Stevens - top shelf!

I find it difficult to continually read all of the negative and remain silent. Here are some comments based on my experience as a company driver with them.

Stevens is by far the most safety minded company on the road. Facts follow:

Their training is the longest and toughest. Yes, you will drive until you are blue in the face, but it will be legally and safely....you are training to be a truck driver. There are good and bad trainers. It is getting better. They do NOT go "dumb and dumber" any more.

Yes, the truck is slow. You don't need to go fast....plan your trips and time..you will deliver on time and safely.

No, you don't get a jake for six months. Some say that is not safe. Stevens drivers are trained to operate the rig safely in mountains, etc..without it. All professional drivers need to know how to operate safely in all conditions without a jake. Also, is makes you increase your following distance by more than 8 (safe again). You will be tortured on the cb by drivers when going down mountains in a safe and slow manner. You can take a mountain too slow every time...you can only take it too fast once.

No you don't get cruise for six months. Again safety. But I sure was glad to get mine when the time came!

Stevens mandates safe and legal driving. Your logs will be audited and verified against the trucks computer data down loaded when you return to the terminal.

If you feel unsafe, shutdown and notify safety. They back you 100%. No driving on ice...mandatory shut down. We carry chains in winter, but as a company we do NOT chain up. Stevens feels if the weather is bad enough for chains, it is not safe to operate.

Never asked to run illegally....Was always reminded to be safe. Shut down due to icy conditions....Dispatcher's comments: "No load is worth your life...thanks for being safe...we will get the load there when conditions permit a safe delivery."

The terminal...I challenge any truck driver who has seen Stevens complex to tell me about a cleaner, more efficient complex. Some data here:

Driver's lounge, cleaned daily by staff....Yes, at times it needs more attention, alot of drivers keep it nice when there. Clean showers, free coffee, free (yes free) laundry, bunk room, free ice for drivers coolers. Free haircuts from local cosmetology students in the lounge. Free driver's storage.

Courtesy car (free) to use to make walmart runs and take care of personal business while on the yard.

Equipment...by far, top of the line, well maintained equipment. Had some maintenance issues on road (all of you will...flat tires, etc..). You will never be stranded waiting on approval for maintenance, etc....You will be fixed and rolling. Stevens pays for you to wash your truck and encourages that you do so.

Drivers. They have good and bad. All companies do. Listen to and surround yourself with the professional drivers (both Stevens and Alliance). They will do anything to help you and make your life with Stevens great (in Dallas and while on the road).

Pay is low...they all are. If you run and are a professional driver...you will get the miles. They have to run you at least 2k a week to operate their trucks at a profit. They want all drivers to have a minimum of 8K per month.

There are times when you will sit and wait for a load (welcome to the business). I never sat in one spot for more than 24 hours without a load assignment.

I was financially strapped and needed to relocate my household goods from GA. Stevens gave me the time off, loaned me the bus ticket $ to GA to get my car, loaned me the gas money to drive my belongings back to Dallas and extra $ to eat while doing all this. Yes, it was a LOAN THAT I HAD TO PAY BACK, but they made sure I was taken care of. I never went hungry on the road as they have a very liberal pay advance policy. You will learn, but AVOID PAY ADVANCES. That money has to be paid back on your next check. You will learn how to save money while on the road.

Stevens never lied to me about the cost of training. They remind you on your first day of training that you pay for the school, hotel, etc. You are given a detailed lists of all costs, up front. They will provide you this list before you get to school if you ask.

The lodging is not the pits. It is not the Hilton, but the hotel is clean and transportation is provided to the terminal. You are loaned $70.00 per week for food.

You will be fed at the terminal during training....some lunches and dinners will be provided during the long days of training...The food was really quite good.

Yes, there were days of bad communications. Yes, there were some pay issues (all corrected immediately when brought to the attention of the appropriate dept). Yes, there were loads assigned that were not possible (just get under it and get it moving), but it was always fixed.

The administrative staff was always friendly and all about the driver. Stevens ensures you have every tool you need to do your job. My counselor was fabulous....You have one of these assigned. Called during the week, just to make sure life was good, etc....Always there if I needed some admin help, etc.

The rules.....a ton of them. Refer is tough....Temp checks, sensitive loads, live loads, repowers.....it is the business. Play by Stevens rules and you will go far there. Read the driver's manual and live by it and you will be fine. If you are not safe, you will not last at Stevens.

Did I have issues with some of the DMs. Sure. You will too, anywhere. Anything open communication could not take care of....Nope. Ever on hold a long time....Sure. You will be on hold some too...Did I ever get great loads...more than I was on hold or had communication issues for sure!

Run legal, run hard, be professional, communicate, help your DM when they need a short load run or a multi-drop load taken. Never say no to a load. You will run more miles than you can handle. ALWAYS SAY NO TO ANYTHING THAT IS NOT SAFE, you will be backed by Safety 100%.

Are there Stevens company drivers making good $. Yes, but you have to keep the door shut and wheels rolling.

Are there Alliance lease drivers making good $. Yes, but you have to keep the door shut and wheels rolling.

When you are out on the road, you will find out Stevens has a great reputation. Go into any truck stop and ask what they have heard or know about Stevens training program or the company. Better yet, ask a professional Stevens driver.

I left Stevens for personal reasons....none having to do with this fine company. I anticipate a return there in the very near future.

No matter where you choose to go, if you are safe and professional, you will do fine. There will be good days and bad days anywhere.

I will say my good days with Stevens Transport outweighed my bad ones one hundred to one!

I hope this helps!

Be safe and always help a fellow driver. Your company or not!