Stevens Transport - Dallas, Tx.

Loved reading about the tolls on I95, really brought me back to olden times, like 1984! Big sign when you crossed into CT, This Road Condemned Drive at Your Risk. To pay for fixing the road they put up toll booths just after each exit as I remember, $.05 an axle! Just when I would get back up to speed, it was slow down, get in line, pay a $.20, get back to speed, slow down..... the length of 95!!!!!

 

Hello everyone, I am scheduled to begin school with Stephen Transport on December second. Some of the posts here are scary to say the least, but I believe I have realistic expectations about this company and the industry I am excited to be joining. Everyone I know is telling me this is a bad idea, but my gut says it will pay off in the long run.

I don't know what I need to bring with me to Texas. I don't know if I will hate driving. I have a friend that is a company driver with Stephen and he loves it. He has brought up the notion of team driving together ( we have been friends 10+ years and were room mates for about a year ). Can anyone shed light on how that would work and/or any min requirements for us to be able to try this?

I am open to anything, I have thick skin and have had some downright terrible jobs over the years. I am looking at this as a career and a chance to learn how to do something that I won't break my back doing. I have worked 16 hour shifts in a factory, I was a roofer for about 18 months and spent almost 2 years repairing lift stations. This seems like a dream.

In conclusion, please hit me with any info. It will be appreciated whether I like it or not. Thank you all and stay safe.

Signed
Hal

 

Well first I want to wish you good luck.

First off, what to bring. Dont bring more than a backpack and a big duffle. Most trainers wont have room for you to bring anything else. (and a shower bag too). Best thing to own is a laptop. With it you can watch movies, play games, and have a little "space" of your own. An Ipod or MP3 players is good, if you have the cash an e-reader with books or a gameboy will help as well. If you are tech savy get an android phone and easytether. I use virgin mobile prepaid, coverage sucks but its cheap.

Forget about team driving at Stevens. Not that it wont work, but if you want to do it go somewhere else, team drivers are in super high demand, I have seen 10k signing bonuses and such.

The training you will get is top tier. Tough out your 6 months and move on. Save at least $1k so you can buy out your contract with a big cash offer. I used my tax refund for this.

YOU WILL MAKE NO MONEY!!!!!!!! Make sure you have at least 300 in cash with you before starting. Dont spend it in school, thats you emergency fund if something happens when you are out with a trainer.

NO DRUGS OR BOOZE!! Half your class will wash out cause they cant pass a piss test. no lie.

A big part of the the training at stevens is to stress you out and see how you respond and if they can make you quit. (They are very military like, think boot camp without the pushups). Be prepared to spends massive amounts of time with nothing to do but wait.

If your instructors get abusive, video tape them on your phone. One of my classmates was smarter than me about this, and he got out of his contract scott free.

If you go to Texas enjoy it. There is a nice mall withing walking distance of the student hotel. I apoloize in advance for the shutte, Stevens Transport should be beaten for how they run it. My advice is get up first and catch the first one before all the pushing and shoving starts.

YOU WILL MAKE NO MONEY!!

Do I need to repeat that? Get your CDL, training, 6 months exp, and move on. Stevens does not expect you to stay, their busines model depends on everyone leaving.

If you get a bad trainer fire his ### ASAP. Better to have to wait a day than spend 5 weeks with someone you cant stand putting money in his back account.

Good luck!!

 

Sounds like someone pretty much hit the nail on the head.

I stayed 8 months until I found a local job, hme every night (for the most part), much, much better money, etc. But I dont think that I could had landed that job without Stevens.

As far as the shuttle goes, I drive past Stevens when I load out of our Mesquite yard and I noticed a big bus painted with the Stevens logos. I was going to ask Emul about it, but I forgot. Looks like that would be better than the vans.

 

Well Lad you've chosen a brilliant career once you've gained enough experience you will never ever be unemployed again think about everything you see around you has come via some form of transport there is estimated around 300k shortage of drivers so that means lots of work for those willing to put in the time and effort, yes you will get some bad companies and you will get really good companies its kinda like choosing which car to buy everyone says there the best however your the one that will ultimately choose what you buy the same as transport your friend is happy there so there must be something good about it. If the company was so bad like some say then no one would be working for them. And the company would of gone broke by now. Like they say there all pretty much the same just a different coloured hood.

 

Yea, it's a 28 passenger bus. Real bus. not a shuttle.
Looks like an old school bus repainted, but it's a darn site better than those smaller shuttles.

 

Thank you for your response. I don't have a laptop, shower bag, duffle or any of the other items you listed. I will basically have the clothes I can cram into a suitcase and the hope that things get better. I have been out of work for almost 7 weeks and resources are limited to say the least. The recruiter told me I would earn 350 each week, but I am not sure when that starts.

Drugs and/or booze aren't a problem as I have never found myself partaking in those types of activities. I am more or less taking this chance out of desperation and can only hope for the best. I am very glad to hear the training is top notch as I plan to make this a career. Not necessarily Otr, but driving in general. I have a sister I haven't seen in 10 years that lives 10 miles from the motel I am told I will be staying at. I am very excited to meet my nieces.

If I get a bad trainer, does that mean I can look forward to getting stranded in some random city? Thank you again and stay safe everyone!

 

Good Luck !!!

 

Your pays begins when you are hired. If there are no problems such as not passing the physical, pay begins on thursday after arriving. Other than the people who fail their drug/alcohol test on monday, more than 95% of the remaining will be hired starting thursday. Monday is always the big weeding out day. Of those 5% or so that are left, more than 75% will be eventually hired. The problems usually involve missing documents such as an ORIGINAL social security card (xerox copies, old laminated copies are not acceptable), or sometimes needing additional information from a health care provider regarding previous injuries or illnesses. Some will be blood pressure issues that are resolved in a few days with proper medication.
If you get a bad trainer, no you are not stranded in some city to fend for yourself. If you are taken off a truck by your request thru your conselor, Stevens will pay the motel bill and transportation back to Dallas where you will be paired up with a new trainer. Sometimes, another truck will pickyou up and bring you back or another trainer will meet you at whatever city and you continue on.
There is a constant pressure on the training department to keep trainees progressing with their schedule and if a trainee sits more than a weekend, someone has to answer to the management upstairs. No one likes those meetings, so believe me...they work HARD to keep you progressing!
Finally, for luggage, if there is any way to pick up a simple duffle bag from Walmart, do it. It makes it much more easy to stow your stuff. Remember, you will be sleeping with your belongings. (they share your bed space)

 

Don't forget the free food stamp program !!!!

And,

you WILL need them, at that rate of pay !!