Stevens Transport - Dallas, Tx.

Read over this thread. The training program is explained in detail here many times.
You can take your truck home even as a company driver but you'll have to park it in a secure and Stevens approved location. I have a feeleng that it won't be your driveway.

 

Stank0,

I am guessing that the 7 days off in the last 8 months was by your choice, correct? I can also understand why. In doing all my figures for the Alliance lease program, it seems as if takes basically 2000 miles/week to pay your overhead such as lease payments, fuel, etc., and then the miles driven above 2000 become your take home income (before taxes). So one could see that if you take 4-5 days off every month, that it is going to take basically 4-5 days of driving to catch back up out of the negative. So if let's say I'd take 4-5 days off every 4 weeks, then basically I'd run the first week back out to get even, and then the next 3 weeks would be driven for profit, sound about right? Thanks.

 

Pretty much right. I'm counting $2200 miles/wk to break even just to be safe.
Also, if you're taking hometime off too often, you'll be told in business class, it's not good for your relationship with dispatches. Whether that's true or not I can't tell.

 

Ok, thanks Stank0, I believe I have a fairly decent understanding of the program now. However, you say that "if you're taking hometime off too often, you'll be told in business class, it's not good for your relationship with dispatches" - I sure hope that these dispatchers don't think that taking 3 days off after 3 weeks on the road or 4 days off after 4 weeks on the road is too much, and would strain my relationship with the dispatchers. If that's the case then they definitely have never been out on the road. I have known some drivers who want to take off 3-4 days every 2 weeks, and I'm pretty sure that would be a recipe for failure, or atleast not making much money, being an Alliance Lease Driver. But 4 days off after 4 weeks on the road will be a MUST for me. I've been on the road before and know that this is a must to keep from getting completely burned out, unless of course you hate your family and don't want to be home anyway. (I sure like all these different little smiley faces) When I was out there running, I wasn't happy unless I got 3000 miles a week. The Stevens literature and website states that there is ample freight to easily average that as a solo driver. If there isn't , well then being an Alliance Lease Driver just wouldn't seem to be that good a program. With 3000 miles a week (which if the average length of haul is 1500+ miles , should be easy to do) then I can really see the appeal of being an Alliance Lease Driver. I'm sure I could average 6.5 MPG , I did that back when I drove a 94 model International 9200, 10-speed with a 365hp Detroit series 60. I'm sure that on rigs that are 13-14 years newer, that advanced engine technology would be good for at least .5-1.0 mpg improvement. (I did all my 'figuring' using 6.5mpg) .

Another quick question- I saw on the Stevens 'Alliance Leasing' site that they have a "Fuel Price Protection" program for their lease drivers that guarantees drivers a maximum per gallon that they would never have to pay over. Can you explain that program? Again Thanks Stank0 and have a good one, hope the road is treating you well.(filling up with 'green!)

 

That's simply the fuel surcharge + Stevens Discount at your fuel stops (optistop). You shouldn't pay more than $1.25/gal they say.

 

Jerry, I have to respectfully disagree with you here. As a solo Alliance lease operator, I do NOT have to hammer it each and every week. If I did that, I would be blowing all my money out the smoke stack. It is about learning to control ones costs, the fuel mainly, but also the setting time.

I only need 1300 miles per week to pay all my truck expenses. Everything above that is my money. I set aside $75 per week for when I want to take home time, which I take 7 days off, every 6 weeks. My kids are all grown, and the wife is a distant memory.

The #### from Stevens is tolerable, sometimes the #### from the shippers is harder to deal with.

 

I have to correct a little mistake I put here saying that I have to run 2200 miles/wk to break even. Last two trips I scanned were only 1800 miles alltogether and I took home after all expenses but before tax $480. Sorry, my bad.

 

Thanks again Stank0, next question I have for you is approximately how much of your 'take home' pay should one set aside for taxes? Since all of the lease payments and I believe fuel costs are tax deductible, how much of your actual 'take home' pay is taxable income? Thanks.