Anyone here completed a lease with STEVENS?

Well more power to you!

Now I've read many threads about stevens (out of pure boredom since I'm 12 hours early for delivery which - according to my DM - was a drop. It isn't. What a surprise. Unfortunately, mistakes and lies happen more than one would like) and you are one loud one in a bunch of advocates for Stevens.
I've got one thing to say to you - all Stevens fanboys.
Wait for at least two years before you voice your opinions about how Stevens is a fantastic company to work for.

Same as you, I was praising Stevens from the beginning and trying to make excuses for them saying it's the driver's fault if he isn't making it.
I'm with stevens over 3 years and I'm cured.
I've got enough of Dallas lying to me on every possible occasion.
Safety? A joke. While they MAKE it LOOK like it's a big deal, it really isn't.
They're just covering their butts so they can say, if something happens, "we did everything in our power. It's the driver's fault".
Which it is because he wanted to make them happy in hope he'll get a nice load next time.
You complaint and want to run legal? Ok. We'll run you legal. But there miraculously won't be any loads in the area for 4 days (happened to me in LA) and then you'll finally get a load with 6 pick-ups and ridiculous miles (for the time you've already wasted). Or a 600 miles load and 5 days to do it.
If they want to punish you or "teach a lesson" they won't hesitate to do so.

Want to ask about weather? I quit doing that 2 years ago after I've been told that if he knew how's the weather gonna be in twelve hours, he wouldn't be working for Stevens. He can tell me only what's the weather NOW. well, that's helpful. I can SEE the weather NOW out my window jackbutt.

I don't want to make my rant longer. If you like to work for Stevens, good for you. Myself, I can't wait 'till my lease is up in March.

If you want to hear more, I've got more. I.E. about how come after taking 11 days off for Christmas, I'm TODAY still $1000 in the hole... about after I switched trucks and got the new T700, they charged me over $3000 for repairs on the old one... (nothing was wrong with it when I turned it in)

TLeaHeart: Yes you're right. If something major happens to your truck, they'll give you a new one. But unless it's covered by warranty, YOU will have to PAY for repairs. I hope you just forgot to mention that little detail. Otherwise I'd have to think you're twisting facts and are not truthful.

 

Now for people who I'm SURE will respond that it's my fault and I'm bad driver and such nonsense.
I'm running non-stop the whole 11. I drive ON REGULAR BASIS 650-680 miles in my 11. Got close to 1000 miles in 24 hr period. I'll run 715 miles in my 11 if I can/am able to (road conditions/speed limits). Legally. I can run illegally too. Many times was forced to do so.
I log what I need to to make compliance happy and I'm not wasting time anywhere.
That's only FYI before you fanboys will start making judgements.

Edit: 2009 I made $36,000 BEFORE TAXES and was home for 6 days. The whole year! I can't really blame my wife (now ex-wife) she divorced my arse.

 

So your bumping up against the governor on the truck? Thats about the only way you can run 715 miles in 11 hours. Fuel mileage must be in the toilet.

 

My facts are not twisted. I have mentioned many other places about the cost of turning in a lease truck, and how a major repair will bankrupt a lease driver. Guess you just have not read those other posts. I post my actual miles, and what I make with Stevens.

I have NEVER ran illegal or been forces or even asked too. It is your choice to run illegal, and your butt. Running the speeds and miles you claim, no wonder you are going broke.

Never have I had the attitude about the weather you claim you have had. The few times I have called in they have been helpful with what is ahead of me. It is the drivers responsibility to know the weather ahead, and with a smart phone, or lap top, weather is easily accessibility. And since you post here, you have one or the other.

Your DM says it is a drop, what do the BOL say? Yes communication is a problem at times. What does the load assignment say?

I have been with Stevens for 2 years and 10 months. I enjoy my job, have my complaints about Stevens. As far as safety, they have backed me every time I have needed them too. So saying it is a joke.. I disagree.

The difference is, I am self reliant, and do not expect a desk jockey to tell me when to drive my truck, or when to delivery, I verify the information given. U don't like stevens, that is your opinion. Back it with facts, which you have in a few examples.

