Are Husband & Wife Truck Driving Teams Too Much of a Good Thing?

By Diane Tait

Image courtesy of YouTube

Marriage is a tough proposition in the modern world from the outset.  First there are the statistics that report that a third of marriages in the US result in divorce in the first five years and nearly 50% within 10-years.  Then there are 101 reasons why marriages go south these days.  Everything from infidelity and financial hardship to health issues and unrealistic expectations are just a few things that can quickly derail the marriage train.  The reason I bring this issue up is because there is a demand in the trucking industry for husband & wife driving teams.  While such teams are highly sought after and well compensated, I thought I’d take the time today to write about the pros and cons of the situation

1.      To a trucker CDL isn’t an acronym for a cuddle – Before you can start getting paid to drive a truck you need to qualify.  That means earning a Class A commercial driver’s license otherwise known in the industry as a CDL.  While women can and do attend trucking school, you need to realize that these schools are run for and by men.  (Less than 5% of truck drivers today are female.)  The reason I’m telling all you would be women truckers this is to let you know that some trucking schools require their trainees to learn, work and live on-site during training.  This could mean staying in the same bunkhouse with men.  (Make sure you ask about this factor if you are shopping for schools.)

Image courtesy wikimedia

2.      An 18-wheeler isn’t an SUV? –  While women are just as capable of driving a big rig as any man (& insurance statistics bear this out), there are still a few things that potential lady truckers need to be aware.  Sorry to say this, but like it or not, truck cabs have been designed to accommodate men.  This makes it tough for petite women to reach the switches and controls.  Some women truckers find it nearly impossible even to get the seat in a big rig adjusted to a comfortable position.  This factor alone could be a deal breaker, since drivers are required to spend untold numbers of hours behind the wheel day in and day out. 

      3.      Who’s going to take care of the kids? – Another stumbling block for husband & wife driving teams is a home life, or the lack thereof.  If you have kids, this can present a problem since long haul trucking isn’t a 9-5 occupation.  It isn’t unusual for truckers to work as much as 70-hours in an 8-day stretch.  While it’s obvious that the team can take turns sharing the driving, you can’t trundle the kids along for the ride.  This leaves a husband/wife team hard pressed to figure out what to do with the kids for more than a week at a stretch.

      4.      Is too much togetherness a good thing? – Here’s one of the other perils you need to factor into the equation.  While the two of you may get along wonderfully at home, the stresses and pressures of being cooped up together for days on end can grate on anybody’s nerves.  Think about it.  I know I do. That’s because while I was never a trucker, I used to co-own a business with my ex.  I say used to, because the partnership and the marriage blew up predominantly because while we had no trouble living together, we ran into problems when we worked together.  Even in a 50/50 business relationship, like we had, there are always turf wars over who has the responsibility for what.  Unless a couple can find a way to separate their professional and private lives, sparks are bound to fly.   I know in my case it did in a big way.  Lesson learned.

      5.    How much can you expect to make? – Since money is one of those touchstones that can quickly scuttle a marriage, I thought I’d give you the facts.  Big rig drivers are compensated by the mile.  Most teams are expected to drive at least 5,000-6,000 miles per week.  That’s important, because the only time the team is being compensated is when the rig is covering ground.  When the truck is stopped in traffic or at a truck stop, the team isn’t earning a dime.  That also goes for the time it takes to drop and hook the trailer at the end of the haul.  That being said, a team can make upwards of $75,000 per year plus benefits to start, according to truckdrivingjobs.com.  Some companies that rely on truck driving teams even offer signup bonuses of $10,000-$20,000 for experienced drivers. Experienced teams can earn $100,000 or more per year.

Image courtesy USAF

      6.    Sometimes it’s a bumpy road – On a good day, the miles fly by and the job seems like a great way to make a living.  Then you run into a traffic jam that stops you cold for hours or a snowstorm up north that costs you a day.  Did I mention that 18-wheelers sometimes break down or become involved in accidents?  Even if a collision is deemed to be the fault of another driver, the time you lose before you can get your rig back on the road can be enough to make you pull your hair out.  While you might think you’re the king and queen of the road, other drivers don’t always share this opinion.  Neither do the police who are itching to hit truckers with tickets. 

      7.    Sleeping in a truck isn’t like staying at the Hilton – Have you slept in a bunk bed or a pup tent recently?  The reason I ask is because trying to get a few hours sleep on a bunk that’s barreling down the Interstate isn’t always an easy task.  Neither is reworking your schedule to deal with life on the open road.  Do you remember the movie Apollo 13 where three astronauts lived in the tight confines of a space capsule?  That’s pretty much what living in a big rig is all about.  Gone are the leisurely mornings spent lounging in bed drinking coffee and reading the newspaper.  Heck, your day will sometimes start in the dead of night as you switch with your partner to start your driving shift.  While many sleepers have entertainment systems that can pull down your favorite cable shows, it’s still not as cozy watching the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel in a rolling tin can as it is at home.

      8.    The job isn’t done until the paperwork is complete – Even though much of the work of logging a trip is done electronically nowadays, there is still an inordinate amount of paperwork required to operate and maintain a big rig.  Then there’s bookkeeping that you need to do for Uncle Sam.  Being a trucker is a lot like being a small business owner.  The smaller the business, the more hats the owners are forced to wear.  Since a husband/wife trucking team is a task force of two, you can figure on having to do most of the chores yourselves.

Believe me when I tell you, I didn’t write this blog to deter any couple from giving tag team trucking a go.  It’s just that if you don’t take a good look at all the ins and outs of the profession before betting your livelihood on it, then it’s your personal life that’s liable to hit the road in the not too distant future.

Diane Tait owns and operates A&B Insurance.  To find out more about how you can save money on commercial truck insurance, go to her site or fill out the form at right.