Stevens Transport experience

[hillbillyinidaho]

I decided to write this thread because after reading many of threads on many different forums there is simply little information to make an honest assessment in a potential route to take in ones driving career. Like clint in another forum found happiness with a company that others in the industry either dislike or despise. Well I am going to give my account with another Company on the Refer side of the house and one that on the forums have despised or hate as well. All of the info I give will be an honest and accurate assessment of my experiences weather good or bad after a leave of absents from Driving to serve my country with the U.S. Army. I have found out it is hard to get back into driving if you have not driven for awhile. I have found out that even though you have a clean record all around and a current valid CDL if you haven't driven within the last 18 months to 2 yrs you need to be retrained. I myself haven't been in the drivers seat for at least 6 yrs. So Far the only way to get back to driving is to either go to a driving school which i can not afford or to a company of which offers training. The only 2 Companies that responded was Swift and Stevens. I Chose Stevens for the refers.

I guess its time for a little back ground info on me. I started my driving career in DEC of 1994 with Willis Shaw out of Boise Idaho after going thru their school and thru 2 weeks of training i was released from them for supposedly falsifying my application which was not the case I had no idea that my license was suspended for 90 days when i was 19. so my brother who worked for R&J leasing/ May Trucking got me on with them. I drove for them for two yrs before the Army called to me. In the process of serving i let my CDL go In 2001 I left the army and once again has my sights set on driving and went to North Alabama Driving Academy and obtained my CDL. I then Signed on With SMX hauling flatbed. i only drove for them for 3 months before my ex wife was having problems with the pregnancy of our first child so i took a some what local driving job with LBJ Trucking hauling flatbeds. well not the best benefits and the army was calling my name again. I left the army the 31st of July 2007 and decided to try to go back to driving after the first of the year since this time i had the sense to keep my CDL. I didn't realise how hard it would be to go back to driving again. as a side note i had to have stints placed into my heart in 2006 so another obstacle i have had to jump over. Well I found out that i can drive with stints and the meds i take. i went so far as to have a DOT physical done independently so that the company who hires me cant back out and not hire me due to my medical condition for fear of how it will impact their insurance. I was given a clean bill of health from the DOT DR.

So i have gotten the pre paper work finished and the green light from their recruiting department and i fly out this Saturday for Dallas TX to start my retraining. I will keep a running Documentary all the way thru I will try to update it on regular basis but when time allows. For those of you who have negative things to say about this keep them to yourselves. With all of the companies out there Their is bound to be both good and bad just ask clint with Swift.

John. AKA Hillbillyinidaho and i hope to see you all out on the big road.

[RebelDarlin]

Welcome and BOL to you. Please do post about your experience, everyone sees what they want to anyway.


Rebel

[hillbillyinidaho]

Welcome and BOL to you. Please do post about your experience, everyone sees what they want to anyway.


Rebel

Thank you, I feel like this post might benefit others in my position

[enobeenob]

As a former Stevens Driver early in my carreer, they weren't my cup of tea. Good Luck, you"ll need it.

Hopefully you'll have a positive experience.

[Icedog]

Best of luck to you sir,As one who is in the same situation , I look forward to your posts . thank you for your service..........Icedog

[ohio joe]

Hi Hillbilly, I will b following ur postings Im In the process with working on application to Stevens! I also will need their training! Good Luck BSafe

[hillbillyinidaho]

Hi Hillbilly, I will b following ur postings Im In the process with working on application to Stevens! I also will need their training! Good Luck BSafe

When do you start their training? I have finished their pre hire requirements now all i am waiting on is my flight on Saturday.

[ohio joe]

well i am waiting till next week bcause i had a accident that needed to clear thats the only issue but nothing can b done until then

[hillbillyinidaho]

well i am waiting till next week bcause i had a accident that needed to clear thats the only issue but nothing can b done until then

Well maybe ill see ya down there in training.

[hillbillyinidaho]

OK, I think I got everything i need. I got a new map, logbook template, alarm clock, flash light, work gloves, the pen,pencil and paper, my ipod, camera, Garmin GPS, dvd movies, computer, clothes and bedding, all my required documents, CB, thermos and coffee and copenhagen and last but not least the plane ticket. If anyone can suggest anything else feel free to let me know.

[hillbillyinidaho]

OK, I think I got everything i need. I got a new map, logbook template, alarm clock, flash light, work gloves, the pen,pencil and paper, my ipod, camera, Garmin GPS, dvd movies, computer, clothes and bedding, all my required documents, CB, thermos and coffee and copenhagen and last but not least the plane ticket. If anyone can suggest anything else feel free to let me know.

[ohio joe]

KEEP ME POSTED GOOD LUCK!! :shock: BTW? Who is ur recruiter! im workin w/ GABBY!

[hillbillyinidaho]

KEEP ME POSTED GOOD LUCK!! :shock: BTW? Who is ur recruiter! im workin w/ GABBY!

