Training a co-driver

[RobA]

Don't try and go into business RE: Training a co-d

with a friend. Been There; Done That - friendship is long over.
His working styles and mine just were not the same yet I had known him for a quarter century!.
Business often requires a relationship that is more distant so you can make clear judgements.
When I first saw that you were going to team with a friend from way back I thought you might run into just this sort of issue.
If you value the friendship; cut the business relationship short.
Just my thoughts.

 

[cheri1122]

RE: Don't try and go into business RE: Training a

Dieselphreak: you have seen that he isn't interested in learning what a codriver needs to know, and you don't particularly need a codriver, so save the friendship, if you want - but don't make yourself crazy trying to turn a pig's ear into a silk codriver! There are enough things on the road to make you crazy without adopting more...

 

[dieselphreak2K]

RE: Don't try and go into business RE: Training a

Well, I followed advice and sat down and talked with him. After explaining what I needed he started asking more questions and wanting to learn more. Even ended up spending most of our layover going over PTI's and him driving the truck around the J's parking lot. ( total of 11 trucks at a 90 plus space lot) He's taking more of an iterest in the buisness side now too. We'll see how it keeps going. We're up at the J in Walton, KY now, so he can't drive around practcing shifting, but he's been reading alot of things on the site, and I printed him a copy of the FAQ to read while I drive. (BTW, running out of hours and fuel at exit 62 on I-71 @ 4:40 am, and having a leaking dump valve, really sucks)

 

[highway star]

RE: Don't try and go into business RE: Training a

Another thing to consider is your truck. A great truck, but it is experienced. Going team will have you running the miles up real quick. How soon will you be prepared to rebuild?

 

[dieselphreak2K]

RE: Don't try and go into business RE: Training a

As soon as my dually sells, I'll be all set for another motor. (It's sitting not far from your place Highway star(black F-350)

 

[grog111]

RE: Don't try and go into business RE: Training a

boy, i see alot of familiar stuff in the earlier posting...wear and tear of team driving...having to pay team guy regardless of whether or not there is anything left of your check after lightbulbs and wiper blades, weekly oil changes, tires, brakes...broken handles, cigerette burns in the seats...broken cabinets,drawers...getting no sleep because its all "your responsibility" because he has no initiative to fuel the truck or check the oil or add washer solvent or talk to the shipper or reciever...cant read a map, need specialized directions constantly...wants to be picked up and dropped off at home even though its out of the way...needs to be home on this day or that...wants to be paid for anncilarys that you dont even get...constantly has an excuse for not being able to drive his hours...headaches,sinus,bad food,too tired,(course now i cant sleep cause he might doze off and kill us!), i heard it said earlier,but yeah, its not a "camping trip" or a sight seeing trip, or a paid vacation...i cant pay them hourly for "wasting thier time" between loads and i cant drive home empty just because its the weekend...and as it turns, out i dont have a matress full of money and i cant buy all thier meals or toiletries or whatever else they forget to bring or take them to a movie or a bar or batting cage because they are bored or pay for a hotel because they are getting cabin fever.......um...ok, i'll stop now. but i could go on! x(

 

[dieselphreak2K]

RE: Don't try and go into business RE: Training a

Man, I wish I had posted this before I took him out here with me. He just doesn't have the drive. I can't afford to be off the road training him, and I'm certainly not paying for CDL training for him. He doesn't have it. Maybe I'm a little too serious about what I do out here, but he's not at all. Thanks for all the advice folks, I'm going to try to back out of this one asap, and try to save a friendship.

 

[cheri1122]

RE: Don't try and go into business RE: Training a

Well, I feel better now, lol - I posted that you should forget it, because he seemed to think it was a road trip, not work, & one hour later, you posted that he had cleaned up his act - boy, did I feel stupid! x(
It woudn't have mattered if you'd asked for opinions before taking him on, you know - if you could spot the bad ones in advance, no one would ever hire a lazy, stupid, incompetent, malicious, forgetful, accident prone, malingering, stinky slob!
A friend, especially one of long standing, is much harder to replace than a codriver, especially when you don't really need a codriver. Hope you can keep the friendship, but even if not - it could have been so much worse....

 

[highway star]

RE: Don't try and go into business RE: Training a

Don't be shy Cheri, we want to know how you REALLY feel!

 

[unorthodoxneon]

RE: Don't try and go into business RE: Training a

CDL B training isnt really too much (like going to a school)

What i'm doing is i studied the CDL manual from the MI Sec Of State and i went and took my CDL Learners test (cost me $25 only if i pass) well i did. And the SOS lady said i did better then people that went to school (ok had to boost my ego :+ ) Well after that i can drive a class b vehicle (of course with someone that has a license and in the michigan state lines due mainly cause me only 20) After i get my practice/teaching in and can go get my DOT Physical and take my road test. If i pass the road test and physical i will have my license. Now the only problem for me is i cant find anyone that has a class b vehicle that i can drive so i still havent been behind a wheel.

But like you said he has no motivation to drive or do anything so that would not be the driver i would want with me. I'm talking my fiance into going with me, she seems to not have much drive to do this but i think once she learns more about it and goes for a few trips with me she will change her mind.

 

[dieselphreak2K]

RE: Don't try and go into business RE: Training a

Well, he kind of has motivation. Not enough for me to spend my time. My biggest problem is that I honestly don't have the time to teach him. I need to be out running hard right now. If this was January, I could do it, but not in the middle of freight season. That and P2 would have a slight problem if he was driving when we were on the road, so time off would be a must. I have another tractor at home with the same trans for him to learn on, but it runs constantly in the spring and fall.I also don't have a spare Super 10 to put in after he grinds mine away to nothing. It was a nice idea, and I probably could have put more in my pocket, but i can't burn time on it right now. I mean, if he was interested, wouldn't he want to see what kind of stuf i was researching on here? He Hasn't spent 30 seconds on this site. I just have to find a way to break it to him. Hard to tell somebody that they have to go back to the unemployment line, but I have to look out for number one.

 

[greg334]

RE: Don't try and go into business RE: Training a

dieselphreak2K

A bit of advice; Business and friend rarely mix.

This is your career, not his unless he wants to put in 110% and immediately want to take it upon himself to learn, nothing will ever come about it. Been there done that.

As much as I close to my best friend, he and I know we would not be good business partners or be able to live together for 2 weeks at a time.

I would be honest with him and do it fast. Don’t let him be under the impression something is alright when it is not – more misunderstandings have ruined more friendships.