Stevens Transport aviary

Several trailers that arrived at shippers with refers that wouldn't run, torn chutes and in a couple cases were dirty. (we have to clean them?)
Guess that doesn't say much for their pretrip.

"Again goes to training, and hiring practices, and the quality of people being hired."




....Tealea, what the hell does this have to do with the "quality of people being hired"? I'm guessing you're one of these Super Truckers that know how to fix reefers, fix chutes and you even help the lumper load the product...

IF Stevens has to hire half-##### drivers, that's their own fault. They should treat their drivers better. There's a reason Stevens can't hold on to good drivers worth a ####, so they have to settle for guys who can't figure that you can't fit a 13'6 truck under a 12'1 bridge. I speak for myself when I say that Stevens treats their drivers like absolute garbage. I am a hard worker, clean record, yet I will not be staying here myself. If it works out for you, great,but I wish people would stop straining their necks trying to absolve Stevens of all responsibility for what happens out there and instead blame the drivers for everything.

 

Most of the people stevens hire, don't make it 3 months in this business. That is a recruiting problem, and people NOT understanding this job, and should have never entered the field, but they believe the hype. And Stevens being a training company, and NOT having the management skills to treat veteran drivers with respect, they have a very high turnover.

No super trucker here, but I was always having to get trailers fixed, due to other drivers NOT doing there job, and stopping and getting the trailer fixed. Comes down to time and money, and many drivers not being able to afford to stop and get a trailer fixed, and lose the paid miles.

Did you NOT read all of my responses? Yes some of the people in Dallas treat the drivers like ______. But it does go both ways, some of the drivers treat the people in dallas the same way.

I worked for Stevens for 4 1/2 years. Completed 2 leases. I pass on my experiences, and my thoughts.

Look around you at the Stevens drivers who don't shower, don't take care of the equipment, and you will maybe understand the "quality of people being hired."

 

It is the hiring practices at most training companies that cause the huge drop out after 3-6 months. Unfortunately hiring someone that is simply too dumb with no common sense can't be overcome. It has become politically incorrect to point out that we all have different learning abilities or no common sense. As the comedians say "You can't fix stupid", and they're right. Setting a refer at the correct temp and making sure there is fuel in the tank is at 6th grade comprehension levels, traveling from A to Z in a certain amount of time knowing your average speed is on every 8th grade math test. Dropping off a trailer at a shipper knowing it has problems is just lazy and a reflection on the life standards they have set for themselves. They know its wrong but if they don't get caught doing it then so what.

A new trainee that wants to do well and has the aptitude will be a good driver. The ones that are doing this because it is the last bucket of life to fall into really don't care about doing a good job. That's why I don't eat at fast food chains, the very same people that just dropped out of trucking are now making your subway sandwich with as much care and diligence, oh yeah, they washed their hands . . . . sure they change gloves all the time . . . sure the fridge is at the right temp . . . .sure they changed the lettuce after sneezing in it . . . .

I am not supporting the trucking companies but I understand what they have to work with, but on the flip side they did choose their drivers.

 

It's not a recruiting problem, how can the recruiter possibly know what kind of person you are until you are seen doing the job. This is a training problem and it always will be until you can find experienced drivers that are willing to train properly and not just collect the extra monies involved in being a trainer. Not everybody can be a trainer that's for sure. I personally do not have the patience to train certain people who are unwilling to learn and just there to collect a paycheck. I have no time for people like that.

Maybe upper management can set some kind of bonus system up, to where the trainer will receive this bonus after and only after the trainee proves the skills he/she was supposed to learn like calling in the temp for lettuce or what ever, getting the trailer washed out etc. etc.

 

"quality of people being hired."
Unfortunately T that is trucking wide not just one or two places. Take a stroll through any truck stop in the country and check out the truckers, we as a breed are not the most up-kept humans on the planet. You can spot the good ones quick but there are a bunch of dingy ones.

 

I totally disagree with your statement. Other industries go through rigorous pre hire checks and interviews to get the right person for the job. In passed lives I have been part of that process and it isn't difficult to 'know' what an applicant is like. Trucking companies rely on the theory that if they hire a bunch a few will work out. When I went through drivers school I knew within the first few days who was going to drop out or not make the grade, I also knew who was there because it was what they really wanted to do. It would have taken a few minutes in a pre hire interview to save a lot of time and money on these guys it was so obvious. The drop out rate is no surprise to these companies as they have no references from previous employers, no interview process worth a #### and a 'throw it against a wall and see if it sticks attitude. They don't go looking for the best, they go looking for a pulse and hopefully a brain that doesn't have a felony.

There are very smart truck drivers out there that care about the job they do but they make up 10%, maybe 20% of all drivers out there.

 

If stevens choose to, they would vet the candidates much better than they do now, so yes it is also a recruiting problem.
And there really does need to be better accountability for the trainers.

 

On my 3rd interview, with my current choice to work for. 1st by the recruiter going over my application, second, a phone interview by the Hiring Manager. Next one is a face to face with the regional manager, who I will be reporting to. All to haul crude oil from the well heads to the pipeline heads.

 

B I N G O !!!!!! A company that wants the best drivers in their trucks and wants that driver to stay around and help the company. That is how you hire the best drivers, multiple interviews by different members of the staff who all have a say in the decision.

Sure this is dealing with an experienced driver but the training companies could do a better job of filtering out the 'no-brainers'.

Ok I'm done with this topic, we've beaten it pretty good.

 

I drove for this company for 8 mths was the worst 8 mths of my career!! If they are such a great company why will they not send job verification when another company ask's? I was told it take 5 Business days to do a turn around. The best thing that could happen would be for this company to go out of business!!! Poor management, poor freight times. Heaven forbid you go to the meat patch!! Good training company but you will starve as a driver!!! Run!!!!!!!!!!!!!