Congratulations and welcome to the Stevens Transport family.

I have been with Stevens since I began. I too used my GI Bill and went to an outside school. I believe that is the best way to do it so you are not necessarily tied down to a specific company. If you keep your nose clean and do a year solo with Stevens, you can pretty much write your own ticket to any company in the industry. Stevens training program is regarded highly within the industry, and if everything goes well for you, maybe you will be happy from the beginning and not feel the need to move on. Good Luck and Semper Fi.

 

That's the Marine in you.... It really is as bad as you heard, you just are used to worse.

 

Stevens!!!

 

Dang I wanted to private message rickjp because he seemed to know the lowdown for south Florida but he's "banned or retired" LOL

 

I applied to Stevens, got accepted to go to the Colorado school. Company pay doesn't appeal to me but having a mentor and mechanic with warranty on a leased does. Bumps you up to making what the third year people are making after expenses. Taking you around the country for those six weeks after getting your cdl matter as well big time. Only company that will take me with my TN drivers license and help me get time off in North Carolina after May. Getting the most miles in the industry? Well that's what they say and works for me.

 

Good luck. Keep us posted

 

Got an update about pay, 40000 is on the low end for annual pay if you are moving about 650 miles a day 7 days a week with 26 cents a mile. I've seen other companies on these forums can't match the miles from Stevens if you perform week after week like this one pay stub I just saw. Don't forget the per Diem either that any company should help their drivers get paid.

 

Ok, 650 a day won't happen plus can't happen 7 days a week you would run out of hours. The company trip plans at 10 hours driving at 50 mph. So 500 miles a day is what is planned. Now you can drive more but it can be pushing it. I averaged around 2800 miles a week before I went regional. Also starting pay for the first 6 months is .28cpm so that would be $784 a week. At 6 months you go to .30, at 9 months .31 and one year .32 I believe. Miles are good if you run and learn to work the system. As for the per diem it is figured into you cpm a certain amount is listed as not taxable.

 

40k is better than 50% of Truck Drivers in the US... The Median income is around 38,5k or so according to the BLS.

I average between 28 and 32K a week, a lot depends on how you work your hours. I had my worst week ever last week due to getting sick and being in Florida so waited for a load, got it, got sick had to give it up, did a short repower, waited and got another load.

As often happens though, things work out because that sick day allowed me to get a reset in and have thours for a Florida to Oregon load that I am currently on, so this 3K load plus he 400 mile repower is 3400 miles in a 7 day period. So no complaints. You take the good with the bad and it all averages out.

 

Also, if you think leasing will automatically bump you up to what the third year guys are making you have a lot to learn. I have been leasing with them for 4 years, my pay has been extremely better than it would have as a company driver, but some people make less because they cant or don't want to learn how to run a successful business. It is possible to make $40k a year, but don't think everyone here is doing it. It is a training company and in my opinion, the best one you can start with, but im bias. They do plan the loads as was said earlier 10hrs at 50mph, which is good for planning purposes because it gives you some time in case something goes wrong. That means you will have extra time on the load so even if you could legally run 650 for 7 straight days in a 62mph truck you wouldnt be able to because you have to get loaded, unloaded, wait on appt times, etc. My advice to you is just pay attention to your trainer, learn some useful information and make it work for you.