12 years off, going to start back Steven's style..

To the Stevens trainers watching this thread..

What is okay to bring. Im flying to Dallas so I am trying to plan my load accordingly. Is an Army duffel bag to big? Should I think smaller?

Thanks in advance for the responses.

-KC

 

Im going out of my mind im so ready. Wish I could be starting orientation tomorrow.

Silly, it may be. Im just an excited 41 year old kid happy to get BACK to what I love.

 

So far so good. Sun, Min, and Tues are in the books. Get to grab all my gear and head in tomorrow morning for the last bit and then, I guess, the wait for a trainer shall begin.

So far everything has gone as expected. Very professional organization. Strict, to say the least, but I dont mind that. We do need to be safe and smart and it appears these guys have that all laid out.

Just a matter of keeping a good attitude (which I have seen the majority if my classmates do not seem to have unfortunately), and patience of course. Lol

Almost there!!

 

Well...it was the best of times..it was the worst of times. All in all. I enjoyed myself. I drove for Stevens for nearly a year until an opportunity arose that would keep me home nightly and fill my bank account about 5 times faster.

Steven's is like any other mega-carrier that takes newbies to the road..some make it..a lot do not. I had a good driver manager and support system. I just could not figure out how to manage it correctly because of a lot of down time.
As soon as I was eligible, I went "Alliance" which is their contractor division. I got a really good truck and started out doing very well..but as time went on I noticed, as did my bank account, that I was not making any money. I tried and tried..talked to other contractors..did my best to tweak what I was doing.

In the end, I spoke up to some higher ups. They were offering a lot...but I think I waited too long. I was about $1200 in the hole to them because of my truck payment and the lack of miles I was experiencing. Had I held out to mid-July I could have become a trainer. I did that in my first 10 years driving before my break with Werner. I just could not wait that long. My family was suffering..I was behind on child support and having to accept help from my father to just survive. I did not want to carry on that way soI looked elsewhere.

Now things are far better. Still the normal bumps in the road with my truck breaking and getting it fixed...but I am purchasing, not leasing, a truck from New Line Transport (A division of Cemex) and not only am I doing more than surviving, I am only 3 months in and paying back those that helped me to survive.

I would recommend Stevens to any new driver. They are a good company that takes care of their fleet. You just have to be smarter than I was. I would not recommend the lease program, though that is just on MY experience. I have friends who are successful..although most are indeed, trainers.