PLEASE HELP!!! Stevens Transport Or Werner Enterprises??? PLEASE HELP!!!

The average turnover rate in the trucking industry is about 130%. There's no need to rush into it. You want a trucking job, there will be one waiting for you when you're ready.

 

I don't know much about Werner. Werner has dry van, Stevens has reefers which equal more OTR driving. Stevens training is top notch using new/nearly new equipment. Companies with CDL trading schools are all going to be similar in training. They want their freight moved safely and cheaply as possible. They aren't going to cut corners because of high liability with their name on the side of the truck. The company will pay for your training if you agree to drive for them a year or two or three to pay off your tuition. Get you a year experience driving and you can always move somewhere else that might pay more com.

 

That is not true at all. I get paid 36cpm, most entry level dedicateds pay 29, and I have been offered 38cpm on ALL miles to train on some accounts up north. If someone is single and can move, Werner dedicated is a great place to get experience, and I ended up staying a year longer than I meant to. A lot of accounts have little bonuses and some have guarantees. Like I was just offered a dedicated support account, moving one to the other, and they guaranteed $900 a week... and they offered it to my last student as well.
The regional and 48 pay only 26cpm, but you max your clock out, so you still make like $700 a week.

The best point, is go compare the income of the companies for newbs on indeed or something like that, and the last time I checked, Werner was at $38k average, while the other started companies could barely break $30k, while CR england was like $28k.

And 1 in 6 Werner drivers have been with them for over a million miles. Once you have experience, you get treated pretty decent. I really liked my dispatcher, but he was dedicated. The good drivers and good dispatchers are used on dedicated runs. 48 and regional are pretty much proving grounds, because nobody in their right mind would offer a dedicated account to someone who could screw it up. Werner isnt the best company, but they are sure as hell better than CR England or any of the other starter companies.
There is one exception, but I dont call it a "starter company" because they are way more demanding. Thats Prime. They put you through 6 months of training, and pay you $600 a week. So, they expect way more, but they also give you a living wage in training. They also have APUs.

Oh, and Werner lets you idle the truck, all of our trucks have idle or opti-idle. Its not too bad, but I like how prime has APUs because they allow better control of the temp in some ways. Werner also has those bunk heaters, which work insanely well. So cold weather is no problem. Above 80 the trucks will idle, so really hot weather isnt bad either. The opti idle will run the truck intermittently in weather that is kinda mild.

 

You have a 5 page post with most people telling you Stevens... What more do you want? My answer is still to look for something better, lol.

 

I am getting my year experience at Big Blue. It has had its up's n down's for sure. Most of the issues I have had were things like knowing what to do if this or that happens, who to call etc. My experience is a little different since I do net-ops. I haven't had a breakdown so far or been hassled by DOT too much either. I have been treated well for the most part and as long as your respectful nobody will hassle you. I have had some very nice trailers and some that probly should be retired as well. The tractors I have driven so far have been pretty decent, not fancy but get the job done. The pay has not been great but I didnt expect it would be so no big suprise there. I am out of Omaha and run to North Platte and back, freight has dropped off some in the last few months. I have learned ALOT in these last months. After a year I'll look for something else but I dont regret my time at Werner. I cant comment on Stevens since I haven't worked there. Whichever place you choose my advice is to not get in a hurry and ask alot of questions, be respectful but firm. You can get in a jam in a big hurry anywhere you work so be careful and dont take chances. Best success to you wherever you go.

 

If you run reefer, you are going to spend a lot of time waiting to get loaded or unloaded. Dry van on the other hand is normally drop and hook as is in Werner's case. There are occasional live loads or unloads but if you make your window on time then the wait is usually minimal. Stevens does have it's own CDL school in Dallas and you incur a commitment with them which equates to paying them if you leave before the terms are met. Werner on the other hand hires new drivers fresh out of school. They will put you with a trainer and you will spend usually a minimum of 275 hours behind the wheel before you finish with the trainer.

I originally went to Stevens but they gave me a hard time about the meds I was on at the time. I got off those meds and went to Werner and had no issues. I spent 6 months as a company driver then took the plunge and became an owner/operator and I haven't slowed down since. I get good miles and my profitability is way up because of my driving habits and maintenance regimen. Werner gave me the opportunity to succeed and that's all it took for me. Spent the time to prove myself.

Good luck

 

If you are really smart, and they will take you, Gordon is the only way to go starting out.

 

And I'll second that. : 0)

If you're going to be a rookie some where, why not have excellent equipment, terriffic driver support and never asked to run illegal. Gordon.