If you’re a newly CDL-certified over the road trucker looking for a job to help you get settled in this new and exciting career, then look no further than OTR team trucking.

By driving with a trucking partner, you’ll not only be able to earn more but also tap into a wealth of experience that will help you learn the industry, master your driving skills, and build valuable connections with the other truckers you’ll be working alongside. Here are five simple tips for starting a new job as an OTR team truck driver:

1) Accept the Learning Curve

There will always be a learning curve when taking your first steps toward a new career. This is true for just about every new job you’ll ever have, and it’s especially true for the trucking industry. Operating a semi-truck isn’t always easy, and it’ll take you time to take the skills you earned in your CDL training and apply them to the open road.

Don’t fight the process though. Be patient with yourself, practice at truck stops if you can, and always be willing to ask your truck driving peers for advice. This is where your OTR co-driver can be helpful, as they will be happy to help you learn the tools of the trade so your learning curve is as smooth and manageable as possible.

2) Minimize Distractions

There will always be distractions on the road. However, you and your co-driver can work together to minimize how those distractions influence your driving. Here are the three primary categories of distractions you should be wary of:

• Visual Distractions: Can be anything that might pull your eyes off the road.
• Manual Distractions: Can include anything that could potentially cause you to remove one or both of your hands from the steering wheel.
• Cognitive Distractions: Usually includes drowsiness, distracting conversation, or even daydreaming.  

You and your co-driver are a team, so if you find yourself growing distracted for any reason, let them know so they can help you stay focused on the task at hand.

3) Communicate

Communication is key in any and every situation you’ll experience on the road as an OTR team driver. You and your co-driver are a team, and regardless of your experience (or lack thereof if you’re just starting out), it’s essential that you consistently communicate with your partner. This means building a foundation of trust with them that will help you both know that, no matter what happens, you’ve got each other’s backs.

4) Pay Attention to Your Environment

Whether it’s a storm on the horizon, an accident on the highway, or just an unexpected detour, it pays to be informed of what kind of environment you’re driving in. This is especially true for OTR drivers since their jobs take them across the country, meaning they’re bound to encounter a situation they haven’t had to face before.

You can’t plan for every possible situation, but you can be prepared and adaptable to whatever the open-road throws your way. This means looking ahead at the weather forecast, checking out the route you’ll be on, paying attention to traffic patterns, and just generally paying attention to the world around and ahead of you.

5) Take Care of Yourself

When you’re spending long days on the road, you’re going to need to be well-rested, fed, and nourished in order to keep your senses focused. As such, it should go without saying that taking care of yourself is one of the most important things you can do to ensure your OTR team truck driving experience is as safe, enjoyable, and lucrative as possible.

One of the (many) unique benefits team truck driving offers is the ability to take turns behind the wheel with a trusted and professional co-driver. If you find yourself growing drowsy, then ask your partner if you can swap roles and take a nap in the cabin while they keep going. You’re both in this together, so be open and honest with each other about your needs.

Over-the-road (OTR) driving can be a rewarding career for people looking to travel while also earning a competitive income.  Having two drivers who alternate shifts removes the necessity of stopping for sleep, as one driver can continue the trip while the other rests. This means more time on the road and a shorter trip overall, increasing productivity.  

Earning a Good Living

When you drive as part of a team, you’re able to double the miles traveled, and since most drivers are paid per-mile, covering more miles in less time means a higher paycheck for drivers; making considerably more than solo drivers.  Team truck driving is also beneficial for employers, as it means loads spend less time on the road and more time in the hands of distributors and customers.

Economic Impact

Truck drivers are truly the lifeblood of the American economy, now more than ever. With so much commerce moving out of brick and mortar retail chains and into online retailers, logistics are more important than ever. Consumers expect to receive products within hours, rather than days, and often those products must move from coast to coast.

OTR team drivers can keep their cargo moving for longer and get it from point A to point B in less time, making fast delivery possible for consumers, retailers, manufacturers, and other economic players.

Staying Safe While Going the Distance

On top of the salary and productivity, driving on a good OTR team also means better safety for drivers. When driving alone, routine stops are necessary in order to keep the senses keen and the body rested. This is vital for the safety of both the driver and everyone else on the road, but when you drive with a partner, you not only have someone to share the workload with, but you also have someone to get your back when you need it.

It’s impossible to plan for every scenario on the road, but with another professional driver at your side, you can make sure you’re always equipped with the resources and knowledge to handle any situation that arises; whether that’s bad traffic, inclement weather, or mechanical troubles, having a co-driver means less overall stress and better well-being for both you and your partner.

