Stevens Transport aviary

Thanks for the info Smokr.

 

"Just because you could boss people around on a construction site,"


Please, I don't "Boss" people around. That's not my style. I work with men and women in my crew by laying out what work or task they are to do and we discuss how it was planned on being done and if they have suggestions or questions about it we discuss it and come up with a final plan if need be. A lot of this depends on how good of a Journeyman it is or the level of the apprentices. If they have some questions I'll answer them or find out the answers for them or get them the information they need. I make sure they have the material, tools and help ready for them to do the work. We work as a team and treat each other with mutual respect as we are all there with the same end goal of finishing the project and making a paycheck, being safe and getting through the day as smoothly as possible so we can go home to our famillies and friends and hopefully enjoy our lives. I also work and interact with the other trade's foremans and managment and engineers. I do what I need to do to get the job done in a safe and timely manner. There are lots of personalities to deal with and fires to put out from time to time. I talk to people and my crew and give them direction if need be, not boss them around. I also do all the paperwork involved with reading prints , doing the as-builts, drafting conduit runs, writting up wire pull sheets, ordering material, doing time sheets and doing the weekly safty meeting.
Can these skills/ experiances be used in the trucking industry? Planning ahead, problem solving, working with others, being a team player, completing a task in a safe and timely manner and treating others with mutual respect? I would hope so. They sound like pretty good life skills to me too.
I'd like to also apologize to others for having to read these exchanges ( which are probably more then you care to know) and somewhat side tracking this discussion by asking a question about whether or not a heart condition causing a driver of over 30 years being unable to drive would possibly qualify him for SSDI. I was under the impression that was not only a truck driving question but also a question for everyone who has the right to get SSDI if they qualify for it and have been paying/ contributing into SS all of their working life. Sorry for asking and not knowing it all.

"As for you being an excellent driver, only time will tell. "
I have to agree with you there. But I feel confident with myself and abilities.

 

Hi
I am Starting Orientation 17th Oct at Dallas; I currently live in Maine (Aye 2+ day Greyhound Bus trip) have been reading these comments with interest very good advice info here thank you.

I had been out of work for 18 hard long months after leaving Werner (9 months) (that as they say is another story) right out of CDL School in Maine, I was then trying to find driver job but has been hard especially with the economy and living in Maine is as many recruiters told me a disadvantage.

I did get a free refresher course from my old School NTI, Bangor Maine, and was eventually successful been accepted with Schneider, I did the 5 weeks training but messed up my final SQT Part 2 (I got %86 the pass on All tests is %90) so failed training. No one to blame but my self the instructors went over and above and I left there on very good terms,

Sorry getting diverted here, so now I had 4 jobs offers in ONE-day man like waiting for a bus? So I decided on Stephens for many reasons, Equipment / safety/ Training (I only have 7 months on my DAC) they don’t seem to have a problem with my 55 years of age,

Have not run Refer before so should be interesting? I was told coast to coast, OTR which is what I what I wanted to do. (I have run both regional and OTR) Not run a Kenworth though ,Driven freightliner, Peterbuilt , Volvo and Mach.

Although I Live in Maine I am not tied to it in any way and want to relocate out mid west at some point, so fingers crossed third time lucky trying to get my driver career of the ground at long last, so any input good or bad would be appreciated

Good luck out there and stay safe
Celtic biker

 

Johnny,

Self confidence in yourself will go along ways towards your goal of being an excellent and safe driver.

I jumped to a conclusion about why you were asking, as so many come in saying they want to be a truck driver but are really looking for an excuse to collect government benefits without a true need.

Now a truly disabled person, deserves SSDI. A heart condition is NOT disabled. We do have differing views on this. I know about heart conditions, lived with one all my life. Watched my grandparents, both sides die from heart attacks/strokes...had two aunts die of heart attacks within weeks of each other...my dad had 4 walking heart attacks, before he was hospitalized....Me I have had two walking heart attacks...Now under control without medication.

I am tired of people looking for a handout instead of assistance through a rough spot.
social security is a ponzi scheme anyway...takes from current working people and pays benefits to those who no longer pay into the system. The so called trust fund does not exist, and has been spent by our spend happy federal government. (all of the federal government spends way too much, regardless of party)

Now may we both drop it, and agree that we just see it a little differently. We truly are not that far apart on the issue.

 

Well here I sit tonight in Campo, CA at the Golden Acorn Casino.
Had a slow time getting thru the POE in the Peoples Republic of California, so I ran out of time about an hour from San Diego.
What a shame.
Oh, well. Down the hill in the morning and see it I can deliver early. It's a cold storage, so probably isn't going to be a problem.

 

"Now may we both drop it, and agree that we just see it a little differently. We truly are not that far apart on the issue."
Sure enough TL.
Be safe and healthy out there.

 

Do you Drivers have any suggestions as to ways to keep in shape while OTR. Is it possible to maintain some kind of exercise routine and do any of the truck stops have exercise equipment. If you have some regement what is it? Do you walk,run, bike, weights, yoga and etc. And how do you work it into your day?

 

Diet and exercise. Diet and exercise...watch what and how much you eat, and do some kind of exercise. I walk. I walk around the town, around the truck stop...I just walk. I try and get 30-40 minutes per night of brisk walking.
I see some drivers doing pushups in the parking lot. Some carry a mountain bike and ride it.
You can run if you want.
Just do it.

 

Keep plenty of drinking water on the truck. Drink a big swig anytime you are going to leave the cab. This will help you control your hunger and or thirst, before you enter that truck stop. Stay away from all soda pop, diet or regular. Stock your cab with fresh fruits and raw vegetables to snack on. Prepare your own meals, stay away from truck stop fare except for Subway. Walk, walk, walk. Venture away from the shipper/receiver and truck stop. Stop at rest areas and do sit-ups, pushups, calisthenics or do them at the truck stop if they have a grassy area that isn't trashed by animal feces.

In short anytime that you can walk a long distance within your schedule do so. It will help get rid of the cabin fever you are going to get by spending weeks on end OTR.