Werner or Stevens!?
Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Rookietrucker89, May 22, 2015.
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Now to find good drivers with 2 or more years experience, that is a competitive market. And a driver with a clean record and a good attitude can pick and choose what is a best fit for themselves. No state has a negative unemployment. I live in a state with just a 3% unemployment, and yes there are help wanted signs every where, but there are still people unemployed, and some of those are just not hire-able, due to their victim attitude, that the world owes them a high paying job, for no work. -
I started 15 years ago. I went with Stevens. They sucked. The pay sucked. But I'll tell you what, they have the best training program for rookies out there. Period.CougFan Thanks this. -
I can vouch for Melton. I started here Feb or last year. Starting pay at the time was 33 cents. Still was way better than the other companies with me having no experience. Shortly after our starting pay went to 37 and I think it's now 39. I kept getting raises to keep up with the starting pay until I was at 41. Then at a year I bumped up to 46 where I'm at now. I've called around and talked to other companies and no one else can match or beat that so far with less than 2 years of experience.
Flatbedding is a different animal. You will cuss and swear to yourself at times that you are going to quit because your stupid tarp won't do what you want it to, or the snow is screwing you up, but once you're done and get a warm shower you tell yourself it really isn't so bad and continue to do the job. As a company driver the pay is good. The miles are good during the spring summer and fall but it slows down some in the winter. It's fine just plan for it. In almost a year and a half I've only had to deliver or pick up a load between the hours of 2200-0600 a handful of times. Most appointments are during normal business hours because not many people need materials in the middle of the night. Flatbedders help each other a lot. It's much quicker for 2 men to fold a tarp than 1 and tips and tricks are generally forthcoming.knuckledragger Thanks this. -
Wow, thanks everyone for the replies and insights! Okay, so Werner is out of the picture... that dedicated account is .34 CPM at 1700 miles a week only... yea I just don't see how that is going to work for me!
So now I am down to Melton or Stevens. I was actually mistaken, the starting rate is .28 CPM at Steven's. But, from what the recruiter said, the freight is 100% drop and hook and 100% no touch freight. This is possible, so said the recruiter, because Steven's goes back and forth between distribution centers. They do not go to stores. Anyone know how accurate this statement is? They said because of this I'd be averaging about 3k miles per week.
Melton sounds good because it starts at .39 CPM and on my 12th month I'll be at about .46 CPM. They said their drivers run about 2200-2300 miles a week. I know flat bedding is a different animal, but I am not worried about working hard. I'd actually prefer that because it's good exercise.
Both companies sound good, but I am nervous about the low pay with Stevens. At my current job now, after taxes and insurance, I bring in $500 a week. Will it be possible to make that much (after taxes and insurance) with Steven's once I've gone solo? If so I might choose Steven's. I just want to make sure that my family is taken care of.
Thanks again everyone! -
In OTR jobs miles are per week as in 7 days.. out.
When I was with Shaffer I saw Stevens in docks and sometimes even next to me.
Unless they're talking about some special account they're BSing you.
Melton is way better than both, that is if you want to do flatbed.GraceLives Thanks this.
Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.
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