony. If it has you worried, I would think that would be the first matter of business. Making sure it cannot get in the way of your present life choices and your future career in the business. By the grace of God go I. I am grateful never to have been arrested or imprisoned. Also grateful to have clean driving record and no major auto accidents in all my years of driving.
Early wish for a very Merry Christmas to you and your wife. You two inspire me!
.... I want to take my wife with me OTR doing team driving. .... But we both feel that we need to get over the road as fast as possible to start making money. ....
Drivers-Central.com has this info about Swift Transportation:
Drivers who want to drive for Swift Transportation as entry level teams will each go through our 6 week training program then team together in their own truck upon successful completion of the 6 week training program. Normal training pay applies. Anyone wanting to drive team can go through a 4 x 4 program. This means they will each go through 4 weeks with a trainer (earning $450 / per week) then after 4 weeks they will get into their own truck, drive together, and begin earning team pay ($.32 cpm team split). Team split means that the truck earns 32 cpm, each driver getting 1/2 or in this case 16 cents for all miles regardless of which team member is actually driving.
Free Spouse Training. Swift also offers a free Spouse Training Program for husbands and wives who wish to drive together. In order to qualify for this program a copy of the marriage certificate has to be provided to Swift.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Over The Road:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
CPM:
Cents Per Mile
Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.
Because you said "Any input please" Consider this, you go to trucking school, you wife studies at home for her cdl permit, airbrakes, etc. Very easy for her to get these at your DMV. You teach her when you are home and take her for her CDL driving tests.
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.
Dm:
Dispatcher, Fleet Manager, Driver Manager
The primary person a driver communicates with at his/her company. A dispatcher can play many roles, depending on the company's structure. Dispatchers may assign freight, file requests for home time, relay messages between the driver and management, inform customer service of any delays, change appointment times, and report information to the load planners.DMV:
Department of Motor Vehicles, Bureau of Motor Vehicles
The state agency that handles everything related to your driver's licences, including testing, issuance, transfers, and revocation.
.... I want to take my wife with me OTR doing team driving. .... But we both feel that we need to get over the road as fast as possible to start making money. ....
Drivers-Central.com has this info about Swift Transportation:
Drivers who want to drive for Swift Transportation as entry level teams will each go through our 6 week training program then team together in their own truck upon successful completion of the 6 week training program. Normal training pay applies. Anyone wanting to drive team can go through a 4 x 4 program. This means they will each go through 4 weeks with a trainer (earning $450 / per week) then after 4 weeks they will get into their own truck, drive together, and begin earning team pay ($.32 cpm team split). Team split means that the truck earns 32 cpm, each driver getting 1/2 or in this case 16 cents for all miles regardless of which team member is actually driving.
Free Spouse Training. Swift also offers a free Spouse Training Program for husbands and wives who wish to drive together. In order to qualify for this program a copy of the marriage certificate has to be provided to Swift.
Wow...holy crap thats old info. I drive for swift. My best friend and i came in together fresh out of cdl school. Your training pay is based on hourly on duty and driving. It is not a flat salary though probably close to accurate. Also i tested out and upgraded in Washington state and had to drive solo to florida to meet back up with my codriver. I made .35cpm for this load. Team pay is now .39 cpm plus quartly bonus. Hope this helps
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.
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Over The Road:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
CPM:
Cents Per Mile
Drivers are often paid by the mile and it's given in cents per mile, or cpm.
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So I am currently four weeks into a four month program at HDS in Tucson AZ. I want to take my wife with me OTR doing team driving. But because of money we have to go to two different schools. My wife works while I am going to school. But we both feel that we need to get over the road as fast as possible to start making money. We both agreed to go to Covenant and we do have pre hires there. The problem is do I have my wife get her CDL in four weeks and go ahead of me? Which worries me about her being by herself. Or have her wait so that we can go out together at the same time? Also, money is ultra tight and I worry because I have a 15 year old felony. In closing thank you for any advice.
CDL:
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
A CDL is required to drive any of the following vehicles:
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Over The Road:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Pre Hire:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.
Pre Hires:
What Exactly Is A Pre-Hire Letter?
Pre-hire letters are acceptance letters from trucking companies to students, or even potential students, to verify placement. The trucking companies are saying in writing that the student, or potential student, appears to meet the company's minimum hiring requirements and is welcome to attend their orientation at the company’s expense once he or she graduates from truck driving school and has their CDL in hand.
We have an excellent article that will help you Understand The Pre-Hire Process.
A Pre-Hire Letter Is Not A Guarantee Of Employment
The people that receive a pre-hire letter are people who meet the company's minimum hiring requirements, but it is not an employment contract. It is an invitation to orientation, and the orientation itself is a prerequisite to employment.
During the orientation you will get a physical, drug screen, and background check done. These and other qualifications must be met before someone in orientation is officially hired.