Stevens Transport aviary

I wish good morning to all from Kansas City. Seven days remain and my life as a trainee will be over. Some high and low lights since my past report.

Sat for 24 hours waiting to be unloaded in Conyer, GA. All drivers sat for 24 hours and the drivers that deliver there on a regular basis said that this customer always takes that much time to unload.

No other way to put this other than to say I had an accident. We missed a turn and went into a strip mall parking lot to turn around. It was dark and I went over a glorified concrete planter and pow, there went the landing gear. It was supposed to be a drop and hook. No way to drop so customer did a live unload, we took the trailer to trailer repair place, got rid of it there and picked up a new one down the road. No delays, no real hassle, at least not then. Still have to go to the yard and face the music. I really wrecked it too, Dang

On the same trip we stayed at TA east in Ontario. This was my third trip to Cali. Walked to the mall, spent most of the day shopping, went to the movies and in general had a lovely time.

Both trainers have been great. Both very professional, Both good guys. This second phase of trainer is flying by. Oh, I have learned how to drive a truck by the way. Hardly use the clutch anymore, backing makes sense now. Still need more practice/experience driving backwards but I am not worried about it anymore.

Looks like I am going to end my journy in Tampa. Trainer plans to be home on my last day on the truck. Plan is for me to fly back to Mesquite on the 22nd. No Thanksgiving for me. I could go home but I have worked and sacrifice too much to delay getting my own rig. Plan is for me to get my truck and hit the road asap. The trainee pay is killing me and Santa will be rearing his ugly head before I know it.

I am planing some real time off around the new year but until then I am going to keep rolling.

Be safe.

 

Alamorich,
Congrats (almost). Grad Fleet will be fun.
As for the accident, plan on an extra day in the yard when you come in. Safety movies, interviews and another driving test.
But they will work with you.
Those dang trailers jump out and bite you sometimes. They are sooooo long!
Best advice I can give you going forward is to TAKE YOUR TIME! Moving thru parking lots, parking, backing...slower means more time to spot a problem before it becomes an accident.
And don't worry about Christmas...Santa shops at Dollar General too!

 

you will have to road test then most likely go out with a trainer to learn the stevens way of going down a mountain, u will need 2 major mountains, and north east and west

 

i drive a new pete 387,only has 50,000 miles on it.i dont get to michigan much,because we have a lot of drivers that live in michigan.the loads that we have going to that area r used to get those drivers home.as far as the school,good training,they are kinda military like in a sense,but the reason is,if you cant handle the school,your not gonna be able to handle it out here on the road.its a tough life,its not a job as they say,but a lifestyle.they try to weed the weak ones out before they spend to much time and money on them.but if you can get through one year you can make it out here.one of the best things about stevens is we drive some of the nicest best maintained equipment on the road.good luck.i.e. dont expect a new pete for your first truck,you have to earn that,pay your dues and work your way up.

 

finally home guys,sitting on my bed while i type this chillaxin,still have to deliver the hershey load in the morn and to the yard for that mess,but not a big deal,im here every five to seven weeks im used to it.im gonna take 8 days off to recharge and then back out w/a finish student.my last guy wore me out,lol.but we made it through.two hands and keep it between the lines.5700 miles solo the last two weeks,not bad,would have been better,but had to sit a day waiting on a load home.all is good.

 

emulsified is right,slow is good.one of the few rules i have on my truck for students is,1st or 2nd gear in all truck stops and shippers and recievers.one of the main problems with new drivers is they want to move to fast.i have to constantly tell them to slow down,easier to correct a problem the slower the truck is moving.alamorich,learn from it and dont make the same mistake again.we all make mistakes just dont repeat them.good luck

 

Kirk Cullum how long have you worked for stevens? whats the good or bad things about stevens? What is your fav truck that stevens drives? How do you like the new trailers that stevens is getting? Of all the starter companys out there is stevens the best choice for newbe drivers?

 

I popped in and out of laredo again today...I always drop, or deliver, and on to my next load... I just don't understand the guys that want to sit there. The "driver lounge" smelled of paint, lots of paint...

Setting in pearsall tonight, had some good BBQ, and then it is off to the great northwest!!!! Sure wish I had the hours on my log book to make the delivery. Repower coming, somewhere in NM, and then maybe I can get home.

Almorich, good job, even with the accident...this was a minor one..plan on the extra day or two, and another driver around the city with a red shirt...I know, I did it too.

Yukon, it is great with all the questions, but many have been answered throughout this thread. Slow down, take it easy, and relax...

 

Almorich has already done all that Teamdriver2. He knows the Stevens way.

 

NO one company is the best choice for all newbie drivers. It will depend on your attitude, where you live, what you expect, what are you willing to put up with....

A trailer is a trailer... the new ones are lighter, so they can put more product in them and still be under 80,000.

Bad for stevens and all OTR companies is HOME TIME...you are never home, unless the truck is your home. Stevens will tell you 5 weeks, plan on 7 weeks out.