Enjoying the Adventure

While the practical benefits of OTR team driving are clear, driving as part of an OTR team can also be fun, as it means sharing the ups, downs, and overall adventure of coast to coast travel with someone you respect and enjoy.

OTR driving is a lifestyle. When you put two people together with a shared passion for that lifestyle, a routine trip can become something far more enjoyable. With this in mind, it’s important to find a co-driver who you know you’ll be able to work well with, a strong partnership is a key to finding success and enjoyment as an OTR team.

Over-the-road (OTR) driving is a lucrative career and allows drivers to see all corners and areas of the country. When you join an OTR team, you’ll not only have a partner to share the journey with, but you can also end up earning more than if you were driving solo.

Going the Distance

When you have a co-driver, you are able to drive longer and farther simply by keeping the truck going. Where a solo driver has to stop to sleep and keep their senses keen, team driving all but eliminates that, as it allows one driver to rest while the other keeps the truck going.

Getting involved in OTR team driving still requires commitment, and just because you have someone else to rely on doesn’t lessen your responsibility. If anything, team truck driving increases your responsibility, as you’re now responsible for not just your own safety and the safety of others on the road, but also that of your co-driver. This is why OTR trucking is a lifestyle, and its teams are some of the most well-respected and well-paid members of the logistics industry.

Doubling Down

When you drive with a partner, you can almost double the distance you travel per week. Since most drivers are paid for each mile covered, the more miles you and your partner can cover, the more you’ll ultimately be paid.

While driving on a team means splitting the profit with your co-driver, you’ll be covering so much extra ground that you’ll still be making more than if you were driving solo. As part of an OTR team, you not only get to cover more ground, efficiently, you also get paid significantly more per week.

Many carriers will even offer their teams referral bonuses to bring on other OTR teams because coast to coast driving is not only lucrative for drivers but an important part of the business for carriers. More miles traveled each day means more efficient arrivals of loads, which leads to happy customers, ownership, and most importantly drivers!

Joining a Team

Whether you’re ready to start a new career as an OTR driver or are looking to transition from a solo position to a team, Lily Transportation is here to help. We’re always looking for eager, experienced, and SAFE drivers to join our coast to coast operation!

We offer excellent benefits, provide competitive pay, and always the best fleet!  If you’re interested in career opportunities at Lily, visit the Jobs Page on our website to get started. We can’t for you to join the Lily family!

Over-the-road driving, or OTR, is as much a lifestyle as it is a career. It’s demanding, but rewarding, as it’s not only a lucrative career but also gives you a unique lens to see the country through. It can get lonely out there on the open road for solo drivers, which is why team driving is becoming an increasingly popular option for drivers and businesses alike. If you’re interested in driving as part of an OTR team, these insights will help you gauge if team driving is for you.

Know What You’re Getting Into

Before signing up for anything, it’s important to know what you’re getting into. In the case of OTR driving, you’re committing yourself to spending days, sometimes weeks, on the road, usually with a designated quota of miles traveled to hit. When it comes to driving as part of an OTR team, you’ll be faced with the same responsibilities, but rather than facing them alone, you’ll have a partner at your side every step of the way.

This means that you can spend more hours actively on the road, cut down on the stops you’ll need to take, and ultimately, maximize the profits of you and your driving partner.

Find a Good Partner

Obviously, OTR team driving means that you’re never really alone on the road. Driving with a partner can lighten the mood, help pass the time, and generally keep the journey from becoming monotonous or lonely. As such, team driving has become popular for married couples who both possess a commercial driver’s license (CDL), as it’s a great way to spend quality time with someone important to you.

Not everyone has a spouse who they can travel across the country with, in which case you’ll still need to be able to find a good partner who is just as willing to work with you as you are with them. You can do this by talking to drivers you already know or by being matched with a co-driver. Whatever you do, just make sure you’re comfortable with your partner before the drive begins.

Understand the Payout

OTR drivers know that the farther you travel, the more money you make, and traveling with a partner basically guarantees that you can travel longer distances, make less stops, and thus, get paid more. While you’ll need to take into account that however far you travel and however much you’re paid will be equally divided between you and your co-driver, OTR teams still, on average, make more than solo drivers do.

Plan Ahead

When you plan a trip before hitting the road, you and your co-driver can rest easy knowing that you’re well-prepared for whatever you’ll encounter. This means setting up a rotation for who drives when; understanding each other’s driving preferences; stocking up on healthy snacks and food you can both enjoy; and, of course, knowing who likes what music. The more you plan, the less surprises you’ll both come across.

