What Is Co-Driving, and How Will It Change the Trucking Industry?
What Is Co-Driving, and How Will It Change the Trucking Industry?
Co-driving, also known as team trucking, will play a significant role in the future of the trucking industry. It’s a means for trucking companies to move their freight more efficiently, while still adhering to industry drive time regulations.
Team trucking offers distinct benefits to both drivers and freight companies alike.
Trucking Industry Drive Time Regulations
Drivers are currently given a 14-hour consecutive window, in which they are allowed 11 hours of drive time. In other words, 10 hours of the day must be spent off duty, or sleeping. It is an important regulation that ensures the safety of the road for all drivers, but it does come at a cost for the industry and can slow down the supply chain.
What happens when that freight needs to be expedited? What happens when the load is valuable to those about to receive it? People on both sides of the shipment are depending on that delivery. That 10-hour downtime window can hinder the delivery of goods.
What is Co-Driving?
For those wondering “What is co-driving?” we have an answer. Co-driving, or team trucking, is a means to keep the supply chain moving. Two drivers are in the truck working opposite shifts, so that the truck no longer needs to be off the road for a 10-hour window. An expedited load can arrive at its drop-off point faster, and in the big picture, the supply chain keeps moving.
Co-driving has advantages for the driver, too. Having someone to share the road with can make the job feel a little less isolating.
Consumers Expect Goods Faster
The average American doesn’t spend a lot of time thinking about the supply chain. They’ve come to inherently expect goods to be available when they order, or when they need them. These expectations, and a faster moving economy puts some pressure on the logistics and transportation end of the economy.
Both brick and mortar and ecommerce are impacted by these escalating consumer expectations. Co-driving is a critical method for moving goods faster on the ground.
How Does Team Trucking Work for the Drivers?
While one driver is behind the wheel, the other may be either in the passenger seat or the sleeper berth. While some co-drivers may ride with a friend or family member who has a CDL, others may prefer a company match.
Codrivers.com is a site where drivers can find their match based on location and specific personality factors that may make them more compatible.
Co-Driving is the Future of Trucking
Humans will be an integral part of the trucking and transportation industries for a long time to come. Team trucking allows freight to move even faster. It also allows drivers to have some company in an otherwise isolating profession.
If you are a driver or a trucking company, we at codrivers.com hope to be your resource on co-driving, and team trucking for a long time to come!
