Am i the asshole, and if so, how.

Posted by Important_Lime_6309@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 55 comments

I'm a new driver with a team driver who is also new, we met in cdl school and went to same company, training and all to team up. (For convenience) we get along ok, but on a daily basis he disrespects one thing or another about me or what I like, if delta with it because I'm a turn the other cheek kinda person, I can only turn it so many times before they are both worn out. Main issue: after weeks of dealing with the bs and being kind and helping but being stern on a few things, my partner brought up "I guess I'll just look for another partner" because during his shift he didn't fuel, and an hour into my shift was the closest fuel for us and he got pissy I used my number for reward points to fill the truck on my shift. He started with 3/4 of a tank and ran it to 3/8, but decided to not fuel it (about half is what is needed for the points) the way I see it, he had half of his shift to fuel if he wanted the points. I know this is a stupid childish issue / rant but I'm just curious if other team drivers here see an issue one way or the other.

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55 Comments

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Beautiful-Slice166@reddit

I team with someone ive known for a decade before trucking, wouldnt do it with anyone else, and as a team pro tip, just pool your points, youll always have diamond status a d earn the most points, ez win

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Important_Lime_6309@reddit (OP)

From the start i told him I'm not gonna hog the points, they'd be use for us (showers) and the truck. So idk why he's so uptight about it anyways, and idk how you mean pool them.

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JoshHatesFun_@reddit

Like only use one shared loyalty card; not the fuel card, but the points card. Share it. Also, not the asshole. If he wanted the points, he could have fueled on his shift.

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mjkeys1@reddit

If concerned about showers, you do know that you need to request team showers at the fuel desk (you each get a separate shower room) and it only uses one shower from the card

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Dakota_Decker@reddit

I tried to do that at a pilot one time and they wanted me to use two shower credits.

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swamplice@reddit

Because Pilot sucks

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Spacemaninorbit@reddit

The Little America outside Cheyenne, Wy does it that way as well. But I think the lady running the dayshift is a man hater (or even just a truck driver hater).

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DaphneBerryShake@reddit

Why you using points for fuel? Use those for showers, and team showers only use points for one shower not both

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Beautiful-Slice166@reddit

As someone already said, use the same points card. Me and my teammate racked up enough points to buy a new gps, new head sets, tools for the truck, gloves, so on, and have never spent a dime of our money in just this year alone

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Humble_Length5150@reddit

Unlimited showers.. AND toilets when the bathroom has a line.

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Always_Shifting_4459@reddit

Exactly. When all shitters are full, I never wait in line. Just go grab a "shower" and use the shitter instead. Sometimes fuel desk person upon hearing why will give a free shower anyway just so you can use the toilet

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Spacemaninorbit@reddit

If he wants the points he needs to do better trip planning to spend the time fueling the truck so he can have the points. Whoever fuels the truck gets the points

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swamplice@reddit

Simple, but humans won't see it if it doesn't benefit them most of the time

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Spacemaninorbit@reddit

If a person can't rationalize with a co-driver then they're either the baby-sitter or the one needing baby sat. Adults can talk a situation out and come to a fair conclusion.

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No_Inflation7432@reddit

I wouldn't team drive with anybody unless I was sleeping with them and in that kind of a relationship and even then that could stress that. I can't imagine a quicker way for two people two adults to hate each other then be team drivers in a f****** truck. You have a driver's license do something else. You've already found out at least you didn't have to do it that long there was nothing wrong with this guy before you started you got in a truck and you live with them and you worked with them and now you f****** hate him. Maybe it is him. maybe it's you. but I know one thing it's team driving. It's not like you can just sign up and live with someone 24/7 and expect that you're going to have a good working relationship. 95% of truck drivers are not team drivers. There's a reason.

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CronoXpono@reddit

Yeah, I rode with my trainer but our job was a lot of get out of the truck and do stuff. I couldn’t fathom sticking around all those hours with anyone sans the wife and that would probably capsize too 😆

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No_Inflation7432@reddit

For all the comments about riding with their trainer... Brothers or sisters that has nothing to do with real team driving. As soon as you think you know as much as the other driver about any topic and you have a difference of opinion you're going to fight. Their feet are going to stink differently than yours and it's going to make you gag. Their dirty laundry is going to reek. Their morning breath is going to permeate in the truck. They're stupid imbecile conversations with whoever it is they have on the phone is going to drive you insane and wish you had a rusty screwdriver to poke yourself in the eyeball. Do not confuse riding with your trainer with 3 months of experience with team driving.

