I think for general haulage, it just isn’t cost effective, especially as has been said you can get 2 East European drivers to do it at far less cost. But for urgent loads it might work. I seem to remember somebody on here doing it for Airfreight or something similar.
I’ve done double manning with race teams, but always stayed in hotels when doing so and mostly we would run normal single manning hours, the only time we had to push it was if the car was in a million pieces after the race and needed to get back to the workshop fast to get it ready for the next race or if we were short of time getting to the circuit due to problems on the ferries or truck breakdowns, but good teams plan a fair margin for that type of thing.
I prefer being on my own, but some of the people I doubled manned a truck with were alright and I enjoyed working with them, others were a nightmare. The main thing for me is be able to trust their driving enough to be able to sleep while they drive.
There’s a job I see advertised all the time on agency running from Telford to Bellshill with a fridge. £175 a shift. Could be a good gig depending on the other driver and how quick they tip said fridge at Bellshill.
We have double manned runs that are big earners and they’re a doddle. It’s the other driver that can ruin your day. I’m not the best passenger in the world and watching the other driver text his missus sitting 10 yards from the vehicle in front makes me a bit nervous
I used to do it on tank transporters, but I was an invincible teenager at the height of my powers double manning with another likeminded invincible teenager so it was party central. Now I’ve grown up (allegedly) I couldn’t think of anything worse tbh.
There’s not enough room for all my stuff let alone another drivers, plus I like my space. It was bad enough last week when I had a couple of days off. Left my unit all nice and clean and dieseled up. Came back and it’d been used, left unwashed, half the tank empty, seat adjusted, steering wheel adjusted, footprints on my carpet, mud in the footwell, odometer changed from Km to Miles (took me ages to work out how to change it back), all my pens and lighters moved from their place, rubbish in the door space, empty litre coke bottle chucked in the passenger well, and he’d even opened up my new pack of Andrex and used half a roll. I was livid. Added another 30 minutes to my salaried day getting it ready to use.
Tris:
There’s not enough room for all my stuff let alone another drivers, plus I like my space. It was bad enough last week when I had a couple of days off. Left my unit all nice and clean and dieseled up. Came back and it’d been used, left unwashed, half the tank empty, seat adjusted, steering wheel adjusted, footprints on my carpet, mud in the footwell, odometer changed from Km to Miles (took me ages to work out how to change it back), all my pens and lighters moved from their place, rubbish in the door space, empty litre coke bottle chucked in the passenger well, and he’d even opened up my new pack of Andrex and used half a roll. I was livid. Added another 30 minutes to my salaried day getting it ready to use.
Don’t tell me you had the cheek and audacity to expect a spare/day/night/agency driver, to have a bit of common decency and good manners did you …you are being totally unreasonable here mate
It aint your truck it’s the companies, they can ■■■■ it up and mess it up as much as they like, it has nothing to do with you so just ■■■■ it up ffs, and don’t be a wimp.
Just thought I would get that in before the regular ones who usually jump on this type of post start.
The best way is with the missus…that’s what I found , she nearly always did the earlier shift driving and the last hours were me . We did over 4 yrs doing Spain and back living in the cab basically. She was a size 8 and kept "home " spotless and made some amazing grub in the cab . But you have to be super tidy and not want a lot of possessions . It was a fun time .
Sod tramping with an unwashed ■■■■■■■ snoring lump of a male driver with bad breath , that would ■■■■ you off.
Long Days would be OK if you got the right other driver IF the money was right or Solo it is , as we all like the solitude and that why we drive for a living.
And then in the dark when you drive stark naked except the boots like Dipper there is not a lot of chance of being caught…Until the driver facing cams are installed by the office.
Tris:
There’s not enough room for all my stuff let alone another drivers, plus I like my space. It was bad enough last week when I had a couple of days off. Left my unit all nice and clean and dieseled up. Came back and it’d been used, left unwashed, half the tank empty, seat adjusted, steering wheel adjusted, footprints on my carpet, mud in the footwell, odometer changed from Km to Miles (took me ages to work out how to change it back), all my pens and lighters moved from their place, rubbish in the door space, empty litre coke bottle chucked in the passenger well, and he’d even opened up my new pack of Andrex and used half a roll. I was livid. Added another 30 minutes to my salaried day getting it ready to use.
