Stevens Transport aviary

flyingswine · Jan 7, 2011

Corporal_Clegg said: ↑

Glad your back on the road my winged pigman friend

Did you get your netbook back fixed?
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sure did, and a air card also! Now we are broke in Albuquerque NM. Blown turbos on brand new T700. Waitin on counselor to call me back and let me know what is going on, whether or not I will get a hotel or another trainer. So far my O-1 has sucked. Been out of class for nearly 1 month and on 2k miles! Seriously. Starting to get discouraged!

FEELTHEWHEEL · Jan 7, 2011

Wyoming this time of year sucks at night, but u being from S.D. should do better than most, have a good trip. San Diego good place to hang out if u can find a place to park, lots to see in this city.

navyvet1994 · Jan 7, 2011

Ryyus said: ↑

Christoff -

Let me first apologize if this has been detailed somewhere else previously, and feel free to ignore if it is TOO much information <smile>

(speaking from my experience)

1) Stevens will reimburse you up to a certain amount. For me, it was up to $200 if I drove my own car to Dallas (basically up to the cost of a bus ticket). I don't know if that is the upper limit or not, but I am sure it is based on what it would cost them to bus you, so it could vary but in my case it was up to $200 (with receipts to show gas etc).

2) Having your CDL in hand does not shorten your training time. The only people who get shorter training time (for example on road) are those who have past and recent driving experience. Training Department will look over that persons driving experience and make a judgment based on that. (Based case by case , each person may be different) I have seen experienced drivers come to Stevens and only go out with a trainer for an abbreviated time table, just so they can observer etc and sign off for.

3) Essentially the training for a new driver (CDL in hand) is as follows:

O1 (Orientation 1):

* 4-days

* Sunday is first day of class. Typically the next day, Monday, morning you go through the physical and drug test.

* You will spend class time hours listening to various departments (Safety, HR, Payroll, Compliance, etc, etc) Note: You will sign a lot of papers <smile> I don't think I signed as many for the military and mortgage combined.

It is painless, just takes time, but is necessary.

* You will also spend a lot of time on the hill (what they refer to it as) driving around their track and backing up etc.

* Eventually you will go out on the road (at night for me) with a few of your classmates, for your road test. He basically observes you and signs a card - you must pass this portion (don't fret, it is not that difficult and they will take you out again if you mess up)

* By Wednesday (around lunch) you are pretty much finishing up (unless they are waiting for background paperwork or any loose ends) The gals that take care of this process are thorough, polite, and quick.

Trust the process, they have had lots of practice

During that afternoon, provided you have your driving test card, meal card and everything completed, you will meet with (forget his name now) and he will sign you in to his system and begin matching students with Trainers. You may leave in hours or in some cases you may not leave till the following day. No biggie, not all Trainers cycle through the Dallas yard at same time, besides you are on the payroll, so enjoy the break. Often they may fly you to hookup with the trainer...

* Your next step is a min of 35-days out on the road to get your miles (min 8000mi student (unless they changed it)), your mountain passes (there are weight reqs also) w/o jake and with jake, all five zones, and bumping your dock in the North East. It goes by quick, focus on your job (learn and observe what the trainer teaches you, they are the BEST) and you will be done before you know it.

BTW - you are assigned a Counselor during your first four days, and he/she keeps track with you to get all your reqs completed

* After completion of the requirements you will come back to Dallas. Depending on what day that is, will determine how fast your start the next portion (it begins on Monday and lasts 3 days).

O2 (Orientation 2):

More classes, a Trip Plan, Backing Test, Road Test, Coupling/Un-coupling, PTI, and I may be forgetting some things....

At completion of this 3-day training segment, you will go back out with another Trainer (think they call them Finish Trainers). This is different than the previous road time.

...back on road for 4-5 weeks (min 7000mi 'truck' not student as before)

This 4-week portion you will be running the truck as if you were solo. By that I mean the Trainer takes a more hands off approach now, and you will do the Trip Planning etc etc

After completion of this portion, you are now ready for SOLO, congratulations and you now start Grad Fleet Training

Grad Fleet Training:

G1 ~ 0 to 30days, your Driver Mgr does 80% and you 20% of planning etc

G2 ~ 30 to 60days, your Driver Mgr does 50% and you 50% of planning etc

G3 ~ 61 to 90days, your Driver Mgr does 20% and you 80% of planning etc

If you are still with me <smile>, I hope this has benefited you some.

