Stevens Transport aviary

If there is one place in the Stevens World that I cannot stand it is the Kraft distribution center in Champaign, IL. The area where you are supposed to drop your trailer is so tight that it makes it very difficult to back a trailer into a hole. I am not the most prolific backer in the world but this place takes the cake. Then there is the staff. The staff treat you like you are a complete idiot and demonstrate complete disdain toward you. This is my second time here. It was this way the first time and I guess it was a pipe dream to expect even halfway professional conduct on the second visit.

With that being said the conduct of other drivers on the CB was also fell far short of what would be considered professional conduct. I am sure if Kraft were to institute some sort of organization instead of loosely controlled chaos it may possibly be a different story.

An example of a finely tuned machine is the Costco warehouse in Morris, IL. When you check in there you don't even have to get out of your truck. There is someone waiting at the gate that takes your bills. The person returns with a pager much like what you find in an eatery when you are waiting for a table. You take the pager and are told what door to back up to. Once you back up to the door and are empty the pager starts flashing and vibrating. You pull out and head back to the gate and get your paperwork without even getting out of the truck. Once you leave the gate you close your doors and you can head to the TA which is literally across the street. The staff there conduct themselves professionally.

Kraft could really learn something from Costco.

 

oh the joys of Chapaign IL...My first trainer was dedicated Kraft, and we picked up there twice a week...Joy...The staff knew him, he also brought them chicken, so he was treated well...but me, I was ignored. And Tight yes it is tight.

All Costco's have it down to a impersonal science, where you never leave your truck, well you do have to open your doors.

I am dealing with the joys and attitude of C&S warehouse again. This time Chester NY. So grumpy, in the offices. Now the guards here were informative, and professional.

 

Hi everyone,
I've been reading throught these forums for a while now, think I'm ready to finaly go for the career change. Planning on training with Stevens in July. I do have 1 question if someone wouldn't mind helping me with. I understand that after school I'll be taking in $350. a week for about 2 1/2 months while riding and driving with my trainer. I also realize that after that pay will depend on the miles but could someone help me with an estimate as to how much I can realistically expect to make each week after all the training is over.. ..?

Anyhow, I do appreciate all the info that's been posted here. Looking forward to this adventure. Thanks.

 

My brother is there for orientation this week. Starting his Stevens experience.

 

You should be able to average a low of 2,000 miles per week. In the beginning, when you're on Grad fleet, your miles will vary more, but even Grad Fleet requires you to get 8500 miles per month. If you're willing to work and take the runs, you can go significantly higher. Does that answer your question?

 

If you communicate, keep your daily check call accurate, hours, on time for delivery, you will average 2500 miles per week. Jump through all the hoops, the hand holding, and build a reputation of being on time, when you are legally capable of it, and your miles will be between 2500 and 3000. You will sit at the meat patch, until you can be trusted to make the on time delivery on a tight schedule.

Now there will be weeks where nothing goes right, and the miles are not there, and you are on for ever hold trying to talk to every one you are required to talk to while on grad fleet. You will watch trucks pull in after you to the meat patch, drop their trailer, hook up to a loaded trailer and leave. Pisses one off.

your attitude to stevens has a big factor on your miles. There are days we all want to tell someone to shove it. Be professional, don't violate your hours of service, and you will be okay.

 

I can echo what TLea is saying.

You gotta pay your dues, so to speak, and build a good reputation for yourself before you're to be trusted with high priority, tight loads. But give it some time, be professional, and do everything within your power (and do it legally) to prevent a service failure and you will be rewarded.

DMs, CSRs, and dispatchers all want reliable, hard working, professional drivers that they can rely on. And I'm learning that they do in fact pay attention to all the points TLea made about your attitude, work ethic, professionalism, etc. More and more lately, I've had DMs who I've never met call me, asking for help with one of their loads. Good loads with plenty of miles left on them too! A few of them say that my current DM, as well as my old DM said I could be trusted and that they recommend me.

But I had to shovel the poop for a few months and pay my dues to get to this point. And I'm still a baby out here (9 months). I hope to keep improving and getting better and smarter at what I do so it will ultimately benefit me and my pocketbook.

 

Sitting in Kingman waiting for a repower load headed back to Ft Worth.
Suppose to be headed north for hometime.
Will get there.