Sorry about the seat, i couldnt reach the pedals. Next time ill put blocks under my feat like the kid in indiana jones.
I dont mind it, but its normally only for one shift at a time and there is a hotel waiting for us at the end. Decent lads aswel which makes it a lot better when im not sleeping.
tommy t:
Double manned is double the work for half the pay ,or can be, But until they make bigger cabs it’s to be avoided where possible , Though i have had some good times when double manned in the past, but the longer hours and shorter daily rest periods are not missed at all
How do you work it’s double the work for half the pay are you suggesting that you would not get paid for sitting in the passenger seat . My last firm we occasionally double manned for places like Russia and got paid for every working hour passenger or driving .was a very good earner for us
Double manned a few shifts, had a 12hr Eagles karaoke on one run.
Fortunately I’m quiet and pretty laid back when I’m not sleeping. Only one driver I was glad to get away from, heard he got left at a services by another driver. I’d happily double man with my son, jeez that sounds so dipper dave
In my mind, there’s no point in “double-manning” drivers who would be perfectly capable of covering the same runs in consecutive trips in the same wagon.
Eg. There are two round trips to somewhere 3 hours drive away.
You can’t get the same driver to do both trips in a 12-15 hour shift, as they’ll easily go over 10 hours max driving.
So… You send one driver out to do the first round trip, and swap over on the way out on the second.
Doh! Why not just have one driver do one round trip, then give up the wagon on the first return to base so the second driver then takes over, and does the second trip?
Why? - 'Cos a salaried driver isn’t having much moneysworth hours out of them if they end up doing a single trip and a flat 7-8 hours duty…
So, in this example - the “doubled manned” aspect doesn’t save the firm any money - it just gives both drivers something to do that occupies a longer than 10 hour shift, rather than be sent home early at the 7-8 hours into the shift point. A sensible yard might just have Driver A come in at 06:00 to do trip one, he gets back at say, 15:00 (daytime traffic delays and 45 breakalready allowed for) - and the second driver comes in at 4pm, probably getting back at midnight. The truck has done two round trips, so the fuel consumption is pretty much the same. It’s only driving in daytime that has a negative impact on fuel consumption, but one could equally argue that one might run into “motorway closures” at night time?!
The bottom line is though - “It keeps two drivers busy at a time when two could actually do a flat shift”. Not good for the firm if you are salarying your drivers.
“Gotta keep that overhours culture thing going” eh?
Those who would argue… “Ahh but you actually might use it to run from London to Scotland” - Where’s the other driver really going to bed down? - Whilst the other bod is driving… Really?
These expectations of what’s required of a driver whilst double-manning - makes the entire issue “One not to be desired”.
So… Why do some employers still use this rather daft practice then?
Tris:
There’s not enough room for all my stuff let alone another drivers, plus I like my space. It was bad enough last week when I had a couple of days off. Left my unit all nice and clean and dieseled up. Came back and it’d been used, left unwashed, half the tank empty, seat adjusted, steering wheel adjusted, footprints on my carpet, mud in the footwell, odometer changed from Km to Miles (took me ages to work out how to change it back), all my pens and lighters moved from their place, rubbish in the door space, empty litre coke bottle chucked in the passenger well, and he’d even opened up my new pack of Andrex and used half a roll. I was livid. Added another 30 minutes to my salaried day getting it ready to use.
Don’t tell me you had the cheek and audacity to expect a spare/day/night/agency driver, to have a bit of common decency and good manners did you …you are being totally unreasonable here mate
It aint your truck it’s the companies, they can [zb] it up and mess it up as much as they like, it has nothing to do with you so just ■■■■ it up ffs, and don’t be a wimp.
