Thinking of going to Stevens CDL training any current students or drivers comments?

I think you need to be a bit more specific as to what you're wanting to know.
While Stevens may be great for driver one, it may not be the best for #2.
Each driver has different needs. Each candidate comes with a whole different set of life experiences.
Both Rhoel and Stevens are OTR companies, and have similar policies. But Rhoel has a dry van division, whereas Stevens is refer only.
You can pick 10 random drivers from each company and get some that love it, some that hate it.
What do you REALLY want to know?

 

Good questions.
Stevens has one main terminal in Dallas. There is a small terminal in Laredo, but it's basically a drop yard with a trailer, showers, TV...waiting area to get out of there.
The Dallas yard is very clean, modern. The drivers lounge is a stand alone building next to the main building with showers, two tv rooms (one smoking, one non smoking) and the trainer's office. Also laundry facilities.
The facilities are very clean and good.
If you are a company driver (as opposed to Alliance L/O or O/O) you are forced dispatched. Of course, nearly every company is.
You can negotiate your dispatch with your DM in advance and often they will try and accomdate you. As an example, if you want a load going west from where you are, they will often be able to do that.
But you are required to go where the freight goes.
Stevens is a 'by the book' company. They do not condone cheating on logs.
Period.
Now that we are changing over to E Logs, that virtually eliminates any cheating and the dispatchers can't play with that.
The Safety Dept trumps all other departments. If, as an example, you feel it is unsafe for you to drive due to your skill level and the current weather, you simply ask safety for a weather shutdown and it's done. No one can over ride that.
You decide when it is safe to drive again.
Everyone's idea of how to treat each other varies.
In so many ways, you ARE a number. I don't care where you work.
If you make money for your company, you are valuable.
If you don't, no one wants you.
So that being said, if you perform your job adequately, people there are usually pretty nice. There will always be people you don't get along with.
But as time goes on, people get to know you and usually are pretty friendly both on the phone and in person.
Trucking is a feast and famine business. Today we have 40 loads leaving Salinas and only 30 trucks. Tomorrow, we have 30 loads and 40 trucks.
But overall, we don't usually sit long.
The stories you hear about companies where drivers sit for days or longer just don't apply to Stevens. I can't speak for others, but I have rarely sat longer than a day waiting for a load.
January is the worst month of the year for loads. You learn to take the good with the bad. However, I've always been able to pay my bills each month.
Stevens has one of the newest fleets in the industry. I'm not sure what our fleet age is but I think it's around 30 months.
We get rid of our trucks around 500,000 miles. We sell them off to other companies that convert them to their fleet.
We run mostly KW's and Petes. There are a few Freightliners. All trucks are equipped with APUs, Inverters. You won't find a better fleet of trucks out there.
Breakdowns happen, but with a newer fleet like this, it's not common.
Hope this helps.

 

I am a huge fan of Stevens Transport so let me tell you to prepare to be treated like an adult when you start. This might just be the first time in your working life that the folks you come into contact with expect it. Right from the first moment with your group, you are expected to act your age and do things like: Read the form in front of you completely; sign where you are supposed to sign (not where the medical staff signs, for example); listen carefully to the words they speak and don't ask a question that was just answered; don't whine; don't try to find out a "way around" something you don't like.

The short version: Put your big-boy pants on before you go in and act like an adult. You will be rewarded with the respect due to an adult. You will see many who don't get it - and who will leave early.

One more thing about what to bring. Someone said bring everything you have to, including your CDL - since you drove before I assume you have one. My class had about four people who didn't bring theirs. You might ask 'but how can you leave your driver's license in your hotel room?' Easy. By not acting like an adult and taking responsibility for your own life.

 

I am a L/O on the Alliance side.
I've been with Stevens just short of 4 years. I am also a trainer.
Like you, I had to go thru driving school all over. Started driving in 1972, eventually owned my own company (had 14 trucks), but sold out and retired in 2006. Spent two years traveling the country in a motorhome with my wife, but decided to go back out again.
Found out if you've been out of the business for 2 years, you ain't squat!
No one would hire me without my going to driving school. Talk about a swat on the ol' ego!
But I did. Just like you need to do now.
Then found out I had to start with a training company. Just like everyone else.
I picked Stevens for a lot of reasons, including safety, great equipment and they are tied into some good accounts (Tyson, Gen Mills, Kraft just to name a few)
I've never regretted it. I enjoy being here.
Obviously I could go elsewhere, but I like the organization, the structure, the people that run the place. The fact that most of the people heading up the departments are all former drivers, speaks a lot to me.
They aren't just telling you how to do it...they've been there, done that.
Good luck in your choices.

 

I can answer your question somewhat regarding Alliance.

Alliance=Lease Operator i.e. you lease the truck from Stevens

 

hey guys... im in my 2nd week in stevens school.... I've been on this forum since i heard about stevens... i hear alot of both neg/pos things... Since i have a loan to pay off and want to do it sooner than later I am thinking about the lease program... from what i see in the school there is plenty of support...Stevens looks like a well oiled machine to me.. I also here the DM dept is a revolving door...as many are im sure.. one of the instructors was telling us all the negitive about you pay everything as an operator...what is the truth to this..and what is an average gross pay.....i have been around the straight truck industry for 25 years so im no dummy , i just want facts to know what im expecting.....also can we request a driver/trainer that doesnt smoke / and smell LOL !! keep upright drivers !!!!!