Stevens Transport Aviary . . cont'

Discussion in 'Stevens' started by Dryver, Jun 4, 2013.

  1. Greyghost828

    Greyghost828 Bobtail Member

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    Nov 5, 2013
    North Carolina
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    Thanks Shoestring, Thats the Peterbilt dealer I was looking at. Bout 20 minutes from the house.
     
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  3. golfnut1103

    golfnut1103 Light Load Member

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    Oct 31, 2012
    Hillsboro, OR
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    No bonus. The theory is that if you can go to Canada, then you have the opportunity for more loads. Not sure how true that is.
     
  4. Curb

    Curb Light Load Member

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    Aug 26, 2013
    Gainesville Florida
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    I'll give it a whirl. My cards on the way to Stevens now. Hope this doesn't bite me in the ### lol
     
  5. Dryver

    Dryver Road Train Member

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    Nov 30, 2008
    Sioux Falls, SD
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    Canada has a stigma like NYC which is not deserved. If the paperwork is processed correctly before you get to the border crossing it easy and quick. Also your engine sounds different up there, kinda like Canuk . .Canuk . .Canuk
     
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  6. maxwelltie

    maxwelltie Medium Load Member

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    Mar 13, 2010
    Brookings, OR
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    I did Canada back in the 80's (another company) and with Stevens. The difference in paperwork between then and now is night and day.
    I don't do Canada anymore, just stay in my corner of the world, but it's easy.
    I did get more loads and was always running when I did Canada. And I liked it up there (except wintertime)
    So if you can go, it will definitely make you more money.
     
  7. maxwelltie

    maxwelltie Medium Load Member

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    Mar 13, 2010
    Brookings, OR
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    Da*n wind sure screwed up my week.
    Had to shut down three times on this load from Cali to Fort Worth.
    Late with it now. Won't be there until tuesday noon. Was due today.
    Then off to the yard for some spiral adjustment to my ulna and radius. :biggrin_25525:
     
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  8. The Unatrucker

    The Unatrucker Light Load Member

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    Mar 29, 2014
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    Canada would be worth it if you got a bonus or higher cpm. Classic Stevens, keep giving you turd sandwiches until you're convinced it's a nice juicy brisket burger
     
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  9. Emulsified

    Emulsified Road Train Member

    3,663
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    May 6, 2010
    Dallas, TX
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    I guess I'll poke my head in with my opinion.
    Stevens isn't for everyone and depending on your place in life, may not be good now but fine later...or vice versa.
    Remember, Stevens is a training company. Its where most start out and get a start.
    When I started in this business (1972), you had to know someone to get into trucking. (or at least a good company). No one wanted to train new drivers, but the unions forced (limited) apprenticeships and that's where we started. For many reasons that's changed.
    If you could sit on my side of the wall for just one day and see what goes on with (new) drivers, you'd whistle a whole different tune.
    Stevens (and every other training company) spend HUGE amounts of dollars to right the results of stupid decisions made by drivers.
    I would venture to say that virtually all the drivers that post or visit this site are largely responsible and dedicated to doing a job they can be proud of. They take pride in what they do.
    But that isn't the case for most drivers.
    Most won't be in the business in one year, much less working for Stevens.
    Not Stevens fault...just a poor job of vetting by the recruiters. But then there is a lot of government money to bring in ANYONE and put them thru training, just to find they won't stay in the business.
    And before you judge that, remember...colleges and universities are exactly the same.
    How many people earn a degree in whatever, but either leave that industry or never work in it?
    Just to give you an idea of what we deal with on a typical day, let me tell you some of the 'incidents' of just the last week:
    One driver disassembled his front bumper and grill to get to the headlight so he could change the bulb. Then called and was asking RR to 'put it back together'.
    I counted 9 drivers that I worked with since Saturday that ran completely out of fuel because "Jill didn't tell me...". When asked if they look at their fuel gauge they responded, "no". so who do you suppose pays that $150 call out fee to bring them 20 gallons of fuel?
    The number of drivers that can't find their sleeper without Jill's instruction, much less Interstate 40 amazes me. Three drivers I dealt with refused to move because I couldn't send routing directions to their QC. All three missed their deadlines. One (Burris) had a $500 fine for our being late.
    Yes, that's right...many shippers and receivers charge Stevens a late fee if we're not there and checked in on time. They don't have to be on time, but we do. Last week Stevens paid more than $10,000 in late fees due to late drivers. A very typical week.
    This is late due to driver error, not dispatch, weather or road conditions.
    Here's an example from last night. Driver started his day too soon (poor trip planning), ran out of time as he was sitting at his final. He chose to go to a truck stop and not deliver, rather than wait, deliver then deal with safety to get him out of the receiver. After finding out I wasn't going to repower this load to someone else to sit on it while a new appointment was made, he called me and everyone else at Stevens, every name in the book..and a couple I never heard before. In his mind it was our fault he would be forced to stay on this load an extra day (and give up his preplan). Keep in mind, when I surveyed his status in the afternoon, he had checked into the final (early), never sent a message or called about the problem until AFTER it was too late to do anything.
    But it's Stevens' fault.
    In companies that pay more and don't have so much of this kind of garbage going on, the drivers either step up to the plate and do their job, or they're charged for the mistakes and poor decisions...or they're sent packing.
    I can't begin to tell you the number of drivers for Stevens that have had serious accidents, are brought back to the yard for more training and sent back out. Other companies would simply send you packing with a ding on your DAC.
    So while Stevens isn't without it's warts, there is a lot behind the curtain the average driver is not aware and in most cases, decisions on what to do about it roll in the driver's favor.
    There are also many drivers that have stuck around, paid their 'dues' and are doing just fine. They have settled into comfortable routes, make good miles and good money. But you don't get that your first year or two. It takes time.
     
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  10. FozzyBear

    FozzyBear Heavy Load Member

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    Feb 24, 2009
    Spokane, WA
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    Meanwhile, sitting at home again. Took a trip to SoCal and back to Spokane, probably do the same thing again this week. I got this job after putting in my time at Stevens. Stick it out and then look for something better if that is what you are looking for.
     
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