Gary and Suzanne: A Team-Driving Testimonial
Description
Gary and Suzanne Hadley spent 21 years working apart from each other. They now spend essentially every day in the same truck, and they say they've gotten closer for it.
The division of labor is specific. Gary drives. Suzanne answers the phone, talks to dispatch more than he does, navigates, cooks, and handles what she calls health administration and finance. When she isn't doing that, she's studying — she quit her job to pursue a master's degree and discovered she could do the coursework from the truck. Doug Andrus treats her as part of the team even though she isn't a direct driver.
What they single out is downtime pay. At previous carriers, eight hours stuck at a customer was money out of pocket — as Gary puts it, when the wheels aren't turning, you ain't earning. Doug Andrus pays for detention and other time outside a driver's control. Add outstanding medical benefits and consistently new equipment and their conclusion is that they wouldn't trade the lifestyle. Read their full testimonial, or compare with Justin Waagen, who solves the family question by taking whole weeks off instead.
Curious whether team driving fits you? Take the Find Your Fleet quiz, review benefits and 401k, or call (800) 336-1034.
Video Transcript
I'm Gary Hadley. This is my wife, Suzanne. I drive, she supports.
I'm support staff. She answers the phone, she talks to dispatch more than I do. I'm the navigator, cook, health administrator, finance manager.
I quit my job and started going for my master's degree, and I can do that on the truck. And it's important. She studies on the road, and we get to go all over the place.
We decided to drive together because we like being with each other. There were quite a few years we worked apart — 21 years we weren't together. Now we can spend all day with each other, and I think we've gotten even closer.
They've taken good care of their drivers. They pay good, benefits are great, they've always got new equipment to drive. And they let me go with him. I get to spend the time that I missed out on with him, and they treat me like part of the family too, even though I'm not a direct driver.
The detention pay — at the other places that was non-existent. If you end up sitting at a customer for eight hours, that was just time you spent sitting there, and that's money out of your pocket. When the wheels ain't turning, you ain't earning. Doug Andrus does really well taking care of drivers on downtime and those things that are out of the driver's control.
Medical benefits are outstanding compared to some of the others we've seen.
Truck drivers are the lifeline. Anything you own, a truck driver hauled it. We feed the nation and we keep them clothed. Anything that needs to be moved, we're the ones that do it.
The lifestyle we've got here is great. I wouldn't trade it for nothing. We're able to accomplish more because of his job with Doug Andrus.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is team driving?
Two people sharing one truck. In Gary and Suzanne's case Gary drives while Suzanne handles navigation, dispatch communication, cooking, and administration. Some teams split driving duties instead.
Does a non-driving spouse need to be a company employee?
No. Suzanne isn't a direct driver but describes being treated as part of the team. Ask about the specifics of rider policies when you apply.
Can you study or work remotely from a truck?
Suzanne completed master's degree coursework from the passenger seat. Whether that works depends on your program and your connectivity, but it's clearly possible.
What is detention pay and why does it matter so much to them?
It compensates you for waiting at a customer's dock. Gary's point is that at previous carriers, eight hours of waiting was simply unpaid — pure loss. Doug Andrus pays for detention, layover, and breakdown.
How long have Gary and Suzanne been driving together?
They started after 21 years of working apart from each other. Suzanne says the arrangement brought them closer rather than the reverse.