It is your own fault that you are in the hole after christmas and time off. It is called money management. Any good business man knows that the expenses continue even when you are not working, and plans for that, and sets aside money just for that reason.

 

If I've had CAT, that would be entirely true. But with Cummings the speed is not the determining factor. Other factors play bigger role like weight, wind, road conditions, hills... surely I don't have to explain.

In fact, I've found the faster I'm going, the better MPGs I get.
Generally I run between 6.0-7.5. I measure every fillup.

I was trying to run slower, the famous 58 I was used to with CAT, but the difference wasn't that significant and I couldn't run as many miles.
The difference is almost 100 miles every 11 which nicely makes up for slightly higher MPGs and then some.

 

Sorry I was bored but not THAT bored to read every post in this forum.

I have NEVER ran illegal or been forces or even asked too. It is your choice to run illegal, and your butt. Running the speeds and miles you claim, no wonder you are going broke. [/QUOTE]

Lucky you.

Hey, I know how to get weather information from various sources.
You missed the point. I was saying that Stevens is on your butt about calling the "weather master" (what a ridiculous term here) so he can tell you to find out by yourself.
What's the point of even bothering to call and wait in line 25 minutes if he can only tell you what you already know?

You must be kidding me. Since when is that information whether it's a drop or live available on BOL??? They must be giving you different kind of BOLs than they give me.
Load assignment is the same story. Very rarely it says directly "it's a drop" Usually you've got to guess. Sometimes you guess right, sometimes wrong.

Safety as a department I don't have problems with (mostly).
I was talking about the whole outfit. They preaching safety on every step you're on the yard on one hand, on the other they're pushing you, well maybe not you, they pushing me to keep running. If I tell my DM there is bad weather ahead, I can't make it there safely, he'll tell me that the snowstorm already dissipated, ice melted and flood receded.
They ase not on same page there.

What kind of examples you want to hear?

True that. Unfortunately I couldn't. But my point was it shouldn't take almost a whole month to get oneself out of the hole for taking 11 days off.

Yes, I do not like Stevens anymore. I thought they were just ok and good company to start with to gain your experience. Also definitely this is a company for people who don't mind to be on the road for months.

Now I've got my experience and now I'm working on getting hired by company which pays .40cpm, I'll be an employee so insurance, 401k, vacation pay and so on... AND I'll be home 2 days every 7.
Beat that Stevens fans.

 

I just read what kokot posted to my new Trainer, and he said that it sounded very accurate to him. He said he has been asked to run illegally at times to.

Well, yesterday was very interesting to say the least. It was realy only the second dayI have spent with this trainer.
The day started with him calling Stevens HQ and telling them that his next trip to the yard he was turning in the keys and going back to company side. He has been leasing with Stevens for 8 years and had just gotten this new Pete 387 recently. He has put 60,000 miles on it so far. He told them that with the higher truck payment, he DEF fluid, and having to buy Anti Gel for this ultra low sulfer diesel, that he could make more as a company driver. (with 8 yrs exp he would get 35 cpm) and that he had several offers from other companies for 14 cpm more that Stevens.

They called him back 3 times over the next hour and got him to wait on doing that, as they said they were getting ready to change the lease program because of issues like this. I guess we will see what happens.

He told me latter that when he started the program 8 yrs ago he was netting 80 to 90 K per yr, but now was down to 40 K

 

Yes you're right you condescending a-hole. But there is also a thing called life. Things happen one has no control over. And they usually coming in bunches. You know... like your wife is divorcing you, they're dropping your homeowner insurance and won't reinstate until you fix all issues and surely you agree that this can create nice vortex in your savings account.
And can you please tell me mr. Smartypants how is one supposed to take care of things when one is supposed to be on the road all the time.

I really wish you'd go through some nasty crap so you'll realize how ignorant and dumb you are.
Think before you point your dirty finger on anyone.
And let me know how is your money management coming then.

 

I have a buddy that has his own newer late model truck and was wanting to know if there are any operators that are leased with them and if so does company and l/o get first choice. He is concened that he will get the left overs. Also can he become a trainer if he has is own rig and get as many miles as they will throw at him.

 

Is this idiot still hanging around.