Stevens Transport aviary

Went to Dallas for school with Stevens. Looked at and thought about several schools in Indiana, but am glad I went with the 'at the moment cheaper' solution. Schools can be cheaper over time, but the way I went with Stevens, I had to only cover my own expenses while making a bit, instead of financing a smaller amount and having payments due if I was working or not.
I'll pay more going through Stevens, but I think I got a lot more than guys I know and I've met some who went through even the larger 'schools'.
Most of them drive pretty darned badly, and weren't taught some pretty important things. And they spent almost no time in a truck, and when they did, it was local to one area.
Stevens does a better job of covering everything, and I was getting paid a little to learn it.
I don't remember much about the schools I checked out other than TDC I think it is, and CDI? And some local community college. They turn out some pretty raw students who owe an awful lot for what seems pretty little.
I owe Stevens about two months pay out of my first years income. But they paid me after three weeks of schooling, $350 a week to learn to drive by driving all over the country for two months with two different trainers.
So basically, I lived on nothing for three months, and earned in that period about what I have to pay back over the next year.
Make sense? Did to me. And so far, nine months later, I'm still glad I did it. And now I'm not earning big bucks, but I can back and snake through areas I used to think would have been really near impossible. And I get a bit more respect than most company drivers do. More than once one guy would ##### about me going 45 in a construction area, and others would say something like "Not seen a Stevens pulled over or on it's side, so leave him alone."

I like saying something like, "When was your last ticket? I still have to get one, even in my 4wheeler."
Haven't gotten any snide comments back after that one yet.
The schools cost a bit less, but you only got three weeks training, mostly in classes, and mostly driving for an hour a day near the school. Pfffft.
And now I'm at home and showered and fed, and on the wireless, and don't have to go anywhere until Monday morning. I kept my record clean and play professional, and I get home weekends after only nine months on the job. And my region is around home, and I drive right past hometown up to three or four times a week, sometimes with time to drop in for a shower and meal. This week was 2,511 miles, and could have been 2,900+ miles if I shagged up around Chicago all day tomorrow. Instead, I'm taking the down weekend, and it was my choice for a change which to do. I can complain about Stevens varying departments not communicating with each other nearly well enough. And the garage can be Soooo slow! But otherwise, I really can't complain, and enjoy my job a lot. And the equipment gets the maintenance it needs. And I always get reimbursed for truck fluids and needs. Tomorrow I'm buying about $10 worth of cleaning supplies for it and it will be back in my pocket by midweek. End of next week it gets oil and washer fluid, and I'll have that back in a couple days. And you get paid several times a week instead of once and having to make sure you were paid for all your runs the right amount all lumped together.

Okay, cheerleading mode exited.
lol
Like I said, home and resting up. They run you hard all week on the bakery fleet. Or Kraft Dedicated, or Nabisco Midwest, whichever you want to call it. Dropped and hooked a total of 11 trailers during seven runs totalling 2,511 miles. One burned out trailer side marker light, one bald tire replaced at a T/A in four hours I wish I didn't have to sit, and one late delivery way out in Cedar Falls IA. That was a live unload at a small Kraft warehouse where I had to block the small side street while I backed into the lot, opened doors, then backed in. Another live unload yesterday that took five hours. Rest were dp+hk. Saw several nice sunsets and a couple sherbert sunrises, two thunderstorms, and today some winds that moved even my 32K lbs of crackers and cookies. MPG is steady around 7.5 and should make the max bonus this month. Will have over 10K miles for the month.
Truck is about ready for an alignment and grease job.
Well, that's about it for now. Probably log in again midweek!
Keep it shiny side up and between the lines!

 

Have many days like that yet.
Let us know where you bump dock, and how it went etc. Mine was Porkys in NY state somewhere near NYC. Small, cramped, close and tight. Took forever and hit it hard. LOL
Still slam a dock hard when it's a new one about half the time. Or harder than I prefer anyway. Even my first wasn't damaging in any way. Just hard!
Have yet to touch anything except a pole pylon at a FlyingJ or such, and barely tapped that thing, but a hit counts.
Oh and bent the lfo trailer rim and deflated the tire on a vicious curb in a truckstop. Tire was fine, but needed new rim. Dumb rookie mistake and cost me $300.
And more close calls than I want to think about.