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United_News3779@reddit

In my view there are 2 viable options to do jobs that require the level of interaction and inter-connection that team OTR has. First option is to be the best of friends, the kind that you just call your brother (or sister) by choice. Then you're already used to their farts and know about their pissing matches with their significant other, etc. Second option is to be the senior driver with a newer one, and rule the truck with an iron fist. By all means, be a benevolent dictator, kind and understanding of their shortcomings, mentor them and train them the way you want things done. But a dictator none the less lol

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No_Inflation7432@reddit

Well okay sort of. But you know being the senior driver still won't limit you to hating the SOB you're riding with. And that's just stress I don't know I mean it's not like people are getting double money for being team drivers.

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OsBaculum@reddit

My trainer suggested I team with him near the end of my time on the truck and I politely, yet firmly, said NO.

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CronoXpono@reddit

Yeah, I’ve only had one coworker would’ve teamed with and that’s also taking in to account we didn’t have to lol could be it would sour quick.

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OkSalt4691@reddit

Like others suggested grow a pair, and set the rules for both to be happy about. Do the math, if you fill up and use 2 account you will not hit the maximum point multiplier, if you use same phone number you hit the maximum multiplier which will give you 4 times the point you getting... then either divide the points equally between both of you OR who burns how much fuel so that it will be super duper equal.

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Specific-Aide9475@reddit

not an asshole. If the agreement is to fuel during the drive time and he didn’t then it’s his lost points. When I had a teammate, I spent most of my time in the sleeper during their drive time. I’m more introverted so I needed the alone time and that was the closest I could get. In the end I did go solo.

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Danger_Mauz@reddit

I never teamed with anyone besides during training. But, for context, the most recent training I went through to get my CDL back was to drive 15k miles behind the wheel, teaming. And, I too, was like you, trying to figure out ways to get along.with the trainer. And, the same thing happened, I would only address things pertaining to my boundaries. And, that's what this is. The guy you're working with did that because he wanted to be pushy and get his way. And, when he didn't get it. He whined. I say, let him keep whining and take the shot, every chance you get. Focus on your own life and objectives. And, what will he do? He'll curb this behavior. He wants points. He needs to fuel up during his shift. I can't stand people like that. They wanna drag things. And, delay progress. And, also, I wouldn't feel shit if he threatened getting another teamer. He sure could. Who cares. Get another one and lay down the ground rules with the new person. These loads are time sensitive. And, the last thing you need is this type of person who wants to slow you down.

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Dakota_Decker@reddit

I'm a team driver but our company tells us where to fuel. Whoever's on duty gets the points but there's no point in being stingy with sharing showers. Who would want a stinky partner? If you guys are bickering, you should ask your company for a new partner. I do 12-hour shifts with my partners and our talking is very minimal. We usually just talk when we switch and sometimes on our 34 when we take one. The issues I've had with partners were smoking in the truck when they weren't supposed to be smoking in the truck because I'm allergic to it. Or they would pull over every 2 hours and chain smoke for 20 minutes. One partner refused to trip-plan very well and it wasted a lot of time. Several partners would drive 2 hours into my drive time and we'd have to reset early. Several partners refused to listen to me when I tried to explain how recaps work and how you have to keep your hours balanced when you're on teams and we would have to reset early. One partner just really creeped me out. Several partners have gotten angry that I do a full pre-trip. One partner didn't drive enough and rode the clock with on duty not driving.

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Important_Lime_6309@reddit (OP)

I'm with covenant atm we have certain fuel area, but fairly plenty for the most part if pre trip correctly, I've done pre and post trip nearly every shift, my partner has not one time, he bickering at me early on because we got a chip in our windshield that is cracking bigger and bigger, "you better not say shit and put us out of service because of that" like wtf, I understand he needs money right now but I told him if DOT catches that before we do they will OOS us and that's worse than us doing it, experienced drivers may already know why so I'm not going to explain. It passes me off cause all he thinks about and is worried about is miles miles miles, which I get it, that's how we get paid but when you're going down a 5% degrade at 65 when sighns say curving roads slow to 55, and it's dark with a cliff to our right, I wouldn't worry with an experienced driver too much but we're both new, I feel like he over looks too many rules that we've been warned about to follow. All In all I appreciate everyone's comments, negative and possative. I think when we go on leave I'm going to look for a solo drive company that is local to take the stress of being away from home and being new to team and such.

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TruckeronI5@reddit

I would give up my CDL before I would team drive.

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Clean-Raspberry-3827@reddit

Don’t team drive unless it’s with your spouse maybe a sibling if you really get along and you don’t mind spending a lot of time together but otherwise stay solo

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ApatheticWonderer@reddit

Back when I was required to team with another guy for training we made a straightforward deal, 2pm to 2am the truck is yours, 2am to 2 pm it’s mine. We’d give ourselves a wiggle room of +/- 30 min, but generally whoever is in the driver seat gets to use their fuel card. We’re still good friends 15 years later.

