Who cares about the family?

Unfortunately his or your needs mean absolutely nothing to the company! He is even less valuable, in the company's opinion, than the truck he drives!
If he really has been home less 30 days in the 2 years, and obviously that is unacceptable to your family, it's time to find another employer!
I am so sorry to hear about your unpleasant experience. I hope your family finds a better job.

 

bethydawn7, I'm sure it's not just Stevens, it's the whole industry. The compensation for being away and missing all of what life is about is unbelievable. This is a life, and you give up a lot of your life to be a long haul driver. For some it's great. For some, they are only doing this until things change. Right now companies are getting some good people, yes they are rookies but the are trainable and are good representitives out on the road. This will change soon as new regulations and the economy changes. Companies will soon be back to a shortage of good drivers willing to accept the low pay, time away, and sacrafice a long haul driver must live with.
It's really unbelievable to me that companies can't see whats coming, pay people what they deserve, treat people with respect, create a better life for your drivers, it's got to be more cost effective than bussing in people, feeding, orientation, company personal, trainers, damaged equipment, you think??

 

I have heard many stories like this from Stevens. I went to a truck stop and talked to about 50 drivers. Not 1 driver from Stevens recommended I work there they said go with another company except Schneider or Swift. I heard positive about US Xpress, Calex, Cargo Express pulling a Navajo trailer, and Watkins Shepard. I talked to a few May drivers and they were split. I have 2 more weeks of school and plan to hit the truck stop again before I make my decision.

Thanks for the info makes me even more happy I already crossed them off my list. I am sorry you are not getting family time sometimes that is the nature of trucking though.

 

I am confused - if he's not getting home he should be getting some awesome miles which should equate to decent money.

Could there be more to this - I am not calling anyone out, just doesnt make sense to me.

 

Unfortunately most are right on here. Industry wide your just a number to the trucking companies and not a priority. Their priority is their bottom line and weather you got it to the customer on time or not.

And if anything goes wrong you get blamed for it most of the time, unless you hit a deer on the highway. Even then you still have to go back in to the company for retraining.

I haven't driven very long compared to many on here but I've experienced enough to know that companies really don't care very much.

I am sorry to hear that you and your family are suffering so much because of that sort of thing. Like the other guy said, maybe it's time for a new employer?? Hope things get better for you all.

 

Betty, have your husband talk with his driver manager about setting an "RDO" number. this number is available to Stevens (and anyone that uses Qualcomm). When he comes off hometime, this number is usually 30. Each day he's out, it counts down closer and closer to zero. As he gets closer to zero, the computer will suggest loads keeping him closer to home so that he can work his way there.

i have my driver manager set mine to zero so that the computer ignores it. When I want to get home, I'll give him about five to seven days notice that I want to be home by X time. He'll then set the RDO number to have the computer suggest loads going that way.

The benefit of this? He gets home in a timely fashion.

The drawback: as the computer nears zero, the software will keep him close to home with progressively shorter and shorter loads.

The best way to use it is to have it set to zero and then when hometime is desired, have the DM set it to a lower number and let the computer take it from there.

 

P on stevens.........

There are outfits in your city that do regional work, home 2X/month !!!!!!!!

 

Stevens will keep you out as long as you allow them to. Requesting time off depends alot on the Driver Manager.

OTR trucking does not include home time, the nature of the business.

I stay out 6 weeks, about 10 days before I want to go home, I inform my driver manager, and we start working me to an area that will get me home.

Staying out does not really mean good miles. All depends on the runs.

 

yeah, if he has 2 years experience then there shouldn't be a problem getting a better job.