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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.