Was thinking of Stevens but......

I am currently going to a school of my choice. I start with Stevens Nov 7th. I did my research for over a month and lurked these forums doing a lot of reading. Read all the negatives, as well as reading TLeaHeart's thread among others. Stevens is a good fit for me.I'm 26, I am single, no kids, and really could care less about when I get home time. They're training is second to none. I will have no big bills while working (no rent/mortgage, utilities, cars payments and the such) I intend to save as much money as humanly possible to pay off the remaining 10k of debt I have as well as school. Which if I do it right is very attainable in my first year. I just want good training and nice equipment. Due to my situation Stevens is a good fit for me. It is not for some. For those people that did not fit with the company, they seem to complain here. Most of them did not do they're due diligence and research the company and ask around before signing on. Or I notice people just go by what a recruiter says and nothing else. A very good quote comes to mind. "Believe nothing you hear and only half of what you see." All the supposed "good company's" are usually small and you only hear about them by word of mouth. Good luck with your decision.

 

I think this is an honest answer.
I'm not in school yet (will be doing a local school) but have been researching this for over a month now. I'm waiting for 2 prehire letters so I can see if the state will pay for my schooling as I'm a displaced worker.
But I'm leaning towards Stevens because of the training and the equipment. I want good training on the job and I want to feel convenient with my driving so the extra time in training isn't a problem for me. And I'm situated where I have no home ties now and I've been surviving on $275 FL unemployment so $350 will be a raise durning training.
But I've read a lot of bad things about every starter company. Some worse then others. But you have to start somewhere. I plan on driving for 6 months to a year and if the company is hell then move on and if it fits then stay on. What else can you do. Either way you have to get that 6 months in before moving on. I think the hardest part will be living with someone for 8 weeks in a truck.
But I see it like doing a tour of duty.

 

Yeah I agree with you there. Although I am still working.... I am only clearing 300 a week.... but with not having to pay rent or utilities or fuel and insurance for a personal vehicle (totaling around 900 a month) I will do juuuuuuust fine with the training pay. Then after that, switching to mileage pay (and hopefully averaging 10000 miles a month, although I'm not getting my hopes up) will be a huge pay increase to me. So as far as i'm concerned, no matter what its still a win in my book....

 

Every training company gets rapped because they deal with all beginners. Other companies get drivers that have been to a training company, know more what driving is about and decide to stay in the business.
So many people wash out due to their own proclivities, desires or needs. Then they blame the company.
Let's face it. If all these companies were so bad, how would they survive? Why would they still be around so many years later?
Starter companies are just that: Starters.
99% of the people will move on for various reasons.
Some people (like myself) get comfortable, fall into a convenient niche and enjoy what we do with Stevens.
Pick your training company for it's training. That is most important. What you learn up front will follow you for your entire career and good habits are nothing to sneeze at.
Stevens will instill great habits, techniques and skills.
No other company will ever turn you down because you haven't been trained if you do your first year or two with Stevens.
Quite the opposite. They will start chasing after you. Stevens graduates are very desirable, and you can take THAT to the bank.

 

Where will I be with Steven in Two years if I keep my Nose Clean and My mouth Shut? If I do the Job Right and Get there on time? If I give to Steven what will they do for Me?

 

See if you can do 1, let alone 2 years !!!!!

 

They're a good company. I like them, and I could move if I wanted. They've been good to me.
I think what happens is a lot of companies look for Stevens drivers due to the training. They come at them with a few cents more per mile and it's attractive. I think most people leave Stevens due to better offers out of the blue, rather than not liking Stevens.
Stevens' drivers are the most sought after drivers out there, after they've completed their training.
After a year, and you're making 0.30, then along comes someone that offers your 0.34 or 0.35...well, that's what makes people move.

 

I am in the process of looking thru the DAC forum and trying to get a feel for a few different companies. Maybe you've done the same. I have found that some simple mathematics is in order.....

I try to use the number 2500. As in 2500 drivers that a company has. I know the big companies have way more drivers than 2500 and the small companies maybe not even half as much, but to keep it right in my head I use 2500.

So out of 2500 drivers I think half (1250) of those get online twice a month- which to me is often enough to look at and follow along here at Truckers Forum. And out of that 1250, my guess is that maybe 5% are the kind of folks who would take part in an oline forum and that is 63 people. My thinking, anywayz.

So my next step is to plot a proportion whereas 63/100 is equal to how many complain that havent quit or been fired/ xx%. and I solve for xx%.

So lets use Widget Express as my fantasy trucking company. And thay have, potentially 63 drivers who could get on the forum and complain. So I looked in my fantasy trucking league DAC forum and found 8 complaints from the past year from currently employeed drivers of Widget Express. My math looks like this....

63/100=8/xx

solve for xx

8 multiplied by 100 equals 800. 800 divided by 63 equals 12.6

So in my mind 12.6% of the 63 who could complain about a Widget Express actually have. That aint so bad, so I guess I'll fake apply at my fantasy trucking league host company, Widget Express.

I forgot where I was going with this, so I'm gonna go study some algorithyms on why Swift drivers get to be the subject of so many jokes.

JK

Good Luck

 

Stevens drivers are the most sought after ????

What have you been into ????

Look at their safty rating !!!!

It sure doesn't reflect that great training you speak of !!!!!!