Just thought I would get that in before the regular ones who usually jump on this type of post start.
Btw mate… I DO agree with you.
You can’t complain about the seat/steering wheel. That’s pretty standard. Washing the truck only if it’s company policy. The rest is a bit ■■■■■■■■■ though.
Tris:
There’s not enough room for all my stuff let alone another drivers, plus I like my space. It was bad enough last week when I had a couple of days off. Left my unit all nice and clean and dieseled up. Came back and it’d been used, left unwashed, half the tank empty, seat adjusted, steering wheel adjusted, footprints on my carpet, mud in the footwell, odometer changed from Km to Miles (took me ages to work out how to change it back), all my pens and lighters moved from their place, rubbish in the door space, empty litre coke bottle chucked in the passenger well, and he’d even opened up my new pack of Andrex and used half a roll. I was livid. Added another 30 minutes to my salaried day getting it ready to use.
Don’t tell me you had the cheek and audacity to expect a spare/day/night/agency driver, to have a bit of common decency and good manners did you …you are being totally unreasonable here mate
It aint your truck it’s the companies, they can [zb] it up and mess it up as much as they like, it has nothing to do with you so just ■■■■ it up ffs, and don’t be a wimp.
Just thought I would get that in before the regular ones who usually jump on this type of post start.
Btw mate… I DO agree with you.
You can’t complain about the seat/steering wheel. That’s pretty standard. Washing the truck only if it’s company policy. The rest is a bit [zb] though.
It was the fact that a brand new pack of Andrex had been opened and used that really annoyed me. Not the cost, but the principle that you shouldn’t do it. If you’re a day driver you should have your own bag with everything you need and you should respect the fact that you’re using someone else’s assigned vehicle and the property therein. And fiddling with settings like the odometer, why? All the paperwork is doing in K’s so don’t fôoking touch it.
Doubt id be able to leave a fresh pack of Andrex alone, would think how considerate the regular driver was though, better than wiping me arse on the cheap stuff I buy.
On agency I used to have a right mooch, change radio stations, adjust seat, move stuff about, just something to do really. Quite a bonus if the regular driver is a little neurotic.
Tris:
It was the fact that a brand new pack of Andrex had been opened and used that really annoyed me. Not the cost, but the principle that you shouldn’t do it. If you’re a day driver you should have your own bag with everything you need and you should respect the fact that you’re using someone else’s assigned vehicle and the property therein. And fiddling with settings like the odometer, why? All the paperwork is doing in K’s so don’t fôoking touch it.
Yeah that’d pee me off too. No need is there. But that’s the quality of us agency types.
Got many flip flop friends, they all say the same: It’s not a thing, you wanna do. Two men in the cab is too much. The only one exception is a spouse/wife, or kid. Waberer’s and Duvenbeck are well known about supporting this.
Dennisthemenace:
Got many flip flop friends, they all say the same: It’s not a thing, you wanna do. Two men in the cab is too much. The only one exception is a spouse/wife, or kid. Waberer’s and Duvenbeck are well known about supporting this.
Has anybody seen the 2 lesbians that double up on Waberers, (well I’m assuming they are a lesbian couple anyway)
I first saw them in Holland about 6 yrs ago, but saw them again about 2 months ago at Lymm.
One is blonde, really petite and fit, the other one is butch and looks a bit like Sam Allardyce in drag.
I havent but I can speak for all of us when I say Waberers trucks will be getting a lot more attention.
I have a friend whos a bull dyke, a great laugh (doesnt work for Waberers though). Had to help her build a wardrobe the other day as she struggles with dovetale joints, shes more a tongue and groove specialist.
Dipper_Dave:
I havent but I can speak for all of us when I say Waberers trucks will be getting a lot more attention.
I have a friend whos a bull dyke, a great laugh (doesnt work for Waberers though). Had to help her build a wardrobe the other day as she struggles with dovetale joints, shes more a tongue and groove specialist.
But the tongue and groove needs a good long screw to keep it together surely ?
…you are being totally unreasonable here mate 
