Stevens Transport

Discussion in 'Motor Carrier Questions - The Inside Scoop' started by trainee, Jul 10, 2007.

  1. Gingerbreadman

    Gingerbreadman Bobtail Member

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    Apr 21, 2009
    Dallas, TX
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    Wow, that's kind of a tough call. Unlike you I don't have a wife & kids weighing into any of my decisions. Although I definitely wouldn't tell anyone to hang around at Stevens any longer than necessary, you may want to consider finishing your training(the 5 wks out w/ a trainer & all that) before you go tooling around town pulling a flatbed trailer. Even though there's almost no backing involved, you'll probably have spread axles instead of sliding tandems, a lot different than what you're used to now. Also you'll have to shoulder the entire cost of your training without any reimbursement. As tempting as it might be, I would finish out at least the Grad fleet at Stevens and have at least a little solo drive time under my belt before I decided to tackle anything else, of course ultimately the decision is yours to make. Think it through thoroughly :smt017 and Best of Luck.
     
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  3. Guitar Man

    Guitar Man Medium Load Member

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    467
    Sep 29, 2006
    State Of Confusion
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    If it were me, I'dtake the local gig, especially since you have 3 young ones.:biggrin_25525: If you can't afford to shoulder the cost of the schooling,consider staying w/ Stevens, but your going to miss out on an awful lot w/ said kids, as you aren't going to be home but for once a month, if your lucky. Maybe you could work something out loan wise with a local bank to pay back Stevens??
     
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  4. tland

    tland Bobtail Member

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    Dec 3, 2008
    Ware, Ma.
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    Great post Global! Very glad to hear that the part of the training that included two trainees driving together is over. That was the only reason I was not considering Stevens as a company to start my career. I have been pre-approved at Stevens and had been working with Cassie in recruiting, but I just tried to send her an email and it was sent back as undeliverable. Do you happen to know her, and if you do, is she still working in recruiting?

    One more thing if you don't mind. Does Stevens make an effort to try to make sure the trainer and trainee are somewhat compatible? (smoking, non-smoking etc.) or is it first come-first serve. Thanks in advance!

    PS. Congrats on being chosen to be a finish trainer! I can tell by your post that you are very serious about your profession!
     
  5. jgrasse

    jgrasse Bobtail Member

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    Apr 20, 2009
    Dallas, TX
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    Not a trainer but I will give you an insight on something. The previous post said it exactly like it is, however when it comes time to get matched up with a 5 week OTR trainer they match you with compatibility (smoking, non-smoking, male/female, Alliance or company driver). If you do not "get along" with your trainer you can request another one. They will hook you up. You will not be forced to live on the road with someone who becomes a problem for you. Relax.
     
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  6. tland

    tland Bobtail Member

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    Dec 3, 2008
    Ware, Ma.
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    I agree with Guitar Man. I tried to do the otr thing back in the late 80's (pre-cdl, now I have to be retrained)when my family was young and just could not handle being away from them. Don't forget, your kids are only on loan to you for a very, very short time. If you can make things work for you running local, It is my opinion that that is the way to go.

    On the other hand, there do seem to be some families that find a way to make it work with Dad out running otr. Just did'nt work for my family. Good luck to you and your family!
     
  7. tland

    tland Bobtail Member

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    Dec 3, 2008
    Ware, Ma.
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    Hi jgrasse! Hope all is going well for you. I really appreciate you taking the time to post.

    Are you now in ORI, and if you are, is it team driving, or is the trainer in the passenger seat at all times while you are driving? Thanks!
     
  8. GlobalWarmer

    GlobalWarmer Bobtail Member

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    Apr 21, 2009
    Denver, CO
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    Hello Tland,
    Sorry it's taken awhile to get back to you but I'm enjoying a bit of time off right now and have been swamped getting caught up with things at home. You were asking if as a trainer I prefer Stevens students to some other cdl schools out there. Personally, I find that it isn't so much the school a student goes to as it's the attitude of the trainee that makes all the difference in the world. Training can be incredibly rewarding or incredibly frustrating. I really don't care at what level of ability any student is at the beginning of our time together. I always expect to hear gears grinding and engines revving beyond the most efficient RPMs. Nobody, least of all me, is perfect. However, I always expect to see improvement. Every day behind to wheel you get more proficient. One of the reasons I became a trainer was to sharpen my own skills and keep my on my toes. The best way to really know what you are doing is to teach it. I go into great detail about every mistake I have made during my years of driving in order to give insight and help others to avoid them. Any trainer trying to come off as a know it all "I don't make any mistakes" guy is full of it. I find that people don't realize what all the job aspects are in this profession. It's alot more than just driving from place to place. What I look for is a student that puts in the effort to learn. That is all I can ask. I've had students that could barely read or write and had never typed a message on a keyboard. But as long as they make the effort, I will go over it again and again until they get it. My job as a trainer is to teach people how to control the truck safely in all conditions and how to keep the wheels rolling to make a good living. I tell all my students that after they have been taught by me EVERYTHING they do from that point on, suceed or fail with this company or another, is a direct reflection on me. Remember always, I'll be sharing the road with people I have trained. I want them to be safe, for themselves the motoring public and myself. Stevens transport will place students with trainers that share smoking or non-smoking status as well a whether a pet is a problem for the student and based on sex. Last thing I'll say about being trained. If you aren't learning more than how to hold a steering wheel while driving 11 hours down an interstate highway, get off that truck. Many trainers are looking to have a student soley to increase their pay. If they aren't taking the time to improve your skills, teach trip planning and explaining how the business works along with company policy, they aren't doing their job. A poor trainer is setting you up to fail.
    Good Luck and be Safe
     
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  9. tland

    tland Bobtail Member

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    Dec 3, 2008
    Ware, Ma.
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    Hi Global, Hope you are enjoying your time at home! I really appreciate you taking the time to post some great information. You have a great attitude as a trainer and I am sure the industry is better from having you as a trainer. I can only hope that there are many more trainers with your attitude.

