Stevens Transport aviary

Just a observation and question, Corporal. In this case, I would just tell them (that's right, TELL them and not ask) to dispatch the load to me, and give the other load to the other driver,since going to Sacramento is a pretty good run coming out of Paris, TX. That way you don't have to babysit the load. By the way, ya just gotta love that little Truck stop there next to the Campbells, don't ya? I remember a load I had out of there, got there about 1900, was a live load which wasn't supposed to load until the next AM but my DM told me to try to go in there and get loaded early. Anyhow, they had me go in, I sat for a few hours, then they told me 'no go', can't load you till AM. So I went to the truck stop, was about 10:15, parked. Then my intestines said "Hello, we've got some excavating to do" , so I got out of my truck and went to the truck stop door, pulled on it, and found out they closed at 10PM. Poop!! Subway across the street?? Closed!! Gotta say, I had a painful night that night, since I didn't even have any paper towels with me. One of the little things I don't miss about being on the road, I must say.

 

Agreed, running your speed like that, open your window every 45 miles and throw out a 10 dollar bill.

 

I know that truck stop well lol. what a dinky place. Thats why I always park ate the WalMart down the road

But Im actually at the Napoleon,OH plant. I did have the option of taking this load to Cali, but it would have taken me out of my dedicated freight lane and its a pain getting back to it. Plus I got decent preplans so plenty of miles. Here to N. Carolina, then to Alabama and back to NC. Then a run down to Miami and then back to Ohio.

 

When are drivers going to learn to say no?

Every time stevens calls needing help it is due to lack of planning and fore thought in dallas. Yes there are weather issues and the occasional breakdown but most of stevens we need your help is due to lack of manegement and planning in dallas. All has to do with the mind set they can always repower the load.

 

I will try to answer some of the points to the best of my knowledge.

.05cpm raise: I do know that only select JCT trucks have apu's. I also know that their truck payments run anywhere from $450/wk-$600/wk. Overall, their drivers are paying around $800/wk in total expenses. Did you know that JCT also pays FSC on both loaded and deadhead miles?

Truck side note: The truck side note is no different than what Steve's does...it's just named different, and it stops once it reaches $5000. It is a combination of a maintenance escrow, performance bond and time off escrow.

Their shop: Just like Steven's shop, most of the mechanics are probably not certified to work on a toy truck...much less the real thing. I won't let them touch the truck unless it's absolutely necessary. It sucks that they will try to rape their drivers on maintenance, but you have to take the good with the bad.

Regarding safety: Here is JCT's BASIC score:


And here is Stevens:

As you can see, they exceed threshold with fatigued driving...which is why they are switching to e logs. As far as unsafe driving goes: they are worse than Steven's, but JCT doesn't babysit their drivers like Steven's does. They also have faster trucks than Stevens. But the biggest factor that I see is that they are stuck in the "large carrier" grouping of 501+ power units. That tells me that whether they have 870 trucks or 18,000 trucks, they are in the same group. That means that their percentil will go up at a much quicker rate than a truly large company.

I am not sticking up for JCT, and facts are facts. I am optimistic, but cautious. I am changing companies because I am not making any money where I am. Anybody in their right mind would do the same thing.

Anyways, I'm done with this discussion because I don't want to derail this thread into a Stevens vs. (insert company name) battle. I do appreciate the concern and thoughts however, and please know that I have and will continue to do my research. This was not a knee jerk reaction and it has been in the makings for quite awhile now. I just haven't said much because people like to talk way too much.

Thanks again.

 

Good Luck Flight.
Hope things turn to your advantage.
you deserve a break.
You're welcome around here anytime. Remember....once a buzzard...

 

Well, my adventure from yesterday continues lol. Swapped with the other driver this morning and head over to Campbells to get my load. They didnt pre-load the empty that was there and that department is now gone for the weekend. I have to wait till Monday. Good Grief !!!

So all those pre-plans canceled. Sitting here all weekend but I am getting an extra 50.00 for doing the favor and 125.00 a day layover pay for having to sit here. #### shame to since I have 66 hours available to run. Why cant this ever happen when Im short on hours?

 

Look at the bright side...by monday you'll have 70 hours available!

sorry...couldn't help it.
I'm in the same rut. My offer to help has netted me a 385 mile load with 2 1/2 days to do it in...
TL, you're right. Will I never learn?

No good deed goes unpunished

 

No deed goes unpunished with stevens.

I am enjoying my nice quite 2100 mile run.

Will stop and have dinner with friends in laramie, and then hi tail it out before sun rise to avoid the winds on monday.

 

So to put out one late fee fire stevens has now had to change 6 loads. Yep makes sense to someone in dallas. Job security and acompilsh nothing. Not to mention the scraps they are throwing you to set all weekend.