Truck Drivers Training School

Well since you posted on a Stevens site, I'll quote their numbers.
If you come to orientation with a CDL, they will pay you $350 per week during training. This becomes effective the day you are hired.
New orientation begins on a sunday and people are hired on thursday, so figure those first four days gratis.
If you come to Stevens to get your CDL, then you continue to draw unemployement until you have completed your training and are hired. Not sure of the time but I think about 3 weeks.

Training is a minimum of 10 weeks before going solo. Five weeks with your first trainer, one week in class, then three weeks for your second trainer, then back for a coupld days class before you are assigned a truck and dispatched as a solo driver.

In the beginning, you will earn 0.26 per mile as a solo driver. That increases by 0.01 every three months until you reach 0.30. Then it's one cent every year after that.

First six months as a solo driver, I'd figure around 2,400 miles per week. That can vary, but it's fairly accurate if you do your job well. On time pickups, deliveries, no service failures.

does that help?

 

So just curious, I do have my CDL, (but it's been 4 years since i have driven OTR) the recruiter did mention i would start orientation on a sunday, but does that mean I don't have to go through the 3 weeks of training, and owe all that money? or do i go through orientation then on to a rig for the 5 week training?

So

 

The million dollar question!! I too await the answer!!

 

Just for explanation, at Stevens, Orientation is for those that have a CDL and are 'qualified' to drive.
Qualified is dependent on your experience and how recent it was.
At the very least, you will be required to do an extended road test with a trainer to determine that experience. Those 'extended' tests usually take 4-8 hours and are performed in Dallas.
there is no charge for that test.
If you pass the test, you may attend orientation and after four days of procedural classes, you will be sent out with a trainer for 5 weeks, etc. (during which time you are paid).
You should clarify this with your recruiter as to what they will do or won't do.
If you do not pass the test, you will be required to take a 'refresher' course. This course is EXACTLY the same as a CDL class except you will not be required to test out for a license (since you already have one).
If you do that course with Stevens, you will incur a cost. I don't know how much that is, but I'm sure it's at least $5,000.
Stevens has a program where it is forgiven if you work for them for a certain amount of time. I don't know what that time period is, so you should find out from your recruiter. I think that course is three weeks, during which you are not paid and will be required to pay our own cost of room and board. Stevens will advance that money to you, but you must pay it back over time.
Again...find out from your recruiter for sure.

Now this much I can tell you for sure.
Personally, I drove more than 33 years with over 3 million accident free and ticket free miles. I 'retired' for a bit over two years. I was required to take a 'refresher' course before joining Stevens.
I also found that I had to take a refresher course no matter who I went to work. This is a requirement of the insurance industry. They require these refresher courses.
I took a private school course for less money, then came to Stevens and started orientation.
Just be sure and get everything in writing so there is no misunderstanding.

 

Thanks for the clarification. I have attempted to get an answer to that question from my recruiter and her answer was similar but did not use the phrase "Refresher" at a cost of around $4200. If you have driven recently, within that last 90 days, then you may have a chance at a road test to see where you are. More than that and it's the refresher.

 

yeah it's been 4 years since i have driven OTR, i have been the yard hostler for two years at my current job, so still have some, but just not on the road which i know is much different. But backing is second nature to me now! lol

 

yeah i don't mind going through the course, would make me a little more comfortable getting use to driving these things on the road again, just trying to get as much info as possible before heading into this, unlike last time when i had no reseach and completely blind

 

You need to speak with the recruiter on that. I know there is a program where if you work for Stevens for a certain period of time, they forgive the cost of the school. I don't know how long that is.
As for deductions, I'm not sure. It can't be too bad as I don't hear any students complaining about it.

 

They stopped doing that over a year ago.