Stevens Transport aviary

Shutting down in Nashville tonight. Load is scheduled to deliver sunday morning, but hoping to get customer to take it early. We'll be there tomorrow, even without pushing.
Winter will be over soon. Using AC today.
Well...except for Colorado and Wyoming!

 

After fighting 60mph winds for 250 miles, I hit the snow in Cheyenne. The snow ended just West of there, and then it was 45mph through Medicine Bow and down into Laramie. West of Laramie was where it got real fun. I watched an Atlas moving truck jackknife right in front of me at 293. Another truck on it's side at the 287, then at the 285, and 3 at the 267. Roads were pretty squirrely through Elk Mtn, but I got through just fine and I'm shutdown in Rawlins. The roads look great all the way into UT, so it should be an easy 250 miles tomorrow...I need it after today

 

I so enjoy produce. First pick arrive at 0800 loaded with 17 pallets by 0900 and down to driscoll. Well stevens set the appointment for 2100. Arggggghhhhhhh.
So here I sit and wait and wait. At least they set the appt in cedar falls for 0900 monday.

I have enjoyed the 70 degrees and even have a sun burn today.

 

I am officially finished with Alliance. I will be having them route me to the yard so that I can turn my truck in. I ran over 3000 miles last week and my check was -$188. I have had 1 paycheck in the month of February that was positive and it was for $194. I can no longer continue to work for free.

It's a sad thing because I love my truck and my job. I feel like I failed, but I shouldn't. It is a system that is designed for the driver to fail.

Oh well, I digress. We shall see what happens in the future.

 

It is not a system designed for the driver to fail. Hundreds of drivers are successful in the program every day, week, month, year. You have to be prepared for the lean months as well as the 'fat' ones. Plus, you have to be willing to work hard to prove yourself!! It takes several months of running Alliance to prove to the planners, dispatchers, repower dept, that you can be trusted to get their load from point A to point B at the appointed times and in top condition. The biggest problem I see with most new Alliance drivers is that they expect everything to be handed to them on a silver platter, to have everyone bending over backwards to give them the choice loads right from the start. The first year in Alliance is hard for everyone, you either stick with it til it gets better, or you bail. The hardest thing for most new Alliance drivers to adjust to is that you need to stay out and run for about 3 months at a time, then take a few days off. It's not easy to do, but since you still have a payment due even when you are on time off, you need to make sure that you have enough money built up in your acct to cover the payment, etc for that time. My hubby and I typically run for about 5-6 months before we take any time off, and we don't even have the benefit of 'shutting down' for a 34-hr reset on a regular basis. It's hard, it's tiring, and it's stressful, but if you want to be a success, you do what it takes.
Best wishes in whatever you decide to do.

 

I hope this weather lets up soon. I leave tommorow night on the bus for dallas. They had 90 shut down south of me in a few spots today. I dont want to be late for my first day.

 

The system is what it is and a business man learns to make it work for himself. You have had 2 ruff months plus troubles that were started by another driver. I will finish feb with less than 6500 miles for the month between weather, the yard and slow frieght. It is febuary. March improves, but if one needs a steady even pay check each week, being a business owner is not for you.

Hope you can make it as a company driver.

 

You are correct about the hundreds that succeed, but what about the thousands that didn't succeed? I'm not here to pick at the lease program as I signed up for it knowing full well what I was getting into. I don't mind staying out for an extended period of time, but I would like to at least be somewhat compensated for my efforts...not have repeated negative paychecks.

I am also not complaining about small checks or expecting anything on any kind of platter. What I am asking for is fair compensation for my hard work. I have not had a paycheck since February 3rd, and it was for $194. In other words; it has been over 20 days since I was paid last. Since I was last paid, I have driven over 5200 miles. I was not compensated for 1 mile. To me, that is robbery. I have done everything that I possibly can to try and make this work. I am tired of being a beggar for the crumbs from the feast that I create. I have held my wife at bay for over 2 months, but I will no longer allow her to suffer. If Stevens even half-### attempted to compensate me, things would be different. And I honestly don't see how things would be different if I held on.

I am already averaging 3000+ miles/week. Not much can change in that area.

Take less time off? I take 4 days off every 5 weeks...so that I can see my wife, and my 6 year old son. Should I make them suffer even more by staying out longer and coming home less and for a shorter duration so that I can average the salary of a 16 year old working at McDonalds?

Fuel? I already have the most fuel efficient truck in the fleet.

No cash advances, but maybe I should start taking them out so I can at least get some kind of paycheck

There is a difference between paying your dues and being robbed. I tried it, and it did not work. Now we try the next thing.

 

Never did I say I need a steady paycheck each week, but I do need to make more than $194/month. Certainly you can understand that.

 

I feel your pain friend, and I don't have a loaded advise plan for you but it seems like your time off is a little off itself in timing. 4 days every 4/5 weeks is reasonable, do you use the time off account?
Alliance is a good program. I wish you the best either way.