Stevens Transport A year in review

update/ My driver manager tried to say that I never requested the reroute, with archie on the phone, his boss, and I directed him to the qc message requesting the reroute, and the answers I gave. Archie approved the reroute that I took, but stated that it has to be approved before moving next time. I did request the reroute as soon as my driver manager came to work, as the weekend crew would not do it.

Other problem that I had to get Cat involved in was the pay from home, to windsor, as Kelly and Archie were saying it is only from my drop to the next stop, NO mileage for going home. Cat had to state it 3 times that I am to be paid for the trip from the last drop to home, or from home to the next pick up, whichever is less. They were trying to pay me for 52 miles, not 227 miles. I have heard from other drivers that this was happening, and that company drivers are limited to 50 miles to go home.

I have always watched my pay very close, and have had limited problems, but occasionally there will be some. But lately, the attitude is that they can not be wrong, and then Archie says they are only doing what management has informed them to do 6 months ago, which I then called him on as I can show from previous statements that I have been paid the empty miles from home to my next pick up everytime. Goes to the attitude of management towards the driver, and driver pay.

I picked the load up that I can not deliver to Laredo on time, which I informed them of before accepting the load. today they changed my appointment to Monday, which is possible, if it quit snowing here in erie PA. so I am sitting here in PA, watching the snow, and waiting for hours to come back, so that I can move. And since I am under load, I can not do a 34 hr reset per Stevens policy. I wanted to not even pick the load up, until I had reset, but that was not a possibility. Some times there policies and thought processes just amaze me. But it makes Stevens look good, as the load was picked up on time, but it will be delivered a day late.

I could have set for 34 hrs, picked this load up, and delivered it on monday a day late. Instead I picked it up, after arguing with them, and now am setting for 24+ hours, waiting for my hours to come back, as I am up against my 70, with 8 coming back, and then 11.5, 11.5. The attitude is that the driver does not know what he is talking about.

This attitude is getting worse with each passing month with Stevens. I have defended Stevens in the past, but this constant arguing with them over pay, hours, loads, is getting on my nerves.

 

JCT and stevens had a lawsuit going, and JCT could not talk to Stevens drivers. I think that lawsuit has been settled now. Yea Stevens trys to control everything. JCT would not hire me, stevens would, and I do make more take home pay as an alliance driver than I would as a company driver, with Stevens. Comparing Stevens Lease Only, against any other companies Lease/purchase is difficult. It is like leasing a car, that you turn in every 2 years and get a new lease and a new car.

 

I have listed my miles, getting miles is not hard, it is hard to run those miles profitably and efficiently. If all you are worried about is the miles, then alliance is not for you. If you are willing to run a business, with all the risks, and a few of the rewards, then alliance is for you.

Getting reloaded quickly depends on the area of the country, and your reputation with the company on picking up on time and delivering on time.

still have a bad taste in my mouth over yesterdays arguments about pay, which I finally won, and got paid for what they owed me.

 

First and foremost, leasing from stevens, you will never own the truck. They plan on the truck lasting them 4 years, and still be under warranty, so that they can sell it quickly. If I as a driver run more than 12500 miles per month, the warranty will be used up before the 4 years are up, reducing the resale value. The lease is set up to benefit Stevens, more than the driver. This is NOT a purchase program at Stevens.

The shock value is understood. And thanks, as it is more about hard work, than luck, but I will take any luck i can get.

 

Running the shortest, quickest route, getting the best fuel mileage you can. Conserving loggable drive time, so you can get another load.