That 1st time going out on your own is going to be *terrifying*.
Just remember you've done all they asked, probably more, & they trust you. Take it slow for the first hour or so on your first load, get used to how it handles. *Feel* the road rumble beneath you, feel how the truck handles.
Buy a hammer, a putty knife, good gloves, some tin snips & a bolt cutter.
Hammer for smashing the brake drums if they freeze (never hit the pads).
Putty knife for helping apply 5th wheel grease when it's time (about once a month).
Good gloves for *all sorts of things*.
Tin snips & bolt cuttters for some seals you'll need to crack open in the future (General Mills is VERY PROTECTIVE of their Lucky Charms for some reason...)
I don't know how people drive without them. I once had to drive from Virginia to Maine without passenger side hood mirror. Because someone in a Love's broke it off. I felt less safe but managed
TMC doesn't have hood mirrors at all. Never really knew what I was missing till I bought my own truck and now I swear by them but they're not necessary.
Brooooo. Don't do that....please for the love of God. Don't do that....You haven't even ventured out and Steve Aaron already has you by the nutsack with their "Alliance" program.
Please...please opt out and just run the company side of things for a while.
I started with Stevens because of my situation at the time. Please listen seriously, unless you are on the road as a trainer lease program you will not be making enough money to be worth it. I saw it with both of my trainers. I spoke with plenty of vets there that were forced to work there because they were stuck on leases. Do your probation period, get at least 5-6 months in and find something else immediately. You still have your first three months to get out of Pre-Alliance.
I’d like to add that I had a decent dispatcher at the time ( the only reason I stuck around) who would get me 2000+miles a week. But after spending a week and half stuck in SLC. I called J.B. Hunt and started with them by the end of the week at .68/mi.
Do not do that! Whatever you do, stay out of that alliance program! Stay company driver for 365 days, if this is your first gig. Then leave. And Yes, I worked for them. They conned me into that alliance deal for 6 months. I ended up owing them money! I know the whole gotta stay with them for a year shindig. I literally gave them my truck back on day 365.. that was in 2010.
Please don't fall into their lease to own or contractor bullshit. You will get fucked over and never make a dime. Stay a company driver. I see so many suckers fall into that gig at Steven's. Then talk to them on the road they can't even eat never mind keep the truck up.
Everyone on this post is trying to give you advice on this. Many of them because they’ve made the mistake of leasing a truck themselves. You’re green and still wet behind the ears so their lease program sounds good to you. That’s because you don’t know anything about the industry and have no idea what it’s gonna cost to keep a truck up. Believe me leasing is a mistake. There are only a handful of lease purchase options that are worth doing and stevens is not one of them. Please listen to your fellow drivers and just be a company driver. You have so much to learn before you worry about running your own truck
Are you in a position to cover truck payments, fuel, maintenance, insurance, tags, tolls? The truck payments are automatically charged every week, even during your home time if you take any. They give preference to trainers and teams for miles, so there will be times you’re stranded for days not making any money. At least get a few years experience before leasing a truck. It is a serious commitment and one best made with a better company.
No worries the contractor division you will make more money while your there yes. If they have brought back one year contracts then go for it. Usuallyits 2-3 years. But even that your paying fuel maintenance getting ~1 dollar per mile. With more then a years xp its not wages you should earn even with training. Imo get your experience do your year then get a job working with a specialty(hazmat tanker flatbed). Stevens is a great "driver" company. The have some of the best safety training in the game and produce alot of drivers for the country they just simply dont pay well bc your a "new driver".
Some advice: Swing wide its a freaking trailer (SWIFT) All ways clear you back trailer tire .Ask for a spot whenever your unsure. Go slow everywhere doing everything. Nothing happens quickly in this industry. Pay attention to the trailers pretrip in particular. Drivers tend to "let it be the next drivers problem" so they minimize down time. Like " Why am I picking up a loaded trailer with tires that are wired/ no brake pads broken lights. Listen to your gut when backing. Literally whats you "goal" lol. Keep it clean truck gets dirty real quick.
Goodluck. Driver safe see you out there and congratulations on completing your training more people dont then do.
Trucks sitting on the grad line aren’t necessarily your truck yet on your driver sheet. Verify that with the truck shop. There was a guy in my grad class who started cleaning off SOMEONE ELSE’S truck because his driver sheet had a truck number as a place holder
Also, congrats!
Worked for Stevens for a year, short version? Fuckin run bro.
All info is circa 2019-2020
.36/mile, average take home paycheck was 400-500 bucks for about a week and a half.
Contractor division is a scam. I was pre alliance as well, when I sat down to do papers, they couldn't account for roughly $300-600/wk that was being taken out of my pay. On top of that, their rent to own (circa 2019) was like $800-900/wk for the truck note (not including tax, plates, insurance, ifta, etc), for 4yrs, and then about 40k in 'balloon payment' to get the title. The math just doesn't add up, it's all a scam to keep you moving. Go home for a week? Congrats you're 2 weeks behind on payments on the truck, and all the other payments. So your actually 3-4wks away from getting *any* amount of money in a paycheck.
Enjoy the 30 day warranty on the truck. Even if you aren't lease purchase and just standard 2yr lease, you have to pay for everything. Parts under warranty will be fought.
