Starting with Stevens (couple questions tho)

It is what it is.

The reasoning behind it is while out with your trainer you learn what you can but some things may slip through. Especially stuff like paperwork and dealing with shippers/recievers.

So you go out with another trainee that had a different trainer so if theres something you didnt "get" or just forgot the 2 of you together should be able to work through it.

 

Exactly, two heads are better than one.

 

You do about 5 days in the classroom then a minimum of 35 days out with a trainer where you are required to complete several tasks: 3 major mountain grades, one without a jake, two with. 8500 minimum miles (your driving, not the truck mileage), back into a dock in the northeast, drive 4 regions of the country. (The Pacific Northwest is no longer a requirement).<br>Then you return to the yard for another 3 days classroom and qualification, then out either with a finish trainer for two weeks or with another driver for two weeks.<br>Back for another 3 days, assignment to your own truck and solo under guarded supervision in the Grad fleet for three months. You're required to drive 15,000 miles in grad fleet and have no major problems before becoming a 'regular' driver.

 

What exactly is the purpose of this? I thought using the jake is how you're supposed to go down a mountain...

 

Because you need to know how to do it without one. What if your Jake failed? And dont laugh because it happened to me. A Jake is a mechanical device and is subject not to work.

 

Ah...Gotcha...ok.

 

you don't go down mountains in bad weather with a jake. if you choose to go down a mountain too fast with a jake, you better know how to brake or you'll meet your maker. Just a couple reasons to learn how to drive properly.

 

Thanks!

 

I thought it was two without the jake and one with.

Either way, as stated it's good to know how.

I hauled missles over the Alps in wintertime in Germany as a teenager in the Army so mountains didn't frighten me, but to be perfectly honest, I actually learned more about descending mountains with Stevens than I did in the Military.

 

I am at the Stevens Transport school in Colorado right now and I went to sage in Casper WY!! I have to say I fell like I am learning alot more then at Sage. If you can, try to go to this school!! Sounds like Stevens like guys from this school, but I could be wrong.