Stevens Transport - Dallas, Tx.

I understand completely. It's the feeling I get when I'm watching a movie and a computer in the movie has to make beeping noises for every character to load a web page.

As for weather and Jakes, a little knowledge of stevens policy will help you there. We don't use them on snow, in the rain, or on a wet road. Since jakes only work on one side of one axle, they can quickly ruin your whole day if you hit an icy or oily spot.

All stevens drivers have experienced at least two major mountains without jakes. Needless to sY, if the road is dry, I don't do this. I use te James and something closer to what you were talking about.

The end of a grade on a highway is simply when the grade stops grading. However, I do agree that from Denver to San Francisco, the ride is all downhill

 

Wgcarver,
Have you been to Canada? If you have, how often do you go? It's to my understanding that all Stevens drivers are not qualified to go. If you have time could you tell me what made you choose Stevens when you were looking into becoming a driver? In fact, all the the drivers from Stevens could you share your stories of why you made the choice to drive with Stevens? Also, if you had a chance to do it over again whould you do things different? Thank you to all the drivers who gives us a insight to what it's like being an OTH driver. I really apperciate it . . .

 

Bigowl,

First what is your fascination with going into Canada. Stevens does have a dedicated fleet that does nothing but run back and forth across the border around Detroit, and Buffalo. They get paid a flat fee each week, and no mileage pay. Canada has totally different hours of service that you also have to comply with. Just to big of a hassle for me.

I live in the middle of no where, also know as the Great state of Wyoming, where the dear and antelope play and out number the people. My choices coming out of Sage Technical School were, Swift, regional with Knight refrigerated, CR England, or Stevens. Knight was out as I did not want to do regional. CR England would not give me straight answers over the phone to my questions, and I would talk to a different person every time I called. CR England is out. Swift, kept telling me yes, and then not yet, and could not tell me if they could get me home. They were depending on the Wal Mart contract in Cheyenne, which they did not get.

That left Stevens, who answered my questions, even when I asked them many times, and I always talked to 1 of 2 people. I could also fly to dallas, and they would reimburse me my travel expenses, up to $300.

It was about the answers I got from the people on the other end of the phone, and the emails, Stevens also answered every email I sent them, that made me go with Stevens. Even after reading all the horror stories about Stevens on this and other message boards. I know those who are disgruntled, and angry at an employer are more likely to speak up, than those that are happy.

So when I have the time, like today, I will sit and read, and answer questions, and give my view point on this whole life of trucking.

 

TLeaHeart,
I just wanted to know about Canada I have never been. I thought it might be kind of neat going into Canada but, not if it's a lot of hassle. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts as to why you came to drive with Stevens. Some of the other companies you were considering, other's, as well as, myself maybe considering. So, it's helps to know what your experience was like when making your decision. Thanks again

 

I've been to Canada many times. In fact, I'm one of a few people they like to experiment on at stevens. Currently I'm F.a.s.t. certified which gets me across the border faster, but before I return to Canada,Stevens wants me to have my passport card as well.

My only beef about Canada is that my phone and internet cannot be used there in an affordable way. But when I'm at Kraft near Toronto, I'll arrive there the night before, Drop the trailer and bobtail down the street to Office Depot. In the lot of Office Depot is a restaurant "Boston's Gourmet Pizza" It's good and they have free wifi. So with my iphone, I can make whatever calls via skype and defeat the high cost of the phone while I'm there.

The other pain of canada is the fax and safety calls you need to make regardless of how many times you've crossed the border and how well you know the paperwork. Of all the times I've crossed it only went wrong twice. Personally, I'd rather not go until two things happen.
1.) The paperwork/crossing stuff needs to be done differently than it is now. Too many people in the works and not enough trust in the driver getting it right. We have to sit on hold with the Canada Safety guy who will walk you through the paperwork line by line. Then you fax that directly to the broker. I have suggest that we more experienced guys can fax the package to stevens. The safety guy can review it and then forward the fax to the broker from there. This goes totally agianst Texas culture which prohibits doing more than one thing at a time

2.) Pay me for the time i takes to do this. Currently there is no additional pay for taking a canada load even though there is extra work. Without the pay, I'll stay in the US playpen for now and I'm in no hurry to get back. I'll just have to get my imported american cheese from another source.


I chose stevens primarily for the training. I stayed for the fact that for the most part, they've delivered on what they promise. I like their safety policies that are driver/centric. If you don't feel safe to run, no one will force you. They may get mad, but if they do, just conference them with safety and safety will be totally on your side, every time.

 

WG good post, as I have never been to canada, and will never go. Canada will not let me in.

There is no distinction between a driver that is going across the border for the first time, and the driver that does it every week, they still have to jump through all the same hoops. Same thing for drivers going into New York City, which does pay $75. Stevens can not seem to differentiate between experience, and newbee.

Yes Safety is driver centric, operations is not. Operations will push, get mad, threaten, all over the phone to get you as the driver to continuing rolling to make the appointment time. For operations everything is about getting the load there on time. The driver has to have the self respect to say NO. Stick to it, and call safety. No load is worth someones life.

 

That is who I have been talking to as well, and I agree they have been helpful and very thorough. I am waiting for final approval, and should be good to go.

 

I can count probably 50-75 Stevens Trucks or more a day going through my neck of the woods on I 81 in Inwood West Va. Would it be safe to say that this is a major freight lane for Stevens and I would get home more often or at least be able to go by the house and see the family?

 

It's the same truck. He's just really busy.

Just kidding of course. 81 is a major route for us and probably everyone else.

 

Hey guys
Hate to break the news to you but this is the bad trucking company forum
Could happy drivers start posting here Stevens Transport aviary
For you unhappy truckers this is your thread
Thank you for your cooperation!!!!