Stevens Transport - Dallas, Tx.

You will. Just like I've done for the last 10 years and other drivers have done since the beginning of time. That's how the real world operates and it's going to be a lot of fun watching the transportation industry come to a grinding halt in the next few years or so.

 

yea, these laws do not really make sense. I am safer when i run illegal, than when i push myself to drive 11 hours straight to be legal.

 

Not trying to disagree with you but I attended the meeting that the Stevens recruiter has at my local Holiday Inn last week. She did say to expect to be home every 3-4 weeks. I am thinking more like 5-6 myself, but she did say 3-4...

She also said to expect 3000+ miles a week which Im not so sure about that one either...

The recruiter has told me I just need to let her know when I am ready to start. Hopefully that will be in the next 2-3 weeks.

 

3,000 miles per week is almost not going to happen. Yea, there might be a few weeks like that in a year, but not many.
For a new driver, 2200-2500 is more likely. I'm averaging 2900 this year, but I know I'm in the top 10% for miles as a solo driver at Stevens.
And this isn't my first year.
I'd love to know who that recruiter is. I'd love to confront her/him with that.
You will be out there as long as you let them keep you out there, but you can get home every 4-5 weeks (most of the time) if you stay on top of your DM.

 

Always remember recruiters tell you what they think you want to hear...
Yes they say 3 to 4 weeks, or 3 to 5 weeks... expect 5 weeks... And if you do not stay on your DM to get you home, it could be 3 months.

Stevens expects the new drivers to get 8500 miles per month... so 2125 per week.
I know of NO solo drivers that average 3000 miles per week...
Now the Fleet average for Stevens is 3000 miles per week per truck...
That includes the teams, and the trainers with students...

Running illegal at stevens will get you a 24 hr shutdown, and a route to Dallas. They will catch it, as soon as you scan the logs in, and the computer matches them to the QC logs... it is all automated.

Trucks are governed at 62 for the first 2 years, then 65 for canada drivers, and 66 for those of us that don't go to canada..
I do like have the extra speed to pass, when I actually come up on someone who is driving slower than me.

 

It reminds me of the old Holiday Inn commercials, Are you a good Stevens recruiter? "No, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night."

 

Dont really want to say her name, but she reminds me of a drill Sgt...

 

I can't believe people have so little going on at home that they would actually work for a outfit that keeps you out 5+ weeks at a time?

I love it when people talk about the power of the safety dept like they where the ones getting you the miles each week to pay the bills. Oops, that's dispatch that does that.

Let see, there are 168hrs in a week. 70hrs for breaks 70hrs for work and 28 hrs to do, what ever, 2125 takes around 42.5 hrs which is a little over 6 hrs a day of driving. Even at 2500 a week you will have around 43hrs of free time . So in a 4 week tour at Stevens you can expect to be mustarding your monkey for 19 out of every 30 days on the road IF you are getting 2500 a week.

And you want to stay out 5 weeks?
What is happening to drivers these day's? When you drive OTR for "the lifestyle" maybe you don't mind sitting around being at safety's beck and call. But when I was doing OTR full time, it was to make the cabbage, not piss off the OP's dept. You can either be a safe driver and make money, or be a politically safe driver and sit around, while others pull your paycheck home.

 

Well let me say this about your recruiter. Her job is to get you to Stevens! Does not matter what she says, if you go there then she has done her job. When I was in training and Bill Chaney came in to talk to us, a few people were asking different questions that the recruiters had told them. He told us all that it does not matter what your recruiter said! They did there job and you are sitting here! Now this is how it is!
As far as getting home every 2-3 weeks - well I did not consider going to Stevens until my recruiter came in and said Oh Ya!!! You will get home every 2-3 weeks if you want! Well cool thats a different story then! So I asked how about lumping your own freight? Oh Ya!!! You can do that to and you will have an extra $200 - $400 a week! Ha ha!!! My trainer told me in 2 years he only had the oppritunity to lump 2 loads. He said it was such a hassell it wasn't worth it.
This is not a bash on Stevens, cause I have heard the same about other companys and recruiters. It is crazy that these recruiter will say what ever to get you in. They get there $$ for getting you there and then they are gone! Just another lower form of life is all.
I did my time! Today I am back to the real world! I wish you all the best in trucking! I loved the experiance that I had! But got a job offer that I could not turn down, as well as being home with my wfe at night! It's tough out there and it's gonna take some time before it even begins to get better! Good luck to you all!!

 

I read these storys and it makes me glad I drive local only and am home each and every night!. It doesent matter how long I wait as I get paid by the hour!. I am still a rookie so I guess I was lucky to get a local gig.