Stevens Transport aviary

Hi guys!!! First of all i want to wish you all a Happy Turkey Day!!!!!! Hope some of you can have a nice dinner with the family and hope for the other group to have a nice turkey dinner in your truck. I have a really big concern, I was reading one of the threads here and one guy said that he already has a valid CDL class A almost a year now but with no experience at all and the recuiter told him that he has to do everything all over again when he gets to Dallas, i mean he has to do all the testing again, I personally believe thats a waste of time and money, i do have a valid CDL class A with Hazmat and Tanker endorsements and i put a lot of money and time to this, i dont have any experience and would like to go to Stevens to get the experience that i need and plan on working for Stevens for a long time (if they like me) But to be honest i dont want to go thru all the testing again. I will go to orientation and everything but do the testing again hell no..... Can someone please verify for me this concern that i have, if someone has the answer i will appreciated very much.....

Happy Thanksgiving everyone and be safe out there......

 

If you don't have any verifiable experience, then yes you will most likely have to got through the entire training process. I'm not too sure what you mean about "testing," but you wouldn't need to retake your class A test again. The reasoning behind this is just because you have a class A cdl doesn't mean that you can drive a truck OTR.

Happy Thanksgiving.

 

The other poster was confused.
If you have a valid CDL, you will NOT have to retest with the DMV for your license. You already have one.
However....
Virtually ALL companies will require a 'refresher' course since you haven't driven in over a year.
A refresher course is EXACTLY the same as the CDL original license course except you do not test out for a license.
It costs the same.
You are in the same class as everyone else.
Just on the days that they head off to do their tests, you can drink coffee or whatever.
This is a requirement of the insurance industry. It is not something the trucking company can usually bypass.
I had more than 33 years experience with over 3 million accident/ticket free miles, however, I 'retired' for a bit over 2 years and before I could go back to work for anyone, I had to take a refresher course.
Just the way the industry works these days.

As for paying for it all? Most states have grants available from the federal govt (Displaced Workers Act) that will pay for you to attend a local school at no cost to you. There are also courses available at community colleges, or as a last resort, you can indenture yourself to one of the training companies (Stevens is one) that will put you thu the training, and you will be required to work for them for a minimum amount of time to cover that cost. I'm not sure what that time is, but I think it's one year.

 

Depends on the company, Emul. Compared to others, Stevens is a fairly pricey place with a complicated pay-back policy. But basically, if a student stays at the hotel at their cost and goes through their academy, the total cost is about $5,995 plus interest and the full pay-back time is about 30 months. Anything less and the driver is legally liable for a prorated amount that includes interest based on the applicant's credit rating at the time the loan agreement is signed.

There are less expensive deals out there so any potential applicant should do the homework and look at everything. The details matter much more than the basic price. Stevens, for example, buys new trucks more often and equips them with APU's and inverters. Those things cost money and, being a business, the money comes from somewhere. I've been studying trucking companies for six months and have narrowed my choices down to 2-3, any one of which could be the "winner" on any day.

But 12/31/2011 is just over a month away and I have to pick the Number One company soon enough...

 

Made my drop at trader joes after setting around for 22 hours. No preplan. Takes 3 hours for them to unload. Sent in my empty call and plan on heading to morris TA for tirkeyday. Beep load assignment pick up at pro logics morris going to boise ID. Get to the shipper load not ready, but appt time was 11 am. Oh that is the time we start loading. Dropped my empty in a door and headed for the shipping office. Lady says she is waiting for the loaders to bring the paperwork up and that will be in a few minutes as 5:30 is quiting time.

Looked like a fire drill as they all drop their paperwork on her. Love a union shop. Get my paperwork and hustle back around the building to beat the supervisor to the door to be sure it will unlock the trailer. Dont want smokrs problem.

It works out and i am headed for boise. Now depending on weather I may get to swing by the house. Just dont want to get shutdown by the storm in the middle of WY and be late. Stevens frowns on that when you are 180 miles north of route.

 

Thanks guys for your answer!!!!

That was my concern "do all the testing again" (writing test and the road test) I'll do the "refresh course" No problem!!!! and if i have to pay for it i will. i just want to go to Stevens to learn how to be a safe driver and to work for them. I will join you guys in February, so wish me luck.

Happy Thanksgiving and be safe.....

 

I believe they will do a driving evaluation, "Long Road Test", to determine whether or not a person would have to go thru any "refesher" training course.

 

Well we finally got out of Sugar City last night.
Our appt was 0800. We were third in the door.
Finally out and gone at 1830.
I pity all the other trucks waiting to be loaded.
Spent the night in Montpelier, ID and now headed across Wy. Will stop in Cheyenne for a turkey fest, then continue. Plan on making it to Percival, IA tonight.
Only another 400 miles.
Don't know if I'll pass you TLea, before turning south onto the 29. We're the dirty T2000.
Roads are good all across Idaho and Wyoming. Took US30 from Poky to the 80 and it was nice and dry too.
Hope you get a stop off.

 

Had time to catch up on my payroll spread sheet.
Shows my pay has increased 6.7% this year so far over last.
Averaging $1,051.93 per week net pay so far. I only say that for those that are asking what you can earn at Stevens. This isn't first year. Will complete my fourth year in April.

 

Happy Turkey Day to you all. Be safe on the roads and keep the shiny side up. Looking forward to my start with Stevens.