Regarding non-couple teams... there's pro's and con's.
Probably more cons -
though every situation is different,
it's still the same to some degree.
The main thing is you're not as lonely. The other thing is you do have somebody to talk with when the CB isn't lit up and/or if you're not into listenin' to the stereo system.
The main thing with teaming, and Everybody will agree with me....
is that there has to be a great deal of trust.
You can run solo and still have a ride-along, if you can find the right person that's willing to do that. That means the ride-along is not making an "income" so to speak, unless of course they're runnin' their own business of some kind and/or are contracted for writing or some other kind of work that they can complete while traveling with you.
The main thing with me is that I've teamed with people I didn't know prior to runnin' with them, and while most of them I've teamed with have remained good friends with - most of them I would not team with again. For the simple reason that differences come up thru the trips, you want to stop and the other does not. You want to eat, the other does not. You want to talk on the CB, but it causes the other person in the bunk to stay awake - not a good thing. You want to listen to the stereo but they'll stay awake.
Then there's the driving and trusting aspect of things... the curtain is closed, you're sleeping well, and all of a sudden you're rolled awake - either in the bed OR OUT OF THE BED ONTO THE FLOOR.
Where's the trust? While it may have been to avoid an accident, the trust was just compromised. How do you get back to sleep?
What happens if the rumble strips are waking you up?
Think of how you'll feel if you pull the curtain open to find your driving partner fighting to stay awake. That's when "Team Driving" really begins, You pull the person outa the seat and you both end up switching off for the rest of the nite every hour or every other hour... ya, that's alot of fun.
I'd rather team with somebody I know and can trust fully, than team with a complete stranger.
Ultimately, today, I drive solo.
Why?
Less money you say, why not team right?
My Response: Rocky Mountains, and Appalachian Mountains.
One had ice, one did not. Both times I woke up. At nite.
Once to find the driver falling asleep (on the west side of Denver).
The other time I woke up to find the driver speeding excessively thru a construction zone with uneven lanes - in an 18 wheeler.
I woke up thinkin' to myself
"Ya, this has got safe written all over it"
Do what you want, but I've found out I really enjoy sleeping in the same parking spot I went to sleep in. I've found out I really enjoy sleeping without worrying if my tires are gonna go off the road.
What happens if I lose power steering?
Are they gonna know how to react? What about a blown tire?
How about ice, hydroplanning, snow, area's with sharp curves.
if I'm driving and it's just me that is driving the rig,
I'm the only one to blame. I'm the only one to trust.
My actions effect my life -
where as if somebody else is driving...
their actions effect my life.
I want to stop, I stop. I want to run, I run. I'd rather have another rig hit me parked while I'm asleep then hit me while I'm asleep at 65 or 70 out on the interstate.
Do what you want, but teaming is about trust. Some can do it, some have done it and enjoy it. I've done it, and haven't enjoyed it all the time, so why risk it. I run solo.
Good Luck to you Driver,
Bob.
