Stevens Transport

Well, I got released from shutdown and headed to Denver. Needed to make a pit stop on the way and got stuck in snow! Had to have a wrecker come pull me out. Was about 5 hours late to delivery. Then I got a call to do a favor for a guy who needed to be in a wedding last night, seems he had a load that delivered in Denver at 0400 this morning. So I said I would take it for him. I was at that receiver for almost 10 hours! Now I'm back in Limon on my way to the meat patch, got a load going to Scenectady, NY. WooHoo!

 

Hi - I've been following this and other threads, particularly as they apply to Stevens - since Monday I'll be at their CDL school just NE of Denver.

I've had most of my questions answered by reading the various threads, but what I'm curious about is: During this 5 week driver training (and later the 3 week training) - how much stuff should I bring with me? I have a sturdy tote and one of those rolling duffel bags and my laptop/briefcase combo. Is this too much?

Not sure how often I can wash clothes.

Also, I want to eat healthy and I am thinking about ordering a Nutri-system plan because those foods do not require refrigeration. Is that going to take up too much room?

I drove Class B/Hazmat for a few years in SoCal but I've never had Class A CDL, so I really have no idea.

Any input is greatly appreciated.

 

Chances are anything you bring will be riding in your bunk with you. The second training has been extended to 4 weeks. I worry about eating healthy once you get into your own truck where all the storage is yours. Not to say you can't find healthy food out there, but I would not try to pack all that plus luggage. Out of 5 different trainers trucks I was on, only 1 had space for me to store stuff that wasn't on my bunk with me. I didn't know Stevens had a school in CO, maybe it's just a school, and they accept graduates?

 

Background checks.. Funny how newcomers get sent home after paying a $100 fee for a background check because they found something wrong. That's a joke! I've been to quite a few jobs were background checks were conducted and I had to pay nothing. "Zilch"! Not that I'm worried about it because I have never had a record or put in jail.

As for references, if one puts a job in. One that they have been working at for an x amount of years. And a supervisor or manager you have trouble with gives you a bad reference. I don't see why that should disqualify you for a future job. In my opinion thats downright criminal. Example: say I'm working over 10 years at said employer. The manager and I don't see eye to eye on every issue. I've gotten written up for expressing my rights. The said manager puts said discipline in personal file. Never been late to work always reported in for work, been awarded merits at work. doesn't these things count? I'm sure a copy of why one was disqualified can be requested. Anyone can be disqualified just because o anything. Come on for sakes, there is no such thing as a perfect employee. Besides, If I had to pay for my background check. I'd say goodbye to them right there. I don't have anything to hide. I just got a problem paying for something only to be disqualified without reason. Just because??

Thats one of many problems with driving trucks. OTR companies have scams a million just to make a dollar on some poor soul. They know people are looking for work so they play games. especially with those who don't know. Look at the process from the start. They give you a pre-hire over the phone. You buy bus or airfare ticket. Then you come to said place at said time. Run a check on you after you pay $100.00. Then tell you are not qualified. That stinks!! Can someone say SCAM!!! The funny thing is people are paying into this. They lure one into a trap from the start. Then you're not even an employee till you go solo after on the road for weeks and weeks. I don't know what to say. This all stinks to hi H****n. People don't lets companies use you just cause you need work. I know you have to start somewhere. But getting off on the wrong foot? That just makes no sense to me. The USPS, Fedex, UPS, etc are always hiring. They maybe stressful but atleast they don't bury you at the beginning of the hiring process. They all run checks and don't charge for it. Even if you have a record they give you a shot at employment. This OTR is a joke! I just don't understand why anyone would allow themselves to be beat worse than dirt.

 

The (3 week) school is for getting your CDL only, it's in Keenesburg, CO just a short distance from Denver. I'll have my CDL in hand prior to heading to Dallas for the orientation, etc. I don't have the name of the school, only that it (at the least) is a partner to Stevens.

After that school it's 4 days in Dallas, 5 weeks in a truck, etc. Thanks Fozzy I looked at the sheet they gave me and it did say 4-5 weeks finish driving after the second 4 days in Dallas. I've been reading these forums so much that "3 weeks" got stuck in my head.

So - I KNOW this sounds naive, BUT, the bunk must be big enough to sleep in, therefore it sounds like I'd have the room to put a few totes - you know, the size you buy for 6 bucks at Wal-Mart - and then these totes could sit in the passenger floorboard area at night? They are new and perfectly clean so I can't see why that would be a problem, but then again I have no idea what I'm talking about.

I know it's a real noobie question but I had to ask

BTW I live just north of Colorado Springs and have been enjoying the whiteout conditions as well.

 

I start class at houston community college for in 24 hours I'm very nervous my recruiter told me the first day is til noon or so in the classroom then we will be sent for physicals and drugscreens I will keep everyone updated on this course in houston. also the new $100 fee is put on a promisary note when you go to houston also according to my recruiter the contract is 1yr and the cost for the school is forgiven at the completion of the contract. So as goin to houston seems to be the better deal you pay $25 a week for the physical and drugscreen and the $100. So again I'm hoping everything goes smoothly and my new career isn't goin to put too much stress on my family my 2yr old has become very attached to me since I have been home more since july and the misses well I told her not to expect any notice when I was coming home she is 22 I hope it works out its hard for old fellas to find a good young lady in this day and time. Lol

 

Rule #1: don't believe anything a recruiter tells you until you see it in writing. Their only job is to get you there. Period. Then it comes down to he said she said.

 

I've been in lurking mode for the past few weeks. I just haven't had time to get on here to post and the only connection I've had is my iPhone. But I'm reading about these alleged "Stevens Schools" that are located in Denver and a community college in Houston and it doesn't add up. I'm not saying that the company isn't charging a $100 processing fee now because I don't know. But I've done a lot of research on Stevens, and even spent 1-1/2 days there before being put on med-hold and I never heard about any of this. As far as I know, the only school Stevens owns and runs is at their Dallas terminal. If you're going anywhere other than the Dallas headquarters, then you are just going to an independent CDL course with a possibility of prehire with them.

Nearly all the independent schools operate in similar fashions-they would all like the prospective student to think they are affiliated with a certain company or have some formal agreement. In truth, you can arrange for your own placement after getting your CDL with just as much success (maybe more). As Fozzy said, don't believe everything you're told on the phone. The recruiter's job is to put butts in seats. Once you get to a company, any company, you will most likely see things in writing that contradict some of what you were told on the phone. It's just the nature of the business.

Do your homework. It will pay off in the long run.

 

Stevens does have a school in Houston, and a school close to Denver Colorado, even have stevens trucks and trailers.

do your homework, not everything you understand the recruiter to say happens, and many things they don't tell you do happen.

 

I started my first day of class today and it is at a community college the instructor is from the college but the course is only for stevens prehires to get the 120 hours of training the first day was all paperwork and the 1yr agreement and even though it wasn't talked aboutt we signed a 30 month contract it had no repayment date kinda fishy but the stevens rep that was there assured us that if we stayed a year we would only have to pay back the155 for the physical and processing fee. They have stevens trucks and 53 foot trailers but the one thing that troubled me was the all stucents go to road test on the 18th when the course is over on the 20th what happens to those that don't get it by then. I can't wait to get behind the wheel I rushed to the dmv today to take my written test and failed air brakes but begged the lady to let me take it again the second time I missed one so passed all the written ready to do some driving.