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MCryptoWars@reddit

I can never do teams. I can not trust anyone driving while I am sleeping in the back. Also, just wouldn’t be comfortable hanging with someone all the time. I like to put on whatever podcast I want to listen to and not having to worry about what the other team driver is thinking.

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buddhathebard@reddit

I was always under the assumption whoever fueled got the points and you’d share shower credits if the person was off wanted to wake up and get one. Other than that sounds like you need a different co-driver (if you must team but fuck teams)

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Alubsey@reddit

Y’all sound like Lloyd n Harry My fav movie. 🍿

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Hxncheaux@reddit

If he wanted the points, he would’ve gotten the points. Period. Leaving an issue (even if it’s fueling) for the next driver is selfish. I’ve never rode teams but that’s how id look at it if so. Whenever the next man climbs into the seat? His job is smooth sailing to a pick up or deliver. Id expect the same in return. Anything other than that? Id have another TEAM MATE. If we’re a team, we’re a team 100%… anything other than 100% im looking for another team! PERIOD.

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Emergency_Ad1152@reddit

You're driving with a little kid with unresolved child trauma.

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MrStrype@reddit

When I was team driving, my partner and I made an agreement that we would take turns with our cards...no matter who fueled, the card that was used was whichever card's turn it was. I used his card when I fueled if it was his turn and vice versa...it worked for us.

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MostlyUseful@reddit

This proves that old saying, you never really know a person until you live with them. It sounds like your co driver is more the type to lay back and let you pick up the slack. That’s not a good team. Can you run solo? I don’t team and couldn’t imagine doing it unless it were with a spouse or significant other because then all the money basically goes in the same pot. Right now, if you end up picking up his slack, you don’t get extra compensation and he gets paid anyways. NTA

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BB5er@reddit

Get just enough experience to get out in your own. There’s nothing good about team driving.

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Chocolateapologycake@reddit

I team drive with my husband and we share a card number. It makes the most sense but then we are married and we share our money. As far as the points I mean I guess if you both decided that you would divide it down the center or use it for things for the truck. And sharing a number would mean you would always have showers. But you have to have someone who isn’t going to split hairs over whose card number is used and if they got 100 more points to use. It sounds like he’s being petty and lazy. I would avoid teaming at all costs tbh. My husband and I are on the hunt for local work so we can stop with the teaming bc it’s stressful even with someone you love.

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mike-2129@reddit

Wait. He only used half a tank on his whole shift? I'm using 3/4 tanks at least.

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Financial-Prize9691@reddit

Tanks come in different sizes. In the summer I go 1500 miles between fill-ups.

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MuphDiesel@reddit

If you have to ask the answer is always yes

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xDoomKitty@reddit

Good lord, new Gen must have 0 problems to be worrying about dumb shit like this.

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Always_Shifting_4459@reddit

And be posting about it too worrying if they're an asshole or not 🤣

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Humble_Length5150@reddit

I'd crumple up $2 with a few coins in the middle for weight, and throw it at his face. Here bitch, you want it?, you got it, fucking punk. Just sayin.

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queentracy62@reddit

Teams isn't for everyone. Let him find another teammate then and you do as well. But also don't be a doormat. Speak up and don't let anyone push you around when it comes to making your money.

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jjvsjeff@reddit

Get another team driver or go solo. You should have known you're rolling the dice

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rookierancher@reddit

If he can’t manage his time for the betterment of the “team”, he gets what he gets. Y’all are on the road together to make money for the company, not be besties. You are not the asshole here, he is. Stand up for yourself, this can be a hard career emotionally. Sometimes you gotta let things go, other times ya gotta push back and sometimes (figuratively) ya gotta hit back.

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Typical-City1455@reddit

If y'all are arguing and bickering and blowing up over stupid little shit like that you've been around eachother too much. One of yall needs to take a vacation to give both of you a break. I've worked a job before that ended up turning into 6/12's and an 8 on Sundays, after 4 months we were having a nightly fist fight out back. Get away from eachother for a while.

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Abucfan21@reddit

If he wanted the points, he should have fueled before your shift change. My mantra when I was teaming ( to honor my contract) was, "Embrace the Suck. John McCain made it 7 years in the Hanoi Hilton. You can do ten months of team driving". Also, if he isn't driving as many miles as you every day, it's time to look for another driver to team with.

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Glittering_Map5003@reddit

Don’t be a bitch

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graibeard@reddit

Fuel at shift change if possible. Why not just use one points card for the truck?

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Important_Lime_6309@reddit (OP)

We have seperate cards assigned to us from the company, only ta and petro (only certain ones too) we can fuelbat so we can't always fuel at chane, especially him, he likes to run his clock low and stop where ever.

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