First 5 weeks with STEVENS

You should keep us updated on your adventure. Glad to see someone upbeat about trucking. This industry could use a lot more drivers like you and I.

 

Please do keep us updated. Hubby is heading out for training next week and we're anxious to see what he's in for. I've been playing with the idea of starting my own thread about his experience. Hoping for a positive one to add to the bunch since there aren't too many.

 

Dude! You sound like me when i first started! I LOVED IT toooooo!!! I actually couldnt believe they were paying me to do this job! Cause i knew i woulda done it for FREE!!! (hush...dont you tell my boss)

Best to you at Stevens. I went thru their orientation and I have to say it is absolutely the BEST! It lasts about a week and they have very charismatic instructors who taught me ALOT of much needed safety information which i still use today! Even though I wasnt hired with them, I believe God led me to their orientation so I could learn vital information before hitting the road!

 

Dude!!! You sound like me when i first started! I LOVED it tooooo. I actually couldnt believe they paid me to do the job, cause I would have done it for FREE!!! (hush, dont you tell my boss). Seems like such a long time ago!

Best to you at Stevens! They have an awesome orientation program with very charismatic instructors. Even though I was not hired with them, I believe God led me there so I could learn much needed, vital, safety information that, I believe has made me the safe driver I am today!

One bit of advise to ya---> run fast from their lease purchase program! (if its the same as the one they offered me)

 

Do Not be pressured into the lease (NOT a purchase) program. Investigate, ask questions, read the contracts. I have been A solo Lease operator for 18 months. I have had good months, and bad months. I do NOT recommend the alliance program to anyone who does NOT have any business experience. There is too much to learn about driving a truck safely, and worry about making a profit, when first starting out. This is why many try, and many fail.

Also as a lease operator, you have NO benefits. You are self employed, and pay ALL your own taxes, you want health insurance, you purchase it. You want to take time off, I hope you set aside money to do that, and to make that truck payment that is still there while you enjoy some home time. And YOU do not own the truck, or have any rights to the truck.

 

I agree with TL, stay a company driver for a least 6-9 months. Learn with their trucks, learn the system, routes, when you have it all down, try the lease. If you have a family, mortgage, home commitments etc DONT.

 

I have to disagree with you. 6-9 months aint enough. I would say stay a company driver at least 2 years before attempting the o/o gig. Save as much cash as you can!. Buy the truck, dont lease!!! And make sure you have money for ALL the possible emergencies that can/will arise! For example, when the truck breaks down or you take time off, the bills keep coming. Make sure you have as large a cash cushion as possible. Like someone on here said, 'you need to make GREAT money to be a o/o', cause those truck repairs will hit you hard! When you see that money coming in, SAVE IT!!!! Dont go out and buy fancy cars or upgrade your standard of living! I think thats what puts alot of guys out of the game. When disaster hits they cant fund the DRAMA!

 

That's great!! I drove for Stevens a few years ago and I also had a great trainer. He made sure to share his knowledge and showed me the Stevens way of doing things. He maintained a tidy truck and was a pleasant individual to be in a truck with. I hope your Stevens experience remains a positive and productive one!!! Good Luck and be safe out there!!!

 

Stevens sounds a helluva lot better than Werner lol! If they"ll hire a grad from N.J I'll check them out!

 

With NO business experience you would be well advised to not learn at all with these sharks in the trucking business. Just like Tlea was saying and yes he cleaned it up a bit. Truck driving is a great job and I am living proof that almost a decade on the road can result in positive results. No way in hell would I pay somebody to drive their truck. When your bad days turn into bad months your finished and the ability to toss them the keys if it should come to that gives you, the driver, the upper hand and that is the only way to make it in an industry that thinks very little of their workforce to begin with.