Stevens Transport - Dallas, Tx.

I think we all would like good and fair information on companies that are hiring us and requesting thousands from us. I just feel that the video shows one of desperation rather than a "Welcome to our organization and this is what to expect from us" type saying. First impressions are forever!! This company is making money hand over foot. The CO location alone requires you to arrive with $400 on top of the loan $3,000 plus loan. So you'd think (EXPECT) that they'd at least have lockers for your to store your personal stuff in. Don't treat me (or you) like a bum off the street that's desperate for work! I myself am retired, I'm just tired of the corporate world and IT and wanted to make a career change while I'm still young enough to get with a good company and ride it out.

For your viewing pleasure. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYdzKydk67k

 

The training school in colorado is a private business, separate from stevens.... yes they train for stevens, and other companies, and you can thank the legislature of texas that you can not attend the actual stevens school in Dallas tx. Must be a resident of texas to attend. So Stevens partnered up with schools across the country, to provide training. If you go to colorado, you will be attending Careers World Wide. http://www.cdltrainer.com/

 

Understood! And I know other students from other companies attend as well. Then Stevens should allow it's students an alternate third party training site or decline to do business with them. The "it's not my company" excuse is not acceptable. I read somewhere on the forum that it's a scam and from the looks of it, it is!

It's not the end of the world but why would you ride students across various points of the country and when they arrive it's only one shower and nowhere to lock your valuables? C'mon!!

 

Thanks GO GO, I really couldn't agree more,Stevens would certainly expect you to make yourself look respectable and clean when you knock on the customer's door because really,by extension "you are the face of Stevens"..ok,and quite understandable,but by the same inference,this disease ridden looking crap hole they stick you in,even though as stated elsewhere in this thread,it is a separate company,well they are also the "face of Stevens",if this is what you can expect as a new driver..I don't know..if it was my company I would be ashamed to invite recruits to a dump like this. Thanks for a graphic lesson in what kind of hospitality you can expect,I'm so glad my instincts and good fortune kept me away from these guys,like you said before,it's not so much the crummy lodging,it's the FACT they expect you to stay there,it does not speak well at all of their concern for the recruit's frame of mind or well being,as it looks rather infested.
Thanks again-GOD bless

 

There are two bathrooms in the house and yes one of the showers needed retiled when I was there. the water was hot. nice thing about the bunks is you have to bring your own bedding. I enjoyed my time up there and the guys and one gal who train you are good people. You also don't spend much time in a class room. Just keep in mind they just give you the basics. the real stuff happens when your out on the road.

They pay you to be trained and put you up in a hotel? (not a motel?) and you never pay it back? wow what a great Deal almost sounds to good to be true. Its funny but I don't recall you saying what company is doing this. these trucking companies do train a lot of people and they know that most will not even make it a year. if it was easy you wouldn't see ads in the Sunday paper every weekend.

As I look back I'm happy that I did it but even happier that im done with all that training and living with a stranger in that truck for 6 weeks. I also feel for the trainers I don't know how they do it again and again. They Put up with all sorts of personalities and the extra pay is not enough to make it worth it.

 

Really?? You want to play this game?! First off I wasn't planning on checking into the Waldorf Astoria! I understand this is trucking for heavens sake, smelling like diesel and oil, expect to get dirty!! My point is have more than 2 showers for a house full of people. OR have lockable lockers were you can at least lock your valuables. And not that I'm not a people person (I am believe me), but I'm not in the berthing or barracks any more where I have to listen to everyone's snoring or unsavory BO. We're adults, treat as such! I may want some time to reflect and wind down on my own and not hear the annoying voice I've heard all day when I want to sleep!

Now to the school part to which you don't believe could possibly be true. And for the record I'll even tell you that I still did not elect to go with them because there's a co in the state to which I'm relocating to that has a terminal in Sumner. Ok, the co That I was talking about was Knight. No they do not put you up at Hilton or Marriott either. My room was reserved with Quality Inn and suites in Indy. I called and checked and yes I was booked for a single room with open dates. I could give the address to show the pics but I'm typing from my cell now. Let's just say, it's NOT a mote, nor is it MTV's "Cribs" setting either.

And yes, KNIGHT pays you while you're in orientation ($150)! You're required to pay $100 for your drug screen and physical!! And that's to pay whatever Doctor or Clinic for their service. Meals (breakfast and lunch) paid for!! If you successfully make it past orientation, your paid $400wk flat until your OTR training is complete and you have the keys to your truck! How or why this is unbelievable to you is beyond me. Maybe because you took the bait at Stevens or Career world or whatever??

I'm still not going with KNIGHT because I need to get to the pacific NW and the company that can get me there is in Sumner. They too also offer KNIGHTS boarding policy. As for paid training I'm unsure but it's still better than being welcomed to the pig stye with auto furniture in the living room! SMH

 

Pam and PRIME offer the deal he mentioned,Prime is the better deal of the 2,don't know about any of the others

 

I never went to Stevens. I went to JBS Carriers. I misunderstood what you meant when you are talking orientation most companies pay you for that. I thought you meant that while you were getting your CDL they paid you and put you in a motel for 3 weeks. I'm sorry for making you so mad I was simply giving you my hands on Experience. I did get paid for my orientation and received a weekly pay while I was with my trainer. Instead financing my CDL schooling I paid cash 2,800. I used to live in Washington state and loved it there. If you want a good trucking/training company up there I would go to MAY Trucking they are Based out of Oregon Good Luck to you at whatever place you choose.

 

No worries Bro! I wasn't upset although it may have seemed that way.Thanks for the advice as well. At this time I'm still undecided as to what option I'll take. Here's my dilemma. I'm currently on the East Coast, the GF is in Washington (Bellingham) and is wanting me there ASAP. Problem is Washington has some funky trucking regulations that's kinda forcing me to get my CDL while I'm here first. Although I initially said I wasn't going with Knight right now it looks like they're my best choice. I looked into Swift who's recruiter also told me about the terminal in Sumner which is ideal and all I would have to do is a Terminal swap, on Top of their totally free training through military scholarship program. But I don't want to be stuck at their traing facily for 3 weeks in Richmond Va and not get paid. So at the moment Knight have what I'm looking for.

As a newbie, I figure the first year will be a learning experience with any company I choose, so I have to go with the one who's going to give me what I want or need in this case initially.

 

Having scoured the Washington State DMV requirements for obtaining a CDL, i find no differences than getting one in Texas. You keep saying there are "funky" Washington state requirements. If you can't get one in Washington, you would probably have difficulty in getting one from any state.