Stevens Transport - Dallas, Tx.

Hey morphEQ, good info. I just passed a Stevens T660 today, are they replacing the T2000's and Petes' with these? It was a black one so I assume it was an Alliance lease driver.

 

Dryver, yeah they are phasing the t2 as far as I know. Also now that Caterpillar is gone they are now all Cummins. Good thing now is that we get full horsepower and torque because if Stevens turns em down it'll void the warranty. They still cut the speed back for those under 2yr exp to 62mph. This is even if you lease. O/O are excluded of course. I got a Quallcomm MSG other day "Due to economic changes we are no longer accepting outside contractors". My opinion is and it is just that, an opinion, is that when we don't lease but buy our own trucks we are paying outside of Stevens therefore lessening the income to Stevens. They don't like this. About two years ago the Alliance thing really exploded. Alot of leases are coming to completion and drivers like myself would rather own than pay 1100 dollars a week for truck payments. Stopping outside contractors definately curtails that thought. I have yet to get anyone to confirm/deny it yet from the office staff. Also, i am hearing alot of the contracts are coming up for renewal and my opinion is they are gonna have to drop rates some more to stay viable in the marketplace. There was rumor going around that we dropped our Tropicana contract by 10c/mi but doubled up on outgoing loads/wk. Again only what I hear from insiders on the yard. I'm willing to bet the company is hitting some major changes and the constant influx of students us to help keep costs low due to the fact new drivers only get paid 26c/mi to start. Mind you as isaid above those were my opinions but I have yet to hear anyone from the main office confirm/deny when I ask. All i get is a blank stare or "I dunno". Hope this answered you and informed those who may be lurking.

 

Hey MorphEQ.
After reading your last post. Are you considering buying a truck from Stevens? Or have you looked into the possibility?

"My opinion is and it is just that, an opinion, is that when we don't lease but buy our own trucks we are paying outside of Stevens therefore lessening the income to Stevens."

I did talk with an OO I met in the Stevens Trainer class and he told me he was earning alot more as an OO. Said he earns more as an OO running solo then a Lease Operator with a student. Sounded almost too good to be true. I was wondering what you might have heard.

 

IT is too GOOD TO BE TRUE!

 

Thanks MorphEQ, you said you are paying $1100 a week for you Alliance truck? Is that correct?

 

What I have been able to get confirmed, was that Stevens will not be hiring a owner/operator with his own truck that does not presently work for Stevens. A lease operator can purchase a Stevens Tractor and become an Owner/Operator. So in my opinion it is due to the economy, and the fact that the current used truck market is so flooded with trucks that a person can purchase a tractor for $15 grand right now, and Stevens wants to charge $40 grand for the same tractor a T2000.

I presently pay $575 per week base for my lease truck, with all the insurance, and no milage charges for the week, $688.60 per week 07 T2000.

I will be on the yard next week discussing my options with Cat, (alliance truck lady), to see what my options are, as I approach the end of my lease.

An O/O who has no truck payment will make more than a lease operator with a student. A smart O/O makes good money with a truck payment, and a truck payment is less than a lease payment also.

I have noticed a contraction of freight for the last 6 weeks, and more mistakes being made in dallas dispatch, and a higher stress level in the voices when I do call in. The economy not recovering is starting to affect Stevens operations, and all the money they have been spending the past year, is starting to catch up with them. (again my observation, and not verified knowledge)

 

It ain't Black=Alliance, Blue=Company.
It is Black=All Peterbilts and KW660s, Blue= everything else.

 

I have to brag a little now
Just a week ago they took my old 07 Pete with 436000 miles and gave me almost new KW660 with 49000 miles with cummings in it!
7.7 avg mpg doing 62 all the way from FL to MD on I95 with 81280lbs gross.
It's so quiet inside my wife doesn't have to yell at me on the phone anymore. (although she still is)

 

not true, I drive a blue t2000 and am an alliance driver. Today, I had a company driver in a black pete behind me in the fuel line. With the current economy, they are not repainting the trucks, just renumbering them.

 

congratulations Stanko. Everyone I have talked to loves the 660 with the cummins. Your motor is not even broke in yet.

I am returning to the yard, with 420000 on this old blue kenworth t2000. I wonder if Cat has a truck for me yet? I just hope the isx holds up. I have seen many troubles reported from isx owners on other boards.