Two drivers, one truck, the wheels almost never stop. Team driving can be one of the best-paying ways to drive, or a fast way to end a friendship.
Why teams can earn more
A team truck can run up to about 5,000 to 6,000 miles a week because one driver sleeps while the other drives. Carriers pay for that speed, especially on expedited and time-sensitive freight.
How pay usually works
- Split pay: one rate per mile for the truck, split between the drivers.
- Per driver pay: each driver is paid on all miles the truck runs, at a team rate.
- Ask which one, and what each driver typically takes home per week.
Who it is great for
- Married couples or close friends who get along in small spaces.
- New drivers who want to build miles and experience fast.
- Drivers saving for a goal who do not mind being out for weeks.
Who should avoid it
- Light sleepers. Sleeping in a moving truck is hard.
- Anyone who needs personal space every day.
- Drivers paired with a stranger they have not met. If a carrier assigns partners, ask how it works and what happens if you do not get along.
Our advice
Talk through money, cleanliness, smoking, music and home time before the first trip. Teams that plan these things last. Teams that do not, split up in a month.
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