Stevens Transport aviary

Most certain to be screwed on sunday. Saterday morning may be worth answering. Enjoyed my day at home on sunday had 0 hours available. Hit the road at 0300 this morning headed to tracy CA for a tuesday noon delivery. Did 3400 miles last week with a 8.3 mpg.

 

Excellent performance!

 

My wife just quit, I tried for a week and decided there was a better time....classic huh?

Sure some of the older drivers already know this but Im gonna say it anyway. Dumb and Dumber is officially back!! Mike made it very clear to my class that we would the first group involved in reinstating this method of Phase2 training. The transition should be complete in the next few weeks!! No more finish trainers at Stevens. Mike was excited that this was happening, at least he acted that way.

You all know how the first day goes, signature x 500, tour of campus, and reading materials for first round of test. Physicals tomorrow, already lost 3 today from lack of paperwork when they arrived. See how many we loose tomorrow.

What do you get when you take two new drivers and put them on the road together in the dead of winter? Any good answers?

 

What does the first part mean?

Um, as for the second part, more vacancies? <Pilot humor, you see> Maybe Stevens plans to send both of them to Florida for the winter?

 

You get . . . . . . . . . . +

 

After completing school you go out on Phase 1 training. This is a five-7 week period with an instructor trainer. You have 5 major regions to cover and 8500 miles before you can be cleared by that trainer.

Then...it was until now.... that you went out on Phase 2 with a finish trainer. This trainer was more or less a shadow trainer, making sure you have all your trip plans in order and that you are able to run the truck efficiently on your own. This Phase 2 was 3 weeks long.

Now Stevens is bringing back a program they discontinued in 2007 called the dumb and dumber program. Not officially called that but I have already forgotten the technical name for it. This program replaces the finish trainer in Phase 2. Instead now two students fresh out of phase one will be paired together to operate a truck for the 3 weeks of phase 2. Some people really love this programs and others despise it.

I have no reserve either way. I would have liked to have had a finish trainer but I did not get into this profession to be pampered so I will roll with the punches.

Looking around today I am a bit nervous about this program......some....lets say, not so appealing candidates for partnership later on. Oh well, time will tell all. Im in it for the long haul!!!

 

Don't worry Shiftylots, you know, that's a two-way door. I'm the mature looking gentleman in the front row that was wearing the 82nd Abn hat today, we'll chat tomorrow. When it comes time to get your wing man, everything will work out. You just can't judge a book by it's cover.

 

As I said, in it for the long haul. I am the big blond guy that was three seats to your right. I do not judge!! Good luck in class!!!

 

you'll do fine out there just remember what u learn with your phase one trainer and rock out

 

Shiftylots,

I can tell you that when I was at Stevens (in 2008 ) dumb and dumber was still in effect and I went through it. It's an interesting way of training, and is effective in some ways. First, you are going to know things that your partner doesn't and vice verse. You actually relearn what you know better (if that makes sense) when you teach it to someone else. In this you'll be definitely teaching each other on a daily basis.

My very best advice .... ready? Pick a D&D partner that you trust. Someone you get along with is really important. Sharing a hotel room and going to class together is one thing, but D&D is way different.

Money is going to be a severe challenge. This is the way it worked back then. One D&D driver is assigned as the lead driver. This means nothing as far as training and skill goes, but means everything when it comes to money. Only the lead driver's fuel card is used, and only the lead driver can have expenses reimbursed. So, that said, only the lead driver get's money taken out of their pay and then has to wait to be paid back. This is one of the reasons that you NEED to find someone that you trust and get along with. If you work together as a team and share food expenses and such things will go much easier. If not, and you're the lead driver, you're gonna go through some really lean times. Now I'm not certain why things are set up this way ... and they may very well have changed, but be careful about who you team up with.

You need to be vigilant about the rules as well. Get caught doing a U-Turn and it can mean that neither of you gets to continue. It's a short time, but if you're with the right partner you can make a friend that will last a lifetime.

We, my partner and I, had fun on D&D. We both got along well and the time seemed to fly. I actually missed him after we got our trucks. But the lessons we learned together were seriously worth it. I'm not a people person, never have been, but I learned patience in my life thanks to this simple training method. He's still with Stevens and is an Alliance Trainer now.

Good luck, I'm sure you'll do fine.