Stevens Transport

Thanks Jim. However, I unable to send PM's at this time because I don't have enough posts.

 

Jumping in here, I am an Alliance operator. While talking with 3 others when on the yard last time, we came up with the following question for anyone considering the alliance (dark) side .... Do you want to spend anytime at home with your family for the next year?


Yes you do, DO NOT lease. The first year is the hardest, and you need to run and build up those maintenance and home time accounts. You also need to build your reputation with your DM and Dispatch, and the planners. Will you pick up and deliver on time? Will you help them out of a bind? Do you keep them informed of any problems causing you not to be on time?

Until you build your reputation up with Dispatch, you will sit between loads, as they will not pre-plan your loads.

Anything you find in the first 30 days, Stevens repairs, no charge to you. After that, warranty, or you pay. Fuel mileage is your biggest controllable cost, and keeping it down helps your bottom line.

$750 to $850 a week in fixed costs that are paid first. You are running a business as a lease operator, you are no longer a driver. Scheduled maintenance, breakdowns, small repairs all take planning on your part to not cost you a lot of down time.

Sorry Fozzy to jump in and add my $2 worth. Inflation and all.....

 

So stay company if I would like to see my family at all pretty much sums it up. But who wants to be the broke guy that will never be able to provide his family with anything but time??? So the real question is how much can one earn on the company side. Since I have been hired I have not heard a lot about company guys bringing home good money plus anyone who stays is leasing. Tl how much did you earn when you were company?

 

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i will be going to the stevens driving school after x-mas i have looked at the other schools all seem to be about the same. You have good and bad and it depends on what had happened to that person. As a new person to the industry you always worry about the unknown and thats with any job. My main thing is getting the right training to do the job right in the first place. Everything after that is secondary. You have to look at the big picture in the long run.

 

Looking forward to it having never backed a semi before it looks like a real challange. I hope they spend alot of time on this

 

Just want you to realize that the first year is the hardest. I went from training, $350 per week to pre-alliance # .26 per mile, running about 2400 (about $600 gross per week) miles per week for 8 weeks, then went Alliance.

I don't know about that statement about anyone who stays is leasing. You will meat many 3+ year drivers who are company, and are happy. Don't believe the hype about Alliance, it is not easy, and many struggle to make it work. Others like me, who have managed business before, find it easy.

Do your research. My first 3 months with alliance, I was only making $.30 per mile, until I learned how to manage my time, my fuel, and my expenses.
Today I make $.41 per mile.

 

Thanks tl for your info I think I will stay company for a while and get a better look at the company. Now I wish I had better alliance numbbers to crunch thru my head. I have been in managment for the last 13 years and have a small clue of how to operate a bussiness. And I would like to put myself in the situation to make as much as I can. Does anyone know about the dedicated fleet

 

I was scheduled to go to orientation in March, but I was able to slide into an early January spot this morning. Definitely looking forward to starting my new career.

 

How many gears does the T2000 have? Also, how big is the spot for a refrigerator?

 

Some of the older trucks are 10 speeds, but all others are 8 speeds.

Small spot for a refrigerator, or thermoelectric cooler, which is what many drivers have.