During your first year with Stevens Transport, how many States did you drive through?

Sounds GREAT! but completely contradicts my recruiter where the hazmat and passport are concerned.... I was told they do NOT reimburse for hazmat, and he told me they DO cover Canada, the US, & Mexico, and that I would need a passport. Luckily, I found out about a passport that is the size of a credit card, NOT the full blown passport, this one is good for everything except traveling to different countries that require stamping.....so it's good for Canada, Mexico, cruises & alike. Only costs $%% versus the almost $350 or so for a regular passport.

I'm going to be calling him again soon, so I'll verify, but I am certainly grateful for the info!

 

So, just to be clear, you work AT Stevens Transport, and that's how you know these things?

 

yes, emuslfied works at stevens, as part of the awesome night and weekend crew...

Yes, stevens has frieght in the 48 states, canada, and mexico, but you will never enter Mexico, all loads are transferred at warehouses on the border.

Canada loads have always been an option, not a requirement. some drivers like going into canada, others don't want to, and some are not allowed into canada due to canadian laws.

 

And you'll probably get those in Winter 2014.

 

Excellent!! Thanks SO MUCH for clearing that up for me....I just love this site! I'll assume he's correct on the Hazmat issue as well....seems he knows more than my "Customer Service Rep".... I look forward to meeting him someday!

I'm going to go ahead with getting the Passport Card, for the $$ it's worth it.....I just need to find out if they'll reimburse for hazmat now, or do I need to wait until I'm actually working for Stevens do get it...

 

The company will cover both hazmat and passport cost. But I don't believe they will cover retro active. Training is 240 hours driving. Finish all 6 weeks of online work. Weeks 1 to 3 require full week on truck even if you have the required drive time for week. Weeks 4 to 6 will popup once you hit your required drive goals. Then a 1 week grad class then grad fleet for 90 days.

 

Thanks, but is all that to get your CDL, or to start off as a driver? I already have my CDL-A, and am a recent truck school grad.... I was told 4 days of unpaid orientation, then off with a trainer for the 240 hrs (3-4 weeks) ....come back and get my own Black & Chrome rig. I don't know anything about 6 weeks of "online work", or any of that other stuff you mentioned.....

Perhaps I should call back and talk to a different "Customer Service Rep"....and see if the story changes!!

Certainly appreciate the info!!

 

Ok on my laptop now. I am a rehire and had to go through everything again, left for more than 6 months. Just finished my 240 hours. So training is 4 days(Sun - Wed) orientation(unpaid) if hired on Wed or later if on hold then the paid stuff starts. 240 hours of driving (2 major mountains no jake a 1 mountain with jake, West coast and the north east), which can take 4 - 6 week. Fastest done is like 35 days. Now time depends on your longevity in the drivers seat and loads. Sometimes you may have to wait a day or two for a load to get ahh how do I say if nicely, ehh slaughtered and cut up. So that will play a roll now we are also getting some snow up north so there is always a chance of weather shutdown. Plus all the other possible issues. Oh and if you get on a dedicated truck that will hurt you because the run a route so to speak and usually won't get all the areas or mountains needed. Also of note is there are restrictions the on how many hours\miles that the truck can run and that you can drive I guess I was lucky the last 3 weeks we ran the max plus a few which is 19 on and 8 off at 950 miles a day. If you are doing right and have a trainer in higher regards some of that can be overlooked. But they can cause issues if someone messes up, I hear. Now when on the truck you need to complete multiple online videos with quizzes, as well as a 100 question final. All open book. Most instructors have a hotspot on truck, if not most Denny's and McDonalds have free wifi. Connect with a laptop or your phone. They take around
2 - 3 hours depending on network speed and if you get any wrong. Have to rewatch the whole video again. NO REWIND.
Once that is done it is back the the yard for Grad class which is around a week I hear(combined the old or2 and grad classes) which will cover a road test and skills test(45 degree back) then going over logs(again), paperwork, get your assigned DM, meet some planners and other department personal(OS&D, compliance, Meat, Produce, etc.) Trip planning, trip sheets, seal logs and labor receipts and other stuff. Toward the end of week you will get a clearance sheet which must be finished to leave yard and should be assigned a truck( which may still have another driver in it) once it is empty you will inspect it(body damage, interior damage etc.) I personally also did a full hardcore PTI and had them replace 2 wheel seals and the exhaust gasket(shop was not happy). Then you can move in and if all is cleared on your sheet and truck is cleared go to dispatch and get a load(well I think to your DM for first load).
There are also some other minor stuff out there. Don't be in a rush to go out, learn as much as you can from your trainer. There is a lot to learn and digest, it is not just driving you basically are running a small business out there. Stevens has the best training in the industry that is why it takes a little longer.
But once you get your year in if you have a clean record etc. you can move on to a better job or stick around for longer at Stevens. It is not so bad. I have friends in other companies that got paid more per mile than I did before I left but my checks where bigger. I got the miles when they sat at the TA or Loves waiting on loads.

 

$.26 CPM!?!

 

You get a raise to .27 at 90 days then .28 at 6 months then .29 at 9 months the .30 at one year. But I would take .26 at 2600 miles then .30 at 2100 miles.