Stevens Transport aviary

made it to Jackson, Miss.9 hours to go.

 

Setting just north of my delivery in the "metro complex" of Brundidge AL... normal wally delivery o dark 30 monday. Then dispatch can continue on the west ward ho trip to the yard. Hope I can get to the yard by Wednesday, so I can be roll out on Friday with a load going to the Backwoods of Wyoming.

 

Hey all im from houston i start my OT 1 in dall oct 25th i have my cdl permit and took all my tests and passed will i move thru faster ? And do they pay you back for gas ??? or if you rent a car ??

 

Hey everybody! Just thought I would throw in an update. I graduated from Road Masters yesterday. Did great on all my testing, used no pull ups on the backing test and pretty much aced the road test. Finished road test at 9:30am and then had to wait around the school till 3pm to get my diploma and all other paperwork. Packed up all my stuff and headed down to Fort Myers to visit my family for a few days. I have to check in with Denise in recruiting and then heading off to the DMV to get my CDL card! Hopefully Denise schedules my bus ticket and I should be leaving here around Friday for Dallas! So glad school is done and I can move on and get this show on the road!

 

Good luck Sinister. Keep us informed of your progress.

 

Well ### i called lou in dallas and she said i dont have togo to dallas i can take my class in houston where i live at HCC 3 week course but i have already takin my permit test so i have that and took all my other tests know,air,combo,pretrip insp. So i wonder if i can advance in the class??? anyone know ????

 

Christoff -

Let me first apologize if this has been detailed somewhere else previously, and feel free to ignore if it is TOO much information <smile>


(speaking from my experience)


1) Stevens will reimburse you up to a certain amount. For me, it was up to $200 if I drove my own car to Dallas (basically up to the cost of a bus ticket). I don't know if that is the upper limit or not, but I am sure it is based on what it would cost them to bus you, so it could vary but in my case it was up to $200 (with receipts to show gas etc).

2) Having your CDL in hand does not shorten your training time. The only people who get shorter training time (for example on road) are those who have past and recent driving experience. Training Department will look over that persons driving experience and make a judgment based on that. (Based case by case , each person may be different) I have seen experienced drivers come to Stevens and only go out with a trainer for an abbreviated time table, just so they can observer etc and sign off for.

3) Essentially the training for a new driver (CDL in hand) is as follows:


O1 (Orientation 1):


* 4-days


* Sunday is first day of class. Typically the next day, Monday, morning you go through the physical and drug test.

* You will spend class time hours listening to various departments (Safety, HR, Payroll, Compliance, etc, etc) Note: You will sign a lot of papers <smile> I don't think I signed as many for the military and mortgage combined.

It is painless, just takes time, but is necessary.

* You will also spend a lot of time on the hill (what they refer to it as) driving around their track and backing up etc.

* Eventually you will go out on the road (at night for me) with a few of your classmates, for your road test. He basically observes you and signs a card - you must pass this portion (don't fret, it is not that difficult and they will take you out again if you mess up)

* By Wednesday (around lunch) you are pretty much finishing up (unless they are waiting for background paperwork or any loose ends) The gals that take care of this process are thorough, polite, and quick.

Trust the process, they have had lots of practice

During that afternoon, provided you have your driving test card, meal card and everything completed, you will meet with (forget his name now) and he will sign you in to his system and begin matching students with Trainers. You may leave in hours or in some cases you may not leave till the following day. No biggie, not all Trainers cycle through the Dallas yard at same time, besides you are on the payroll, so enjoy the break. Often they may fly you to hookup with the trainer...

* Your next step is a min of 35-days out on the road to get your miles (min 8000mi student (unless they changed it)), your mountain passes (there are weight reqs also) w/o jake and with jake, all five zones, and bumping your dock in the North East. It goes by quick, focus on your job (learn and observe what the trainer teaches you, they are the BEST) and you will be done before you know it.


BTW - you are assigned a Counselor during your first four days, and he/she keeps track with you to get all your reqs completed


* After completion of the requirements you will come back to Dallas. Depending on what day that is, will determine how fast your start the next portion (it begins on Monday and lasts 3 days).


O2 (Orientation 2):

More classes, a Trip Plan, Backing Test, Road Test, Coupling/Un-coupling, PTI, and I may be forgetting some things....

At completion of this 3-day training segment, you will go back out with another Trainer (think they call them Finish Trainers). This is different than the previous road time.

...back on road for 4-5 weeks (min 7000mi 'truck' not student as before)

This 4-week portion you will be running the truck as if you were solo. By that I mean the Trainer takes a more hands off approach now, and you will do the Trip Planning etc etc

After completion of this portion, you are now ready for SOLO, congratulations and you now start Grad Fleet Training



Grad Fleet Training:

G1 ~ 0 to 30days, your Driver Mgr does 80&#37; and you 20% of planning etc

G2 ~ 30 to 60days, your Driver Mgr does 50% and you 50% of planning etc

G3 ~ 61 to 90days, your Driver Mgr does 20% and you 80% of planning etc



If you are still with me <smile>, I hope this has benefited you some.


Enjoy the training, enjoy the ride, run safe, and run legal.

 

Christoff,

communications buddy...You need an actual CDL to advance, not a permit, which means you have to have passed the driving portion of the tests. Until then, you have to go to a school, or rent a truck and pass the driving test.

 

Well that answered alot thanks ryyus now she wants me to stay in houston and goto school here for three week at hcc

 

Made my drop this morning at Wally world Brundidge AL. Sure wish there was some parking around that DC . Start pestering my DM and Dispatch for my next load...Get me moving, my clock is ticking...

Get a preplan to go and pick up peanuts 120 miles away...

Delivery to Laredo on Wed. good miles, right amount of time, and then they can get me to the yard from there. Takes 2 hours to finally get the actual dispatch, only after I again called dispatch, and reminded them I was on safety hold again...The lack of communication in Dallas is amazing at times.

Get the load assignment as I am pulling into the peanut plant. It is lunch time for them, so after 45 minutes, they start loading me, and 30 minutes later I am done, back on the scale, good, oops.....forgot to do the export paperwork...another 30 minutes pass, now we have all the paper work and down the road I head. Made it to a Florida rest area for the night, as my 14 expired. Will be in Laredo on Wed.

Then I will rinse and repeat with dispatch to get to the yard.