Stevens Transport aviary

Alliance recruiter says the driver can choose 1- or 2-year leases. I would go with two. A one year lease isn't even enough to figure out if things are going well for you or learn what to change. I wish they would offer a 3-year lease, but I don't get to pick that one.

And the completion bonus check would be bigger!

 

The completion bonus check is largely determined by the number of miles you drive. Two year is nice. Depending on the age of your first truck, you may keep it the entire lease.
Normally, first time lessors are given a truck with at least a couple hundred thousand miles on it. Perhaps one used by a training team for a year or so. This keeps the lease payment down for the new guy and gives him a bit more breathing room. After you've demonstrated your ability to control costs (largely by controlling your right foot) you can switch over to a new(er) truck if you wish. Maybe after a year or so.
When trucks are bumping 400,000 miles or so, they normally go over to the grad fleet.
If a truck has 300,000 miles or so, they normally try and give those to a first time one year lessor.
A one year lease gives the faint of heart a smaller commitment. Makes them feel better. Of course with Stevens' walk away clause, this isn't such an issue.

 

As I always do when I try to make the best decision among good options, I keep looking for reasons not to "pick" Stevens as my first company. I still have been unable to find that reason, even as I keep looking at other companies with a higher starting mileage or training pay scale.

And picking some other company other than Stevens would put me cross ways with a daughter of mine for whom Stevens is an emotional favorite ever since she talked with an Alliance driver at a truck stop a couple of months ago and he let her sit in the driver's seat of his truck. That sealed my fate, I'm afraid. Crossing her now would not be a wise thing, as any Dad knows!

Besides, with such sterling advice from Road Train Members like Emulsified and TLeaHeart, how can I go wrong? And not chaining up to go over the pass on I-70 is an added benefit. Been there. Done that in a dually with a 20-horse trailer behind me. Scared the beejeebers out of myself doing it. Don't need to do it again with 80,000 pounds of bananas under me.

 

I was raised in wyoming and taught on the ranch that chains are good for mud and snow off the paved highways. They do nothing for you on pavement where there is always some ice under that snow. Might help you get moving but won't help you stop. So I like the no chain policy. Even after the phone call asking me to be part of the chain gang this winter. I haven't been northwest of ontario OR in 18+ months. I guess those texans thought I would jump at the chance to get soaked, muddy, frozen to the bone to throw iron.


No thanks

 

whats the chain gang tlea if u dont mind me asking and i like reading this thread keep it up and stay safe

 

Alaskans (me) do not use chains either. We use studded tires. And slower speeds. By the way, I planned on retiring in Green River, Wyoming since I visited there in about 1979. Still might happen but for that fracking business.

 

The chain gang are senior drivers with a good safety record who will stay in the northwest for the winter, putting chains on and driving over the mountain passes to make deliveries. Lots of work for a little more pay, and I don't believe in chains on pavement. They are good in mud.

 

Fraking business, is pumping water, salts, muds, and CO2 into rock formations over 5000 feet below the surface... causes NO air pollution..

Yuk on Green river, personal opinion, it is a mining town, along with it's sister city Rock Springs.

Worland and the big horns!!!!!!!!

 

Much of Wyoming has changed in the past 30 years. It's not the same place I fell in love with so long ago, when the state had to import cowboys to run the cattle because there wasn't enough population to do it. Now it's all about oil.

But I love very cold and strong winds and it's very much like Alaska in that way. And I have very fond memories of that KOA Kampground (which had one of the first KOA Kampers years ago) just off I-80 in Rock Springs....

 

You guys are crazy!
Done the cold.
Give me 78 degrees on a February night with a margarita or single malt, while sitting outside on my patio!
There's a reason people head south when they get older!