Stevens Transport aviary

Check out the repowers. Sometimes it's a winner.
Tonight I had to talk with 4 trucks before a trainee team accepted a repower.
Single drop, 1700 miles in 2.5 days. Empties at Americold and I was able to put a preplan for another 1300 mile load from the same place. Two training teams and one full team turned it down because they didn't believe such a good load was up for grabs.
The other driver was short on his 70. The trainee team gave up 480 miles. The other driver will have just enough time to deliver it.

Last tuesday, a G1 driver got a coast to coast run because no one would return my call.
This morning I had a 950 mile single drop load (two days) to offer. Drivers wouldn't return my call. Finally one of the DMs came over to tell me to leave her drivers alone. I showed her the load that was available. She called back 5 minutes later to take it, but I'd already given it to another driver. Three more DMs called asking if it was still available.

Point is, check it out. Ask questions. Sometimes there are some really good 'deals' waiting to be had. Just ask questions.
I'm willing to bet there will be another couple of these tomorrow. Bad weather has a way of freeing up loads.
I know I have an orange juice load tomorrow morning from Pennsecola to San Antonio. One drop. Dispatched late and driver wants to go home for Christmas (in GA).

 

They are certainly not the repowers that are offered to me.

 

Well I was laid off from American Airlines again for the 3rd time, I am qualified for TAA which is basically Texas paying for training but it will NOT pay for Stevens because they are NOT a training school. You may want to make a phone call to get a list of training schools that your GI Bill will pay for. But the GI Bill is much different than a TAA Bill. Call someone on your GI Bill and ask.

 

Burn me once on a repower, shame on me, burn me twice, shame on me, you won't burn me a third time.
Emulsified, you are honest with the drivers, I would be promised a great load after doing a repower, only to have that load taken away, and given to one of the "special" boys... the ones who were slipping pay under the table to the dispatchers and DM's.

$100 a week would get a driver the best loads.
$20 would make a log violation go away.
$100 got your truck through the shop before you were done with your clearance sheet.

I helped out on loads at times, but it took some really bad repowers before I learned to say no first. And never take a load that is already late...

 

Sorry to hear of your lay offs. Are (were) you at Alliance? I heard on the radio that alot of them are getting pink slips this week and most are moving somewhere else. I know a few guys out there and I hate to see this happen. Sucks for that facility to close.

For over two years I was working 10 hour shifts at night and went to school full time during the day to get my A&P. It was bad timing on my part as 9-11 happened a couple of weeks after I started but I stuck it out anyway. I now have that cool looking card in my wallet but I have never signed anything off. Now I am kind of glad that my plans of working at Delta or American never happened.

Good luck in whatever you choose to do next.

 

Got to thinking, if you are wanting to get into trucking, check out Weatherford College. They have a nice program at the old military base in Mineral Wells. Maybe the TAA will pay for that one plus you wont be tied down to the company for any length of time. They also have grants available through the state. I came this close to going there but ended up I didnt qualify for the grant and I had to pay the money up front.. Anyway, worth a try...

 

Yes I was from the AFW base. As of today that base will be closed. Only a hand full of AA maintance mechanics will be there supporting TEASL. As far as what I will be doing is starting training with Stevens Jan 2nd! Time for a career change airlines are so unpredictable. If I can get my CDL at least I will always have a job somewhere.

 

Oh thank u. I was going to try C1 but this TAA bill is taking way to long and this is the 3rd person taking charge of that bill. The bill is approved but them getting the list of names that are qaulified over to TAA is taking for ever!!!! I haven't even collected my 1st unemployment check yet The longer I wait the sooner I get behind on bills lol So I may have to stick it out with Stevens for 1 year. That's if I pass or they want me to pass, I hear all kinds of bad things about how they can pick and choose who they want to pass.

 

Wow! I knew that it was soon, but I didnt realize that it was today. I pickup cars at the railhead on the other side of the runway. I see the runway, FedEx, AA, Bell, etc everytime I leave. Will be hard to look over there and see AA closed.

In my opinion Stevens isnt the best company around but it is an excellent place to go to school and get trained. After you have been on the road for 6 months or so, if your not happy start looking into other jobs.

In fact I would keep an eye on Schneider (sp) as they pull out of the rail yard at Alliance and you are home daily. They had me set up for orientation after 8 months with Stevens.

But then again, you may love Stevens and retire from there!

Good luck buddy!

 

Yeah I was thinking about that but I will owe them for the training. My understanding is if I leave before 36 months I can't work for anyone else until I pay them there $3700 something they can hold on my record I guess? I would like to do local runs.