    After reading your last post, I think I will go ahead and get my cdl in my home state (ma.) and then come to Stevens for ORI and ORII. It is a real nightmare trying to get a unseasoned cdl transferred back to Ma. Hope to start cdl school in the next 2 weeks. The school has a good reputation and they have a course that includes hazmat and doubles and triples training(as long as you have passed the written tests for these endorsements). Hope to see you soon at Stevens! (Maybe as my trainer! :biggrin_25514:) Enjoy your time off!
     
  10. GlobalWarmer

    GlobalWarmer Bobtail Member

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    Apr 21, 2009
    Denver, CO
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    Good luck with your local cdl school and welcome to a great industry. Just thought I'd pass on a few tips I've learned since being an OTR driver. First thing is to make sure all your I's are dotted and T's crossed prior to making that long trek to Dallas for Stevens Transport. Bring every bit of documentation and paperwork you have. Especially, have a fresh MVD report and any references too make is go as smoothly as possible. Expect a lot of hurry up and wait. When I went through the process it was a real cattle call. Hopefully they've streamlined it or perhaps I just was involved with a huge group, but I remember doing long stints waiting in line. When you get set up with a counselor, get to know them and be sure to use them if you need anything. Your counselor has vast powers and can really make things happen, however, they each have a few hundred drivers so it can be difficult to get in touch with them at a moments notice. Whether you are placed with a company or a lease operator trainer is determined by your own interest in the Allaince leasing program as well a availability. I know many trainers at Stevens, both company and lease. Most I would consider to be good. I know what a long training tunnel these students are looking down. I did it myself. I spent 5 weeks with one company trainer. I looked at is as boot camp, a chore that had to be done. I never complained and just tried to get along with him. I had a lot of experience driving trucks but had never been over the road. Looking back on it, I really didn't get well trained. I understood how to use the qualcom to do what is called the circle of service, but I didn't understand how dispatches came about or who I needed to talk to in order to keep rolling. It wasn't until I was placed on a great driver managers' board that I really learned what's what.
    Another thing to consider is money. I have students that think they can just get through the training and bingo, they're making $50,000 a year. It takes time to get there. Yes, I expect to have my $1,000 week, every week. I'm not happy unless I'm rolling 3,000+ miles every week. I've put in my time. I've made my bones so to speak. You really need to prove you're a runner. You have to be self-motivated. For instance, say a driver doesn't trip plan and fails to communicate that he's running late on a meat load. This driver dropped the ball and now dispatch is like an ant hill that's been kicked as they scramble to recover and get that load repowered to make an on time delivery. Think that driver will be trusted on the next tight meat load? Not likely, more like to get the load that has the extra 36 hours extra time to deliver. They vast majority of Stevens freight is time sensitive. Meat, produce, Kraft and Walmart loads cannot be late. Sure, rescheduling is necessary due to weather and mechanical breakdowns, but it should never be because the driver overslept or lollygagged around in truckstops. There are actually drivers for Stevens that have it on there screen that they won't be dispatched on IBP (Iowa Beef Processors), Kraft, Hershey loads. So what can they be dispatched on? what's left for them? Other drivers require they keep in a comfort zone during the winter months. They can take loads north of I 40. Think that cuts down on the freight they carry? You bet! With me, I have a hazmat, I'll drive in any conditions as long as the road is open and I feel I can safely continue. I hit the load hard. Even if the load has extra time, I'm rolling ASAP. Many times I've gotten receivers to move up appointments a day or more. If not, I'm hammering the phones to get repowered off that load. Maybe some other driver is out there and out of hours. He can babbysit this load for a day or two while I grab is load and keep moving. Find a trainer that shows you the ropes and really work with your driver manager and the planners. I hear things are slowing down in this business. Not from what I see. They seem to always have freight for me to move and I do it safely, legally and professionally. As long as I keep doing that, my $1,000 weeks keep comming in.
    Good Luck again and always keep safe,
    GlobalWarmer
     
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  11. tland

    tland Bobtail Member

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    Dec 3, 2008
    Ware, Ma.
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    Hi Global. These are great tips that you offered and I am sure it would be good for all wannabe's (not just Steven's) to pay attention to what you have to say. OTR is no cake walk. I tried giving it a shot in the late 80's, but my family was young and I could not bare to be away from them growing up. Now they are grown and off to college, so this is one part of being otr that will not bother me. My current occupation has had me away from home up to 5 weeks at a time, and now my family is older, it is not a problem. I think 5-6 weeks is about the max I would prefer to be out, but could tolerate more. I do plan to get both my hazmat and triples and doubles (not that Stevens pulls doubles and triples, it is just part of the school) endorsements and be available to pull when and where they want me to. I already have my passport, and living in Ma., I am sure running in Canada will be something that Stevens will have me do. Thanks again and be safe!
     
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