Why OTR team driving? There are so many advantages of being part of an over the road team.  They cover more ground, and because they can keep the truck and its cargo moving for longer, team drivers can earn more money than solo drivers. OTR trucking can be a very lucrative full-time truck driving career.

OTR team drivers are also essential contributors to the national supply chain. In many ways, they form the backbone of the entire economy. By keeping their vehicles moving, team drivers can carry their cargo over long distances — essential for maintaining a supply chain that spans from coast to coast.

If you ask any driver who does OTR team driving, they’ll likely tell you that it’s as much a lifestyle as it is a rewarding career. It involves being on the road for days at a time, which means being away from your home and your family as well. That’s why spouses who are both CDL holders often act as co-drivers.

As a CDL driver, it’s up to you to decide if OTR team driving is the right career choice for you. OTR team drivers are focused and goal-oriented, and they’re some of the most respected  and well-paid professionals in the logistics industry. OTR team driving also comes with many other advantages and benefits.

Table of Contents:

1. The Benefits of an OTR Team Driving Career

2. Finding a Co-Driver

3. Forming a Good OTR Team

4. Staying Safe on the Road

5. OTR Team Driving Careers at Lily Transportation Corp.

The Benefits of an OTR Team Driving Career

Team driving is an exciting opportunity and a chance to make a positive shift in your driving career. OTR team drivers tend to be driven, adventurous professionals. While it does offer some challenges, the benefits of driving over-the-road are worth working towards.

Earn a Good Living

Simply put, logging more miles with two drivers means making more money.

Have Company on the Road

One of the most difficult parts of driving solo is being alone on the road. While some drivers enjoy the solitude, it’s natural for people to want company while they work and drive. When you drive as part of an OTR team, you’ll always have company.

Having a co-driver is also helpful for planning your trips and solving problems. Your co-driver can help you navigate, give you help in tough situations, or just act as someone to share ideas.

Travel

One of the most rewarding parts of driving over-the-road is the ability to travel to new places and see more of the country. For drivers who love the open road, there’s no better way to do so than coast to coast team driving. OTR team drivers not only get to visit new places, they also have an opportunity to explore more scenic drives. If you love to drive, then OTR team driving is a good career option.

Gain Valuable Experience

Driving long distances is both challenging and rewarding, for those who choose professional truck driving careers. Team drivers get a lot of driving experience, but they also get experience with planning, problem-solving, and working as part of a team. If you’ve been driving solo for years, a team driving assignment is a great way to grow professionally.

Finding a Co-Driver

Most team drivers will tell you that the key to being successful is finding the right partner. Your co-driver should be someone you get along with, someone you can build trust with, and someone who you can rely on.  Here are a few ways to find a co-driver:

Search In Your Own Network

If you have any experience in the logistics industry, you’ve likely met people along the way. Sometimes, a good way to find a co-driver for your OTR team is to ask the people you already know and trust. This could be your family, friends, co-workers, or other drivers you’ve met in your travels. Naturally, this is a limited pool of people, but it increases the possibility of finding someone you know and trust.

Drive on a Company Team

Get matched by a logistics company. Lily Transportation Corp., can match you with a co-driver based on your needs and preferences. Working with a company eliminates the risks of putting out an anonymous ad and makes the entire process easier. With a company, you can also trust in reliable pay and support on the road.

Forming a Good OTR Team

The success of your OTR team hinges on the success of your partnership with your co-driver. Good OTR teams are built on trust, professionalism, and a positive attitude. It should come as no surprise that many co-drivers are close friends. Spousal teams are also common, but many other successful teams are formed simply by two dedicated drivers who want to work hard and earn more.

Here are a few ways to form a good OTR team:

Share Responsibilities

Before starting out, it’s important to understand who is responsible for what. It could be that one of you prefers to drive at night while the other prefers to drive during the day, or it could be that each driver is responsible for driving a specific number of miles. Some drivers prefer to drive in the countryside, while others don’t mind driving near cities. When it comes to driving, you must work within FMCSA rules to determine driving, sleeping, and stopping times for both drivers.

Nonetheless, planning in advance makes the job much easier and reduces the chances of surprises. You can also set responsibilities for loading and unloading cargo, if necessary. That way, there won’t be any confusion when you reach your destinations.

Share Space

Driving OTR as a team requires you to share space with your co-driver and sleep on the road. You must agree on how to organize storage space, such as how to store personal items, food items, and work-related items in the truck. You’ll need to come to a basic understanding about each other’s personal preferences, such as noise levels, control over the radio, and cabin temperature. It’s important to stay open to compromise when discussing your shared space so both drivers can reach an understanding they both agree with.

