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Where else can I see smokr's avatar?

 

This was my first time posting. I've never heard of a company messing with drivers so much. If you've driven the last 14 years, what does being on vacation for 11 days cause you to be retrained? I used to think Stevens was a decent company, but if a company can't even get you home for important events in your life they're worthless.

 

Your friend is blowing smoke. The only "experienced" drivers that go out with trainers are the following...Been off the road too long, don't have national experience, or failed the road test and had to go through training. I spent my first 10 years at Stevens and now own my own small business. I would not hesitate to hire a Stevens driver with enough experience. BTW, I still drive the Stevens way and have 1.5 million accident free miles. Just ask Bill Cheney and tell him you heard about his hero.

 

Messing with drivers? If you mean making them do trip plans, learn how to be careful, make them stick to planned routing, preplan hours...yea, they mess with them.
But remember, much of that is during training. After grad class, you're pretty much on your own. You make your own trip plans and hopefully, the 90 days or more of it during training has taught you well so you don't end up late, out of hours with out a truck stop, you don't run out of fuel because you didn't plan or on the wrong route because you didn't plan.
Like I said, Stevens is a training company. They spend most of their efforts training you how to be safe, how to plan, how to be organized, how to be on time...All good skills.
I've driven with drivers that had no plans. I've seen the results. I drove for two years before someone showed me how to plan a trip in advance.
There are too many drivers like that out there still.
As far as getting home? There usually isn't a problem if the driver lets his/her DM know well in advance. When I come back after hometime, I let my DM know when my next hometime will be, then remind him as I get closer to that date. Two weeks in advance, I'm reminding him every day. If it's a hard and fast date for a wedding or whatever, I've never missed. If it can be loose, I work with my DM. I don't care if I'm a couple days late if it's just hometime.
If the driver isn't telling his/her DM in advance and reminding them, then they're going to miss their dates.
As for retraining? I can't answer to that. I know if you're gone a couple months on leave and come back, they require a 'check ride' with a trainer. That can last anywhere from a day to a week, but it's just to make sure you're not too rusty and you remember company procedure.
Eleven days? Haven't heard of it, but can't say it doesn't happen. I suspect if that person that was gone for 11 days hadn't finished grad class yet, they have good reason to require a trainer.
I do know one driver personally at Stevens that has been with them over 10 years. There was a period of two where he left the company and drove for another, before he came back. He was required to drive with a trainer to requalify. He spent two days with the trainer. That was it. They spent all the time covering paperwork and procedures.

 

Good Luck barracuda on your new job, with a terminal close to home I am sure the family will like seeing you more often.

Stevens treated Barracuda with professional respect, as he did them...A hotel room, and a ride to the airport...routed him quickly to the yard to turn the truck in, and no problems...all as it should be.

not like the horror stories...usually second hand...my friend, and experienced driver is being messed with....NOT true....Stevens policies, spelled out up front, don't like them, don't drive for them...Big rigger quit during orientation as he was a smart man and knew that Stevens policies would not work for him.

7 days off with out PRIOR approval will get you out of your truck...
14 days off will cause you to have to be re-certified... road test...
30 days or more, retrain....from 2 days to the entire process....all depends on how long you were away from over the road trucking.

Home time is NOT guaranteed, but with communication, I have always been home when I needed to be.

I know Stevens policies, and play within those policies, get my mileage, have always been paid, and issues have been resolved quickly a fairly. I have had my problems with stevens also, I have shared many of them for all to read.

I shopped around to see if I was going to stay with Stevens, or move on, I stayed, as I did not like the leach field under the greener grass.

 

From a selfish standpoint, sorry to see you go Barracuda. But I'm glad to see you move on to a a company that's better suited for you and your family.

Congrats on getting the dedicated run Smokr! I hear they are difficult to land, but once you have one, if you can keep you nose clean and run hard, you'll be able to stay in it for as long as you want. Getting hometime every two weeks sounds like the best part of that arrangement.

 

Good job Smokr....some guys really like the dedicated runs. See the same people everyday, or at least everyweek, home often. Too bad yu have to switch trucks again...
maybe we should start calling you the truck smoker instead...you burn threw trucks so quickly.

I like my over the road gig...And with the DM I have now, it is like I am working for a different company. A couple of short runs, then a cross country run, all doable with my hours, and a pre plan before I am empty. Setting in Ontario CA tonight, with a Kraft delivery, Live unload in the am. Ended the week with 3351 paid miles.

 

Congrats on the new gig Cuda! No doubt you are a well trained driver thanks in part to Stevens, but primarily due to your professionalism. Best wishes going forward.