Stevens Transport aviary

Good luck dispatcher, keep us updated on how things go.

 

Thanks Cpl. Will do. Where are you spending the New Year?

 

Im in a hotel in Colton, Ca just outside of San Bernadino. Its a really nice hotel with 42 in flat screen TV and 4 HBO chanells to watch. Will be back on the road on Monday.

 

I just want to wish all the Stevens drivers out there a very Happy and safe new Year. Everyone Enjoy your time off if you have it and watch out for the drunks if your driving this evening. Everyone keep it between the lines and rubber side down.

 

Well it's been a push today. Got to Kraft in Stockton at 0630, dropped the trailer and picked up an empty, then headed to the J just down the road.
Had a preplan by the time I did my log, then finally got dispatched around 10am.
three pick produce down thru the valley.
Been driving like a wild man, but made it. Got the last pick and slid into a local TS with about 9 seconds to spare.
So I'm in Fresno for the new year.
Whoo Hooo!
Leave tomorrow morning for Cedar Falls Iowa. Have grapes and Citrus on board. Not a heavy load,either. Only 64,000#.
New storm coming in off the Pacific tomorrow. I can already see the clouds coming in, so I'm thinking I'll run the 40/44 route, then cut north in MO to KC and continue on. I want to avoid WY with that storm right behind me.
However, it will probably catch me in Iowa eventually.
Happy New Year everyone.

 

How am I spending New Years Day?

mmm, Im kickin back, in the Heated Jacuzi looking out at the snow capped mountains. Wouldnt have thought my New Years would start like this. Thanks Stevens!

I can tell you that the last couple of years have been hard. The store I had been managing for 4 years closed down due to the economy. It was very hard finding another job. When I applied for Management jobs, I didnt have enough experience. When I applied for non-management jobs, I was over qualified.

Took a temp job with the Census, and liked the work there as a help desk tech. After that I tried selling furniture for 6 mos, but again the economy took its toll. The store ended up going from 20 salesmen down to 6 . I was one of those let go.

During this time, we learned alot about living on less, and enjoying and appreciating what we had. We learned to be more efficient. There were times when my faith wavered, I am ashamed to say. But in the end I can see how God was leading us through. We never went without the things we needed. I have reconciled with God over my thoughts during this low point in my life and am thankful for his forgiveness and understanding. We werent always comfortable, but there are people that have it tons worse than we did.

Now I am starting a new career. Its not an easy job, and I have no fantastic ides of getting rich doing this. But I do feel that it is a solid career move and that my family and I will be much better off in the coming years as I gain more experience. I appreciate what Stevens does as a training company. And I appreciate having a job.

I also appreciate the understanding and support I get from my family. Without them, this would all be for nothing. So I look for this new year to be a great one and I pray that you all will have a wonderful and safe new year as well.

 

Sitting on a load again.I told the training dept. I would do them a favor and get one of the students a N/east run so he could move on in his training.I do them favors but I expect good things in return.This is actually hurting me on miles and money as Ive had to turn down a couple of repowers in order to get this driver a N/East.Oh well,better believe I will be calling when this driver is done.Randall told me he or Karen would hook me up for helping this driver out.Gonna call them on it.The holidays are over and time for this truck to roll.Not gonna accept any excuses from my manager or dispatch its time to roll. Its been a tough month,seem to be doing a lot of sitting in the last month.I can run solo on some of these weeks what Im running w/two drivers.Thats not gonna cut it.Im a nice guy,and I like training.But im not gonna continue to share my truck for solo miles.We shall see what happens in the coming weeks.

 

Dang Emulsified sounds like I've been chasing you around for the past few days lol. I'm sitting at the J in Ripon tonight waiting to deliver to Kraft in Stockton tomorrow. Good to know it's a drop there: I've been trying to raise someone on the phone there for the past 3 days to determine if it was a drop-and-hook or live unload but no dice.

Also have the same pre-plan you had. Pickup produce down in Fresno headed for Cedar Falls, IA. I too will be taking the southern route if that's the load I get. Load pays 1928 loaded miles, and taking I40 - US56 - I35 etc... is 2013 miles....a 4.5% variance. Worth the extra fuel and time to stay the heck away from Wyoming in the winter, IMHO.

Big downside to that load is most likely will be going to the muddy swamp that is the Waterloo IBP once empty to get a meat load heading back east. That meat plant plays hell on my truck's interior lol. It's called Waterloo for a reason: that whole place sits below the water table....so the ground is wet 25/8/366. It's infinitely worse in the winter.

 

# Cpl Clegg: I can relate to your last post in many ways. Especially in regards to the economy and how it has affected my career path and my family as well. Our backgrounds are similar in that way it seems. Glad to hear it's going well for you! I realize that life's not always gonna be a bowl of cherries. Simply trying to obtain the skill of professional driving so I can be a good provider one day soon, that's all. Your posts have helped to put my mind at ease. Thanks and Happy New Year!!! Taking the greyhound this Friday from CT-Dallas for Stevens school. 1 day, 19hrs. Godspeed!

 

1 day, 19 hrs on the greyhound bus that is! Big adventure!!!