Stevens Transport aviary

About the only criteria they really care about is matching smokers with smokers. If a Trainer goes home for more than a couple of days, you will come off of his truck, and be assigned a new trainer. A week break in your training, and you may have to start all over.

 

Starting over would not be fun. I would imagine that Stevens would make every effort to try to prevent this from happening.

 

Well at least I won't have to start over. When\if I have to switch trucks I wonder how long I will have to sit in one spot. Hopefully not for a week.

 

It's been very busy the last two weeks. Barely had time to catch my breath. . . Now sitting in Fultonville, NY. looking at the next two days off. I'm ready for some down time.

I take a simple approach to backing and parking. First of all I prefer to stay out of dark, small, crowded truck stops like Pilot and Loves when shutting down for the nite. My whole approach evolves around . . .

"Taking the path of least resistance".

I will always look for the easiest place to park in and the easiest place to leave in the morning. The odds of you bumping another truck or trailer is very high when trying to park in tight, cramped, dark places.

You are most likely to have a backing accident within your first 6 months of going solo. So you really have to take your time and take it slow.

If you even think you need to get out and look. Do it!!!!
Don't take any chances. You really have to take care and protect your CDL.

Alot of guys have been driving for 10+ years and make backing up look really easy. They have had alot more practice then you. Don't let your ego take over and start trying to impress everyone with your backing skills. Its just not worth it. Besides there is no shame in how long it takes you to get parked. However, there is shame and a Safety Dept. to deal with if you have a mishap. . .

It has taken me almost 2 years to get really good at backing. But I know the first time I'm not paying attention. That is when I'm likely to have an accident. So far, So good. My driving record is still clean. It takes deligence and care to keep things that way

 

In my opinion alot of people want to put the cart before the horse. The truck has a clutch for a reason and it needs to be used to assist the transmission and avoid hard shifting.

Yes these trucks can shift without using the clutch. I probably use the clutch about as much as I float. About a 50/50 ratio. It depends on the situation.

First of all. When you double-clutch you begin to develop a feel for the timing required in catching the next gear. Clutch-Out. . .Clutch-In. Its a 1 then 2 cadence. Until you learn to shift properly using the clutch how can you expect to shift at all, not using the clutch?

That logic just does'nt add up to me. . . You always have to hit the sweet spot in order to grab the next gear. Double-clutching helps you to develop that skill.

Besides you need to use the clutch in different scenarios and situations.

A trucks shifting patterns change on a number of different circumstances.
1. empty vs Fully Loaded.
2. Going up a Hill or Down a Hill.
3. Small gradual down grade or up grade.
4. Rounding corners.

Just to name a few. Its harder downshifting in the lower range then in the high range.

All of these things affect newer inexperienced people the most. You have to practice. And it takes alot of practice. You have to become intimately familiar with your truck and how it shifts to get this done.

So learn to shift using the clutch first. Then move on to Floating.

 

I have never heard of such a thing. . . Companies are usually asking for proof of employment going back the last 3 years. They want references and possibly an ideal of how much you were making. This helps the prospective company determin if the salary they are offering is something that works for you and will you be happy to stay with them at that pay scale.

Having to prove that you held a job over the last 3 years and were paid more then $13K per year sounds excessive and really out of bounds to me.

I hope you can get over this hurdle without too much trouble.

It seems to me if someone is looking for a job and wants to work then why put up unecessary road blocks in that persons way. It just does'nt make any sense. . .

 

Thank you Jerry. I hope you enjoy some well deserved time off.

 

Lou Ann is extreamly through in her work. She processed my application and verified all of my references.

I would think a W-2 form or a 1099 form would satisfy the requirement. Unless this stems from some IRS rule. I really don't see why they are making a big deal. Besides I don't think its really any of their business if you took a job making $13k or less per year and why you did it.

There must be some legal stipulation somewhere in the hiring rules. In this case I would think all companies would be subject and have to comply and not just Stevens.


Also, Sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. You did the right thing being there for her. I think everything will all work itself out.