I am working with Lou ann She seems really nice and is plesant to work with. I started talking with Katrina the Senior recruiter then Cassie to finish up the paperwork package, now i am with Louann aka Lou she will be the one i see when i get to dallas for final processing.

[hillbillyinidaho]

I made the final call this morning to Stevens. I think I have everything ready to go. Last night my girl friend and I got a running buddy for me when i go solo. She is a chiuaua named tinker bell aka "tink" or tinkie since she is really small. She might get to be 3lbs. I will have to pay the pet deposit but thats ok. She will stay at home until i can get by the house to pick her up. Well thats it for now i will update tomarrow after i get to Dallas and get settled in.

John.

you will need a tv and dvd player to watch your movies on.

[steelhauler2007]

I wouldn't rush out and get a C.B or T.V until you are finished with your trainer.He will have his own.Take as little as possible because room will be limited with two in a truck.

[Colts Fan]

All I took along with me during training was a small bag for clothes and toiletries (sp?). Oh yeah and a couple of pillows and a blanket.

Believe me, they will run your ***** off. You won't get many opportunities to shower and change. They will most likely run you as a team.

[hillbillyinidaho]

you will need a tv and dvd player to watch your movies on.

I will get that when i go solo. for now i have my laptop and it plays movies. What i was meaning was for school and my training.

[hillbillyinidaho]

I left the house at 8 am Saturday and everything went smoothly to the airport, the flight is another story. I landed about 4pm in Dallas and had to wait for about 45 min on my ride to the Hotel. The driver had a Toyota SUV and it was pretty full from picking up other Stevens employees. I found out that Stevens uses two hotels a Howard Johnson’s that didn’t look to bad and the Crossland Extended stay where I am currently at. It’s not a bad place just very basic it has a kitchenette, cable and two twin beds. The room is small but so is the sleeper of a truck. My room mate is cool his name is Henry, he is from Pine Bluff Arkansas he is also a fellow student. The Hotel does have Wifi it costs 6 dollars and is good for your entire stay. I will probably be here for 3 wks so 6 bucks is a good deal.

Today Sunday the 20th we went to the terminal for the study hall. I didn't have to stay for very long because i have my CDL already so i took the opportunity to have a little look around. They have a lot of T2000's they all look nice on the outside but i didn't have the chance to look on the inside yet. I see that they still run some T600 and a couple of century class freight shakers but are phasing them out. There are some 387 pete's and a new T660 but are for the contract division. It is overall a nice facility and they have a separate drivers building that has laundry facilities, pool tables, phone room, a lounge room complete with big screen TV. So far in the class is rather small. there is 16 with me and about the same in the class that came a week prior. There is a big lots to get some basic need items when you first get here and they make a weekly trip to wal-mart on Sundays. you have to sign in every day so that the hotel knows you are still with them. They do have some basic rules while you are here they are as follows

1. You must sign in daily

2. All rooms are non-smoking unless your room mate is a smoker then you can smoke in the room only two trainee's per room.

3.breakfast is from 5:30 to 7:15 am, keep in mind that the first bus leaves at 5:30 so plan accordingly.

4. No alcohol consumption while staying at the crosslands hotel.

5. no pets are allowed.

pretty much that is it.

After a couple of days you can sign for meal money and it will be deducted from your future pay keep that in mind if you are going that route, i myself brought plenty to get me thru. I guess my day will be starting at 7 am tomorrow so i will sign off for now and i will update again tomorrow night.

John.

[Rattlebunny]

Today Sunday the 20th we went to the terminal for the study hall. I didn't have to stay for very long because i have my CDL already so i took the opportunity to have a little look around. They have a lot of T2000's they all look nice on the outside but i didn't have the chance to look on the inside yet. I see that they still run some T600 and a couple of century class freight shakers but are phasing them out. There are some 387 pete's and a new T660 but are for the contract division. It is overall a nice facility and they have a separate drivers building that has laundry facilities, pool tables, phone room, a lounge room complete with big screen TV. So far in the class is rather small. there is 16 with me and about the same in the class that came a week prior. There is a big lots to get some basic need items when you first get here and they make a weekly trip to wal-mart on Sundays. you have to sign in every day so that the hotel knows you are still with them. They do have some basic rules while you are here they are as follows

1. You must sign in daily

2. All rooms are non-smoking unless your room mate is a smoker then you can smoke in the room only two trainee's per room.

3.breakfast is from 5:30 to 7:15 am, keep in mind that the first bus leaves at 5:30 so plan accordingly.

4. No alcohol consumption while staying at the crosslands hotel.

5. no pets are allowed.

pretty much that is it.

After a couple of days you can sign for meal money and it will be deducted from your future pay keep that in mind if you are going that route, i myself brought plenty to get me thru. I guess my day will be starting at 7 am tomorrow so i will sign off for now and i will update again tomorrow night.

John.

Hi John,

I am a recent grad from a mill up here in Maine, and will be leaving tomorrow for my 2 1/2 day bus ride to Dallas. Maybe I'll see you there, my orientation starts this Sunday.