Keep a Positive Attitude

Since you’ll be spending a lot of time together, it pays to keep a positive attitude with your co-driver when out on the road. Everyone has bad days, but being positive and supportive is often just what someone needs to turn their day around. When stressful situations arise, it helps to communicate and pool your wits to solve problems. For many team drivers, having company on the road is just what they need to stay positive and focused.

Build Mutual Respect and Trust

As a professional enterprise, OTR team driving is built on respect, trust, and understanding. When both drivers are honest with each other and dedicated to the task at hand, it makes for a more pleasurable and fulfilling driving experience. If you and your co-driver can set boundaries, know your responsibilities, and communicate effectively, you’ll build a strong professional relationship and a successful OTR team.

Staying Safe on the Road

For any CDL driver, and for every logistics company, safety is the number one priority. Most truck drivers understand basic safety tips like wearing a seatbelt, signaling properly, and driving the speed limit. However, there are a few safety tips that are especially important when driving long distances.

Get Enough Sleep

Getting sound sleep is perhaps the most important safety concern for OTR team drivers. It can also be one of the most challenging. Team drivers must sleep often while the truck is being driven by their co-driver, and sometimes during the day.

To achieve a sound sleep, it’s important to set rules about noise levels with your co-driver. Other things that might inhibit sleep are light, movement, health issues, and caffeine consumption.

If sleeping during the day, it helps to eliminate as much light as possible, whether with curtains or window covers. Discuss driving style with your co-driver beforehand to reduce the likelihood that you’ll be woken up by truck movements. If you have health issues that may affect your sleep, such as sleep apnea, it’s important to take steps beforehand to ensure you can sleep soundly on the road. If possible, avoid consuming too much caffeine when you’re getting close to the end of your driving shift. This will help you fall asleep faster when the time comes.

There are other steps you can take to get better sleep, such as bringing a comfortable mattress, using a noise machine, and avoiding smartphone use when it’s close to bedtime.

Stay Focused

While staying focused is often directly related to sleep, it’s also a practice that you can improve over time. Staying focused on the road is all about removing distractions. Common driving distractions include smartphones, food, and conversation.

When driving, it’s important to avoid using your smartphone. The screen can distract your eyes from the road, leading to danger. Nonetheless, some drivers rely on their phones for communication or even navigation. Before driving OTR, set your phone to operate in hands-free mode if you intend to use it on the job.

It can sometimes be tempting to eat or snack while driving, especially when you’re trying to keep the truck moving, but it’s much safer to only eat when the truck is stopped or when you aren’t driving. When it comes to conversation, there’s nothing inherently wrong with chatting on the road. But if your co-driver is distracting you from the task at hand, don’t hesitate to let them know that you need to focus.

Check Weather Reports

As part of your planning process, you should always check the weather. Even if it’s bright and sunny where you are, the weather can change almost instantly when you’re driving OTR. Knowing the weather beforehand will help you avoid weather hazards, select alternate routes, or give you the chance to mentally prepare to drive in more difficult conditions.

Plan Your Drives

Planning your drives with your co-driver is an ideal way to split up responsibilities and maintain a steady, reliable course. It’s also the best way to ensure that you earn as much as possible in your OTR position. Try to plan your drive based on dispatch instructions, hours of service regulations, stops, fuel, weather, location, road conditions, and even the preferences of you and your co-driver.

Stay Healthy

Part of leading a successful career in any part of the trucking industry is keeping yourself healthy, including eating right and getting exercise. Not only does staying healthy make driving more enjoyable, it can help you get better rest so you can maintain enough energy to stay focused on the road.

Sometimes eating healthy is a simple matter of substituting healthy food for unhealthy food. But you and your co-driver can establish a plan for meals to ensure you eat healthily and even set up an exercise regimen at stops to keep your energy up. Even just going for a walk is helpful for staying healthy on the road.

OTR Team Driving Careers at Lily Transportation Corp.

If you’re interested in an OTR team driving career, you don’t have to look any further than Lily Transportation Corp. Join our family of drivers to get matched with co-driver and receive competitive pay, great benefits, and dedicated runs. Our OTR team drivers even get customizable home time.

If you’re a veteran, find out more about our one-of-a-kind program for veteran drivers that won’t deplete your GI benefits.

Visit our careers page to talk with a recruiter, view our open positions, or apply directly online! If you’d like more information about OTR team driving at Lily, just download our free guide below.