Anyone here completed a lease with STEVENS?

Discussion in 'Stevens' started by chromewheelz, Aug 4, 2009.

  1. TLeaHeart

    TLeaHeart Road Train Member

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    casper, wy
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    Stevens hires from all 48 states.. You have to park the truck and trailer at an approved location that stevens selects as a company driver. Even if you have a fence, they will not let you park their truck at your house.
     
    BPatterson Thanks this.
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  3. Jes2red

    Jes2red Bobtail Member

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    I doubt you'll be able to request a specific trainer, as when your time comes to go out he may be in the middle of training a trainee already. It wouldn't be fair to the other trainee to yank him off the truck and place you in it.

    We have good trainers and bad ones. New ones and Old Timers. More than anything, I believe personality issues come into play when wedging two grown men into a truck smaller than a jail cell.

    My advice? When the truck parks, GET OUT and get a temporary respite. Days on end of sitting next to each other gets old for even the BEST of friends. You'll get on each others nerves sooner or later. Remember this and try not to take it personal.

    Remember, the truck you're on is another mans home. Don't make a mess. Don't tear up his stuff. He may wanna lay on his bunk for 10 minutes and have a private talk with his sweetie. You'll have your very own truck (and privacy) soon enough, so try to show some consideration in that regard.

    I buy my trainees all their meals and drinks on the truck. When I go into the store and buy 2 sodas and a Gatorade, I buy two sodas and a Gatorade for my trainee. If I get a burger, they get the same. I won't buy their smokes though, as I can barely justify buying my own. :)

    Now not all trainers do that, so do not be offended if that's the case. I just know training is hard on trainees. Many are a step away from living under a bridge when they decide to get into trucking. Many have bills and families to attend to and are barely scraping by. I realize this and try to ease that burden.

    I remember eating peanut butter while one of my trainers ate steak and commented on my like for peanut butter sandwiches. What he DIDN'T know was I was behind on child support when I came here and the Attorney General of Texas left me with $50 a week to live on....rough when you smoke and love sodas.

    I never forgot those hard times and vowed I'd never allow it to happen to my trainees. I even offer a mileage incentive. $100 if we crack 5k miles in a week, $200 if we crack 6k. It ain't much I know, but add the meals and snacks and I prolly pay $100-$200 a week to the student sitting in my seat.
    I usually buy them a CB or a wireless headset before they get off the truck.

    Am I required to? Nope. I'd venture to say the vast majority of trainers don't do the same, but some do. I do it because I want to see each guy coming thru make it. In doing so, they make the company stronger, thus strengthening our ability to be more profitable as a whole. The whole "rising tide floats all boats" idea.

    Nothing is sadder than seeing a man come in, put in the time, and give up somewhere along the line, especially when he is so close to making the good money he sought in coming here to begin with.

    A few tips for you if I may.....

    Get your student handbook the first day in class. READ IT!!!!!!!!! Then read it again. Learn all you can BEFORE you get on the truck. You'll have time to do so, but most do not take the intitiative. The book has more info than the trainer can hope to convey and if you become familiar with it, he can spend more time fine tuning your knowledge instead of spending time trying to cram stuff in your head that you should already know.

    The students I have that are EAGER to learn do well. Those I get that just wanna drive don't do well. There is more to making money than just putting it in gear and going forward. There are many policies and procedures that you need to know. Read up on it and then use your trainer to get the hands on aspect.

    IMO, driving is the easy part. It comes with saddle time. Learning the nuances on how to run your loads, keep your loads safe for delivery, knowing which departments to get ahold of when you have an issue, all keep you moving and making money.

    Do your part and the trainer that gets you will appreciate it.

    Also, if you have an issue with a trainer, be it personal or you feel he is teaching you unsafe practices, do not hesitate to let someone know. We have many excellent trainers at the company, but as in anything, there will always be a bad apple somewhere in the barrel. If you get one it is easily and happily fixed by the comany. It is encumbent on you to let someone know so that it can be addressed.

    Odds are, you and your trainer will build a bond of sorts. Whether it be a genuine friendship or a professional relationship, most trainers and trainees stay in contact even after their time on the truck is finished. I talk to at least one of my ex trainees almost every day, and as an aside, talk almost daily to one of my trainers I had as a student some years ago.

    Make the best of it, and remember that in EVERY group there are complainers with negative attitudes. Don't let them poison you
    with their "real scoop" on how things are. I don't know many in the company that wouldn't go out of their way to help another when needed.

    And, if I can ever help you, contact me thru this board after you come one board and I'll give you my number to call at any time.

    All the best in your endeavors....
    Red
     
  4. stallardjrs

    stallardjrs Bobtail Member

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    Thanks Red. I'm usually pretty good at deciphering the whiners from people who have legitimate gripes. I kinda operate like you do, taking care of them guys until they get it together (not in the truckin biz' of course because I haven't been there yet) cuz beleive me I know how it is to be down and out. And I will do the same as you when I get to the position where I can. Anyhow thanks again for your kind words. Hope to see you guys soon.
     
  5. sinister4g63

    sinister4g63 Light Load Member

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    Aug 25, 2010
    Tampa, FL
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    You sound exactly like the trainer I just had! I don't know if it was you or not. If not my trainer my have trained with you because he trained me the exact same way. One of the best teacher's and best experiences I ever had. After the horror stories I heard from others in or2. I am so thankful my trainer was so awesome! I learned so much and he made me ready for a truck when I got off his. Which is what we both wanted. I just made sure I respected his truck, time and private space. Listened to all his advice. If I become a trainer he is the template I will teach from!
     
    Jes2red Thanks this.
  6. Jes2red

    Jes2red Bobtail Member

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    Dec 17, 2010
    Dallas Texas
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    I'm glad it worked well for you sinister. You sound like you were on top of your responsibilities as a student, which makes the trainers job so much more enjoyable!

    I've enjoyed most of my students and want to see 'em all prosper.
    I'm even good friends with a few guys that have come thru my truck.

    I dunno how long you've been at it, but that first year is the hardest. Make it thru that and you're homefree.

    Lemme know if I can ever help you.

    Jes' remember during that first year, it all comes in cycles. Some weeks you eat the bear. Some weeks the bear eats YOU. :)

    As time goes on, you'll find you're eating the bear much more regularly than he's nibbling on you.
     
  7. teampitts3

    teampitts3 Light Load Member

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    Can anyone tell me if they offer T660's for the lease program. I see them on the road all the time but I can't recall seeing one with the "Contractor" on the door.

    Thanks
     
  8. Emulsified

    Emulsified Road Train Member

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    Dallas, TX
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    The 660's door windows drop a bit lower than the 700's, so they leave the words, "contractor" off the doors. If you look at the side box doors, you'll see the Alliance logo. yes, they offer the 660's on the leases.
     
  9. TLeaHeart

    TLeaHeart Road Train Member

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    Apr 1, 2008
    casper, wy
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    I love my 660 without the word contractor on the door. Was told they ran out of decals at the time I got my truck.
     
  10. kissthatfrog

    kissthatfrog Light Load Member

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    Well said from a fellow trainer.
     
  11. steve23602

    steve23602 Light Load Member

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    Jan 4, 2011
    newport news va
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    how do they treat people that are coming in that have to go with a trainer that has exp but just not enough in the last 3 years.. i was a trainer for trans am when i worked there they said i would have to be on a trainer truck for 9 weeks but could be shorter if the trainer signed off on me early
     
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