Enjoy the training, enjoy the ride, run safe, and run legal.

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I hear and read alot about preplan, can I get examples of how this is accomplished and with what equipment or books???

TLeaHeart · Jan 7, 2011

a preplan is just the load planners and dispatch, have set you up with a load before you are empty... you have no control over this.. Well some, be on time for your appointments so they can depend on you. Your DM can also look ahead and "request" a certain load for you.

sinister4g63 · Jan 7, 2011

Hey everybody! Just checking in with an update. I finished OR2 and was stuck waiting for a trainer till a couple days before Christmas. Got one and had to fly to Houston to meet him. Really cool guy! I have been lucky with the trainers I get based on the horror stories I have heard. We ran hard for 8 days and then the DPF system totally took a crap in Valdosta, GA. This happened on New Years Eve Eve lol! So they said it can't be looked at till Monday, which was 4 days wait. So trainer went home as well as I for the New Year holiday. I figure why not, I'm only 200 miles away. It was great tot be home for what turned into 6 days. So after checking in with my trainer he said to meet him back in Valdosta ASAP. I get back to find out that he is getting a brand new T700 and we were both directed back to "The Yard" to get the new truck. I have 12 days left on truck. I now sit here on the bus on the way back to Dallas trainer sitting next to me lol! Can't wait to get into my own truck! Almost there!!! Hope everyone had a great holiday! I'll be checking back in on a more normal basis seeing as my wife got me a netbook for Christmas

Smokr · Jan 7, 2011

Desert Dog said: ↑

Well after about the third time listening to the different recruiters that have visited my class, yesterday I made my final choice.

The recruiters are good at what they do.
The key for me was to take the time to research, read, and meet drivers well before I ever stepped into class.

I did not shy away from asking questions and I have to say that most of the recruiters were quite candid about what there job exactly was.

With the company recruiter visits plus the informative threads here on TTF, I have decided to go with Stevens for my externship.

I want to thank everyone for their input and sharing what you have been through with Stevens.

I want to thank Smokr for his commitment to share from the beginning his journey with Stevens.
That was an immense help!

My last week in class and I take my final exam on Friday!!

Wish Me Luck!!
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LUCK! Hope Stevens works out for you.

Smokr · Jan 7, 2011

Okies, heya all.
Unloading in Louisville, then picking up 20 miles away. That load goes into rail yard outside Chicago. I'll stop at the safety meeting being held in Monee IL, then deliver it.
I think I go home with a load from Morris to Ohio, but hard to tell. No preplan yet for a change. Usually I have two or three preplans. Guess with all the weirdness of the last three weeks things aren't back to 'normal' yet.
Had a decent first year with Stevens. Hope the next one is as good or even better.
I'm hoping I get home this weekend. Spent New Years weekend in Chicago, got to see a lot of folks I haven't seen in as long as 25 years. Folks from high school and such. It was great.
Still, hope I get some hometime. Could definitely use some peace and quiet in familiar surroundings. Christmas was great, but I spent the whole time going from relatives to relatives houses. No rest, so to speak.
Hope you all are staying out of trouble, and those gremlins stay far away!

TLeaHeart · Jan 7, 2011

Bite your tongue smokr...keep them out of the light, no water after midnight... #### gremlins... hard to keep track of too....

Good to hear from you sinister... soon you will be solo... it is nice after the long training period.

desert dog I hope you enjoy your training.

Made my delivery in Denver this morning, and was sent to Holcomb KS, and by the time I arrived my load was ready... love that, as now I have plenty of time to make Keasbey NJ by Tuesday AM. Not the drive hard for 10 hours, shut down for 10 hours, rinse and repeat.

JMONEY · Jan 8, 2011

I saw a t700 today, not a bad looking truck. Was wondering if L/O get a chance to get one. Wanted to know from L/O trainers how many miles do you average with a student, also what can one expect to make over a non trainer L/O.

TLeaHeart · Jan 8, 2011

Yes lease operators can have a t700...

I don't train, so can not answer your question, but Stevens limits the miles the truck can run per day with a student.

Do you work for Stevens Now? If not, you must have one year with Stevens, with no service failures, and no accidents to be a trainer.

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