My Time At Steven's-Advice: RUN!!!!!

Non-drivers and students:

Want to see the regulations pertaining to drivers, trucks, and companies, as well as all other FMCSA regs? Here you go: http://1.usa.gov/6rSDH9

 

The original thread was to 'run...don't work there.'
I drive (and train) for Stevens and have a different philosophy based on not only my years at Stevens, but many years as a company, lease and O/O.
Stevens is a 'by the book' company. Their freight is good. They do what they say, but they are a very structered company and that doesn't sit will with some people.
This industry is becomming more and moe 'structured' and many old timers that ran during the 70's and 80's (as I did), don't like being told what to do by big brother.
But I think it's here to stay and you're only fooling yourself when you think you can out think 'the man'.

 

Im glad I read this... Im unemployed and been sending resumes and cover letters for over a year now with no luck. Finally considered trucking, and glad I found this site before I made a decision. I think im going to use WIA funds from unemployment to get training at the local community college in Texas for $3500 to get my CDL.

Stevens recruiter told me they pay $350/week for 8 weeks during OTR Training, then .26 CPM for the next 3 months, .28 CPM for 3 months, then .30 CPM at One Year.

But then I found a mom-and-pop flatbed driving company that will pay me 23% of Gross Freight. They said they have drivers that move 5K of freight a week and make @ $1400/week.

 

Sounds like you found a better company than stevens. Then again any company is better than stevens. Good luck.

 

there are promises made all over the place in this business. Find a driver or two that work for that company and talk to them.
An example: Stevens paying 0.30 at one year. 2,500 miles per week= 750.00.
Another company pays 0.34/mile but driver only averages 1800= 612.00
Company brags they pay 0.34. sounds good, but do they get the miles?
I've run across a lot of people that complain about that.
Another...do they have APU's? do they penalize you for idling? Do they have insurance?
There's a lot more to the score than the cents per mile. Look at the whole picture.
Now that being said, Stevens is a training company. Their business model is to train new drivers. I'll be the first to say you can find other companies that pay more, but do they train? If so, is the training complete and good?
Throwing a set of keys at you and saying, "go get 'em tiger" won't get you thru these days of CSA.
After training at Stevens, there are many more opportunities.

 

Hey Emulsified, I went through Stevens school and training. I was team driving with my first trainer from day 2, (I sat in the jump seat on the way down to pick up a load of Bananas going to Denver the first day), he had me log that time as "on-duty not driving" and went over a bunch of general policy and driving tips. The next day he had me get behind the wheel and we ran from about 7am to 11 pm most days for the next 6.5 weeks. My finishing trainers also team drove.

My question for you is, do you train the same way? Also, does Stevens make allowance for you to Train from the jump seat for a period if you think the student needs it?

Only having my own experience to go on, I'm not sure if this is standard procedure. My first trainer did ask me as I was pulling onto the highway for my first time how long I had been driving a truck (it was my first time other than school), so maybe he didn't think I needed watching.

 

When you say 'team drive', does that mean you drove (or him) and the other was in the bunk? That's how a team works. One drives, one sleeps.
No...that's not the way I train. I am in the jump seat when my student is driving. If I am instructing or supervising, I log line 4. If I'm just riding and observing, I log line 2.
If he's in the jump seat, I have him log line 2.

 

Yes, that's what I mean. I had a DOT officer at a scale tell me that any time in the jump seat is on duty not driving. You can't be off duty sitting there, nor can you be in the bunk while there. Not to say I haven't done that, there is only so much time you can spend in the sleeper when not sleeping. Just try not to get caught.

My first trainer would get rolling about 7 and I would take over about 3 or 4 and drive until 9-11. we would shut down and both sleep all night. He told me we weren't allowed to roll after midnight without permission from safety.

One of my finish trainers would drive 4 hours, have me drive 8, then take back over for another 4, but spend the entire 8 hours I was driving in the seat.

 

And that is exactly why Stevens is very near the top of my choice list.

 

your a stevens l/o who trains newbies?