Stevens Low Pay.... Poor Time At Home

who would ya'll suggest to start off driving for as a recent truck driving student graduate? thank ya

 

You post that question on a Stevens thread?

Alright...I'll go for it....I suggest Stevens.
Your first job out of CDL school is for training.
Period.
Odds are you will change companies in your first two years. Just the way things are.
So pick a company with the best training program. It will open more doors for you when and if you make that change.
I spoke with no less than 50 companies when I decided to go back to driving. Even tho I had more than 30 years experience, I had been out of the business for more than two years and every one of those companies required me to start over. These were all companies that did not take 'newbies'. Didn't think of myself as one.
However, long story short, I had to take a refresher course (already had the license, so I didn't need that), then needed to start with a 'starter' company.
I chose Stevens because hands down their training program was respected by these other companies more than any other training company. Every one of them would take a Stevens driver (as long as there wasn't problems on their DAC or MVR) after that driver completed two years with Stevens. In some cases, only one year.
I never regretted my choice. Their training is excellent, detailed and thorough. The safety policies, methodology and oranizational skills are what makes the process good.
I chose to stay on with Stevens, even after other companies have courted me. But that's another story.
So if you're interested in the long haul and becoming equiped as a safe and skilled driver, I would choose Stevens.

 

You may as well they dont hire out of Florida anyhow

 

They Sure Do!
I had a prehire for them and 4-5 of my classmates are starting O1 this Sunday. We are all out of Roadmaster in Tampa, They don't hire from that bogus school in Miami. that gives guys licenses somehow without knowing how to do a PTI or even drive. We had one guy from that school that Warner turned away and said he had to go to another school.

 

LMAO
lol
Those 'schools' can be so horrible! I've talked to guys with stories that, well, just seem like a 'trucker's tall tale'.
Where was that one that you walked in with $500 and you walked out with a CDL? Oh, yeah, all over the place.
Even some of the big companies, what some guys say they got for training makes us both laugh. Not to mention a name, but, 3 weeks, including road time? Trained? Not! Able to move it? Sure.

 

My one complaint about Roadmaster is that I feel there just wasn't enough time driving and practicing backing/ parking. And we had a big class of 20. The first 4 days were spent on getting the CDL permit. I'm just glad that I had read the DOT handbook and took some practice test before starting school. The first 3 days were just like a review to me. Had I known that you didn't need the health card for the premit I would have taken the permit test before starting school. But it wouldn't have mattered as it wouldn't have gotten me any more drive time, just more time to do Ethreads which I did by coming in on a Sat. and Sunday to finish them up and get them out of the way. When I figured it out I only had about 8 hours or less of actual behind the wheel driving time before taking the test and maybe 9 hours on the backing/parking pad. Although there is learning from watching others and figuring out what they are or aren't doing right and discussing it others and teachers but no substitude for practicing it and getting it straight in your head. These schools actually train you to be able to pass the test and be able to opperate the truck. The real on the road driving training is left up to the company trainers. That's why getting a good company trainer is important. And I think that someone with 1 year experiance is just not enough to be a trainer at all. I think it should be at least 3 years and 3 winters. That's my one complaint about these started company recruiters telling students that after a year they should consider becoming a trainer.

 

I hate Stevens.. Im sorry I dont recommend anyone going to their school or driving for them. They assist you in getting your cdl and thats it.. They take and squeeze every penny they can out of you. I am not one of those complainer type guys who could hack it. I love driving, love the job itself, but HATE stevens. When I started out I felt the same as most, excited and was like, what is everyone complaining about.. but after several months and switching between company and lease.. I learned ONE thing, Stevens is all about THEIR money and could give a careless of you as a person or a driver.. The surface looks cool, the recruiters sell hype but down deep, its basically a scam.. Common sense says, if they are putting that many people through school and having such a high turn over rate.. something is wrong, it cant all be the drivers.. come on.. There are people who just complain but when you hear multiple people that say the exact same thing and maybe a handful saying positive things.. weigh it out.. the neg out weighs the pos...

 

Sorry you feel that way.
Something to consider, tho.
Stevens is a training company. Their business model is not to train drivers to stay, but rather to train drivers who will go. A few like me find a groove and fit in for a longer haul. But they are not trying to build a fleet of long time operators.
Your first year in trucking is the hardest...no matter where you go. And quite frankly, most people that come into it won't like it, no matter where they land. It's just not their cup of tea.
And example: Hometime. Everyone is told they will be out 5-6 weeks at a time. No secret.
But so many drivers don't have a concept of how long that is and how short the 5 days hometime seems, so they complain.
but it doesn't matter where they work...if the company has a 5-6 week policy for being out...it's all the same.
If you don't like being out, find a different industry. find a local job. whatever!
People get so starry eyed about the lore of the highway, the wonderful experience, etc etc etc.
They don't hear the recruiters and trainers telling them the truth. And when they find out it isn't their cup of tea, they bad mouth the company.
I have met lots of drivers over the years that started with Stevens and are still driving. they all tell me they appreciate what they learned and it has helped them in their career.
Well that's what it's all about.
So get over it. If Stevens isn't your place, then find a different one and move on. Different strokes for different folks.
but it's not a scam. no one is trying to cheat you. It's the industry.

 

That just about sums it up.

 

Yes everything stevens does is to protect them first. or they would not have been able to stay in business for 25+ years.

The trucking industry as a whole has a turn over rate of 100%...
People come to trucking with stars in their eyes, and no concept of reality.