Driving a truck is a great way to earn a living, and there are a lot of different ways to earn that living.
At Hardy Brothers, some of our drivers prefer driving alone, and these solo drivers handle our regional routes. Our driver-teams run our coast-to-coast routes.
Let’s take a look at the differences between driving solo vs. as a team.
Driver Shifts
By law, anyone driving a truck can only drive for 11 hours before being required to take a 10-hour break. For solo drivers, that means they have to pull off the road before that 11-hour mark to get something to eat and get some sleep. After 10 hours, they can continue on their route. Most of our regional route drivers are typically out 1-3 days on a single trip, and they are expected to run 2-3 trips per week, depending on the routes they run.
For driver teams, each driver takes an 11-hour shift, and then the next driver takes over while the other takes the mandatory 10-hour break. Except for food and fuel stops, the wheels on the truck are turning until the delivery destination is reached. This is how our drivers get from Siloam to California and back in as little as four days.
Driver Comfort
Whether driving solo or as a team, our late model Kenworth trucks are designed with driver comfort in mind. The seats are incredibly comfortable, and in the cab area behind the driver seats, our trucks are equipped with a refrigerator, and there are spaces for a microwave and a coffee pot if the team wants to add them. Each cab is also equipped with a double-sized mattress bunk bed. It’s a small “home-away-from-home,” but it’s comfortable. Drivers are welcome to add their own creature comforts, like a TV, hand weights for a workout, or whatever makes them comfortable in their journeys, including pets!
Driver Pay
Since solo drivers aren’t covering as many miles as driver teams, their pay tends to be a little less, and if they get caught in a long traffic jam that slows them down, it still counts against their 11-hour shift. If a team gets slowed down, they can keep traveling once a traffic jam clears.
Pros & Cons
Solo Driver Pro: For those who prefer their independence and prefer to work alone, driving a regional route makes the most sense.
Solo Driver Con: The pay is less than driving as a team because not as many miles are being driven as on a coast-to-coast run, but it’s still a great way to earn a living.
Team Driver Pro: It’s fun to travel with someone else. It’s also comforting to know that someone has your back out on the road. For spouses and friends, team driving gives you more opportunities to spend time together. And, after four or five days on the road, they can head home for a couple of days if they choose, or they can head back out on another run. Plus, each driver gets full credit for the miles driven on the trip, not just the miles they drive.
Team Driver Con: While it’s enjoyable to travel with someone else, driving as a team means you’re never alone. Finding the right partner is important. At Hardy Brothers we do our absolute best to match like-minded individuals. We are also willing to work with you to find the perfect match. You do not have to have a partner in mind to drive with us. We have several options available for pairings. We welcome you with a partner or partnerless. In the end, it’s all about building the Hardy Brothers family.