Stevens Transport - Dallas, Tx.

Hey Emulsified, heard two rumors, dont know if you can verify but thought I would ask:

#1 Stevens is cutting the 5 weeks out of phase 1 down to 3 weeks out

#2 There were 9 fatalities involving Stevens trucks this last month? Something about a new driver cresting a hill at 60 and plowing through a lane of parked cars?

 

I just thought I would give my experience of Stevens. I think the OP layed out a lot of good facts but with Stevens it's like most things it is what you make of it.

I came to Stevens a little over a year ago with a CDL already so I did not go through the school so I cannot attest to that aspect of the financial side of things. But, I understand the Hotel the students are put up in is a total dive. I was put up in America's Best (or Worst a driver's like to call it). Let's be honest it is not the best hotel in Dallas but not horrible and is relitivly comfortable. Maybe a little lower quality of a Motel 6?


The students that the school pushes out are sadly lacking in many skills and many of them are goofing off rather than taking the redundant and usually boreing tasks that reinfoce needed skills. Some where fixing to find an OTR trainer and could not even straight line with the truck set up already straight.

The Orientation week is a whole lot of hurry up and wait. You get up at 0500 to try to catch a shuttle that 50+ other driver's are trying to catch to be on the yard by 0800. Needless to say that's a royal pain. Then you sit in a classroom setting until 1700 in which you are fed lunch and dinner. The food is crap but edible. You finish the rest of your day until 2200 working on skills in the trucks. Then again another fight too catch the shuttle so you can get some sleep to do this all over again.

Stevens had way more students than they have trainers. So there is always an extended wait sometimes up to two weeks. It is especially hard on the ladies. The trainers are like society. A few winners and a whole lot of losers. My first trainer yelled at me and insulted me on a daily basis. He never let me do any backing which was something I was very weak with. However my second trainer was great. He helped me polish my skills and did so in a positive manner.

The trainee trainee phase was the most fun I had at Stevens. I had a great partner who was a third generation driver and I learned a lot from him. Sadly I have found my experience was not typical and many trainees had issues with their partner. I suggest getting to know your partner before you two agree to go out together.


So now to the solo driving side of things. There seems to be winners and losers here. I don't understand it nor can I explain it. While the pay is for crap I usually get over 3000 miles a week. Once I did 3800 as a solo driver. I don't check every pay stub when it comes to deductions but after awhile you will get an idea how much you should be paid based on your miles. As of yet only a few issues and a call clears that up.

But, other drivers aren't getting miles and like my team partner (get into teams in a minute) they were taking things out of his pay that they should not have. Such as student loans that was paid for by the GI Bill and hotels like he had went to the Stevens school. One driver is only getting 1500 miles a week. Did he piss off the wrong people? Was he only running 100 miles a day having late loads. I don't know.

Teams. Don't do it unless you are married to you partner. They split your pay and reimbursements in half and you don't drive many more miles than what you would get as solo partially due to safety restrictions.

Home time depending on where you live can be difficult. And I have gotten home on the time I requested once. It's usually late of about a week. Once took them three weeks. Makes making plans difficult. This is an area where I knkw I am just another truck number.

So in the year I have to look back. Was it worth it? I would say yes. I have talked to drivers from CRE, Werner and Swift and their experinces and satisfaction was similar. It's just a matter of what kind of BS you are willing to deal with until you can get the experience needed to move on. If I had to do it again I would.

 

Any word on those rumors? If your not allowed to comment thats no prob., just say so.

 

As far as the fatalities I cannot cofirm nor deny. I don't know and I have not asked. I do know that there has been "several" rear-end accidents recently. Again I did not ask the outcome but anyone who has been driving can attest to the magnitude of this event. However, this is not Stevens fault. There is a following distance policy that is preached at nausaum. These are drivers who for what ever reason chose not to follow this.

As for shortening the training period I had not heard, but it was still 5.5 weeks. a little over 90 days ago so I am sure that that is just a rumor.

 

Dont know anything about any fatalities.
The training program is changing. To what is still a little unclear, but from what I understand thus far they are doing away with the trainee/trainee team phase and the trainee will stay with their original trainer for the entire 8 weeks.

 

Thanks for the replies. I am sure there are valid reasons, but trainee trainee was my favorite part of the training.

 

As was mine. perhaps a two trainer approach would be better than sticking a student with same trainer for 8 weeks.

 

Not mine. My dumb and dumber partner couldn't read a map worth squat. I once told him to get off at the Carlisle exit and take 11 north to the truckstop. He got off at 11 north...in Harrisburg. Nevermind that 11 north of Harrisburg is a posted restricted route. Another time we were driving through a snow storm in Quebec. I suggested maybe he should stop. His reply was he was going too fast to stop.

 

The training program is being reworked. It's still unclear as to the exact parameters, however it appears the trainee to trainee phase will be done away with (again). One school of thought is to have a trainee with one trainer the entire time, another is to have the trainee switch trainers after 5 weeks or so. Much like the finishing trainer concept. Have not heard anything written in stone yet. Maybe when I go back in this morning. (been off the last three days)

As for fatalities...well if you count gophers, squirrels and power lines...maybe.
There has been one accident with a fatality in the last couple months. There were a couple serious accidents where a speeding vechicle rear ended a Stevens truck. One where I took the original call, the driver (later to be determined drunk) rear ended our truck while our driver was doing between 58 and 60mph (in the right lane, clear roads, daylight) traveling at a speed that caused a serious 'bump' to the driver. That driver was cut out of his pickup and lived. His estimated speed was over 90mph.
There have been a lot of rear end accidents of late. Can't remember the exact number. Seven maybe? So Safety ran a blitz last weekend wherein all drivers were to be contacted and receive a special 'training talk'. Same things we've all heard before (and are absolutely essential to safe driving)...check your following distance! Be aware of your braking situation.
Six seconds folks!
It's not just Stevens. Most of us have delivered to places like Sysco, FedX and Associated Grocers and see those signs as we leave their premises...."6 SECONDS!"

I'm sure that's where the fatality report rumor has originated.

 

In my opinion I liked having 2 different trainers. This way my finish trainer was able to show me new and different ideas that the 5 week trainer didnt. I did learn some good things from my finish trainer (as well as the 5 week trainer).