Start Stevens Training Next Week!

freightwipper · Feb 7, 2015

ajb293 said: ↑

Stevens was not actually my first choice for starting a career in trucking. I had initially decided to go with Prime after reading threads on here / google etc. Prime however just outright rejected me at the recruiter stage due to unemployment. My recruiter that I spoke to at Prime I can say was the least "friendly" out of the 6 I ended up speaking with. I had verifiable unemployment via 1099's. To them this was just a no go and that is fine. I however was pretty disheartned as the recruiter didn't even want me to submit 9 years of verifiable employment history out of 11. I felt pretty rejected! I reached out to KLLM next however there was some strange issue over being "required" to have an address to attend school in Texas. I actually posted here about this and hindsight being 20/20 I think this was another way of saying "Thanks no thanks" kinda deal because of my unemployment.

Stevens was next! The conversation with the recruiter was steered towards will my unemployment be an issue or not. The recruiter said apply and we'll find out, so I did. I was then forwarded to a woman who interviewed me / requested I send in the 1099s to verify the unemployment. She got back to me via phone with in 20 minutes and said I was good to go. Naturally I was elated but I also was nervous wondering if this would really be a good fit / good start cause quite frankly there are a ton of horror stories out there with every company. I feel a lot of that has to do with the individual though unless you are CR England apparently

I continued reading on here and reddit and anywhere else I could to get further information about Stevens. I know there are other companies out there that may be able to provide better but Stevens kinda opened that door first. Nothing I came across seemed too damning and I'm actually very much willing to trade "pay" for better equipment, safety, and good training in this industry.

Lets go back to CR England real quick before I ever visited this site I actually sent them an app based off what I saw on youtube about 10 months ago. They eventually got back to me but I was already in training for a job as an Emergency Communications Officer and passed that up. I did end up speaking with them again and they too out right rejected me based off the information I told them regarding unemployment. I did not feel the sting of rejection like with Prime however

Overall I'm very happy with how things unfolded and I feel like a positive situation awaits. Time will tell. KLLM actually called me back recently except it was their regional truck hirer in the area I'm at. He had no clue I didn't have my CDL and asked if I was still interested in working for them We spoke about my current situation and he was very pleasant and wished me luck with Stevens.

Mizzou that is awesome, can I ask how you ended up with Stevens?
Click to expand...

Thanks for sharing..
I personally think Prime has the best training and pay for a noob. As they spend a lot of 1 on 1 time and it's $700 in training and then .43 per mile

Stevens does have very nice equipment however they pay their drivers the lowest in the industry if not the lowest from what I've seen and heard.
See around they pay now .28 starting off and .32 after one year which is highway robbery. I do not know of any company that pays less than that.

It's all just a start and a learning process in the beginning.. once you get experience you can get a better job.
I started at terrible pay in the beginning because it's sometimes tough to get started but once I got 6 months experiences sooo many places returned my calls and wanted to hire me.
Good luck with your journey and remember safety is #1

ajb293 · Feb 7, 2015

Thank you freightwipper, I appreciate it.

ajb293 · Feb 9, 2015

Called to confirm my schooling. Final call on Wednesday to get my bus bicket. Nice leisurely Thursday to Saturday ride. I think greyhounds have the plugs on every seat for laptops / cell phones chargers right? Its been 7+years since I rode on one but I vaguely remember the AC to NYC having that.

Any suggestions on packing? Going to pick up a suitcase, backpack, or dufflebag tomorrow.

mizzou42 · Feb 9, 2015

What time are you set to arrive in Denver? I should get there about 10:50am unless grayhound changes it between now and wed.

ajb293 · Feb 9, 2015

Same time

pasmurf · Feb 9, 2015

Congrats. Wish you the best.

SHOJim · Feb 10, 2015

Good luck to both of you! Keep us posted on your progress!

ajb293 · Feb 11, 2015

It is getting real guys. Less then 24 hours til I'm on a bus and possibly trucking around the USA for an entire year or more! Money is tight tight tight and I'm a little worried but I should be alright. I'm pretty sure I have everything I need minus the Atlas at this point. I'm arriving Saturday and Sunday will be the DOT physical day. Monday is paper signing day with Tuesday and Wednseday being permit days. Thursday will be the permit test. I have a nice CDL book to read through the bus ride and along with the tests. Passing the permit is not going to be a problem for me.

The real challenge will be the drastic change in lifestyle and the natural demands of the job. Working 12hours or + a day is no joke even if you are just "driving". I'm still excited little nervous but nothing too bad going to miss my dog Baxter a whole lot but he is with my mom who loves him.

SHOJim · Feb 11, 2015

Good luck to you. It's good that your dog is with someone who will take care of him.
Just keep your eye on the prize. Get your year in and doors will open like crazy😄

KMac · Feb 11, 2015

To put it in perspective for you, this has been my last two months, and keep in mind I am a solo driver. From 12/12 to 02/11

Amarillo TX to Aurora CO to Holcomb KS to Temple TX to Laredo TX to Biloxi MS to Destin FL to Tallahassee FL to Lake Wales FL to Houston TX to San Antonio TX to Lewisville TX to Dallas TX to Amarillo TX to Cactus TX to Tolleson AZ to Chula Vista CA to Redondo Beach CA to Oxnard CA to Denton TX to Dallas TX to Denver CO to Holcomb KS to West Sacramento CA to Wilmington CA to Yuma AZ to Cedar Falls IA to Perry IA to Buffalo NY to Bronx NY to Swedesboro NJ to Wilmington DE to Winchester VA to Accomack VA to Morris IL to Geneva IL to Cheyenne WY to Lexington NE to Emporia KS to Kings Bay GA to Jacksonville FL to Baldwin FL to Auburndale FL to Miami FL to Ft Myers FL to Ontario OR

Where I type this from as I am doing a 34 hr restart.

That is every pick up and delivery in a two month period, coast to coast and back again, to California Trips and two Florida trips in the Winter Months, NY and LA, all 5 regions of the country, etc etc... If you truly want to see the US, it can and will happen for you.

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