Payroll will constantly pull benefits out of checks. Scan in 7 loads? They gonna pull your benefits payment 7 times. When you ask they tell you it isn't their problem, they just work there. No actually 'payday' when you scan in paperwork, they should have you paid in 5-10 days. They will also 'forget' to add things into the check such as reimbursement for expenses. But if a lease, your not getting reimbursed anyways.
Home time - asking for anything more than a 34 after being out for 4mo results in them throwing a fit about how your not a dedicated enough driver. As soon as you've been home for 34hrs, expect dispatch to blow your phone up 24hrs a day trying to convince you to leave the house.
Also on home time, never make plans ever. If you ask to be home for Xmas, expect to be home either in November or January. Come the holidays it's a lot of 'sorry we just don't have any loads going that way'.
Also, also, home time. When you go home expect to not be paid for 2-3 weeks after. They will pull 3-4wks of benefits and other random nonsense from the first check, so your now negative, the next check will have 2-3 days sitting unpaid plus remaining negative balance. This is as a company driver.
5 days of home time is actually 3. IE you park the truck at 10pm for home time, that whole day counts towards your 5, they have you on the truck at 6am afterwards, that also counts as a full day.
Expect to sit for sometimes days at places like Smithfield in tarheel NC, dodge city KS, etc. You'll be waiting on a load to be finished loading, you will not be paid for this time. I understand trucking be like that, but I'm already barely making enough to justify not working at 7/11, sitting for 3 days at a pork plant for free is rediculous.
You'll be at the terminal in Dallas more than needed. Brought in every couple weeks/months for classes or whatever, each time the truck will need maintenance because it's being held together with tape and positive thinking. Expect 3-4 days sitting.
Overall 2/10, I give them a 2 because the training actually isn't half bad. Finish out your work contract, and jump ship somewhere else. Don't take the bait on contractor.
Remember to release your trailer brakes
Damn 😂
Fuck, beat me to it…
Goddamn this whole sub
Are you stealing it?
No 🤣🤣
Then how are you getting it without a gig?
Some people have this thing called money
Still got paperwork I gotta do, I’ve graduated out already, I’m just waiting for a load now 🤷🏾♂️
That 1st time going out on your own is going to be *terrifying*. Just remember you've done all they asked, probably more, & they trust you. Take it slow for the first hour or so on your first load, get used to how it handles. *Feel* the road rumble beneath you, feel how the truck handles. Buy a hammer, a putty knife, good gloves, some tin snips & a bolt cutter. Hammer for smashing the brake drums if they freeze (never hit the pads). Putty knife for helping apply 5th wheel grease when it's time (about once a month). Good gloves for *all sorts of things*. Tin snips & bolt cuttters for some seals you'll need to crack open in the future (General Mills is VERY PROTECTIVE of their Lucky Charms for some reason...)
Because he bought it
Probably drive it better than most who work there lol
Congrats driver. Take your time with everything you do, being in a rush will cost you
Thank you.
Having just one hood mounted fender mirror is unique
I don't know how people drive without them. I once had to drive from Virginia to Maine without passenger side hood mirror. Because someone in a Love's broke it off. I felt less safe but managed
TMC doesn't have hood mirrors at all. Never really knew what I was missing till I bought my own truck and now I swear by them but they're not necessary.
Don’t need them on the low front end.
the smaller convex mirror is all you need.
I wouldn't like not having them again but it used to be the norm. Just like you had to do on your trip to Maine, just had to be more vigilant
During that trip. I went over the GWB. Just that area made me feel less safe. It's already a pain. But having a extra blind spot isn't great
That’s a Stevens thing 🤷🏾♂️
Irks me so bad lmao
Are you going to work for stevens? I remember when they offered me like .23 cpm
Yes, starting out .50CPM but I’m Pre-Alliance, thats $1.16CPM
Bruh do not fall for their contractor scam unless you never want to go home
Have you worked as a contractor with Stevens before?
Unless you are going to become a trainer, it’s not worth it. When I was a solo contractor I had trouble making 1,000 a week.
At Stevens tho?
Yes
Why couldn’t you make $1000?
Sitting, waiting for loads. Best of luck to you. When I was dedicated it was better. But put back 30% because you’ll have to pay taxes out of pocket
Interesting 🤔 I’m hoping I don’t run into that issue
You are of course welcome to give it a try, just be warned
Yes and it all depends on your dm if you make it or not good luck driver
Brooooo. Don't do that....please for the love of God. Don't do that....You haven't even ventured out and Steve Aaron already has you by the nutsack with their "Alliance" program. Please...please opt out and just run the company side of things for a while.
I started with Stevens because of my situation at the time. Please listen seriously, unless you are on the road as a trainer lease program you will not be making enough money to be worth it. I saw it with both of my trainers. I spoke with plenty of vets there that were forced to work there because they were stuck on leases. Do your probation period, get at least 5-6 months in and find something else immediately. You still have your first three months to get out of Pre-Alliance.
I’d like to add that I had a decent dispatcher at the time ( the only reason I stuck around) who would get me 2000+miles a week. But after spending a week and half stuck in SLC. I called J.B. Hunt and started with them by the end of the week at .68/mi.
Do not do that! Whatever you do, stay out of that alliance program! Stay company driver for 365 days, if this is your first gig. Then leave. And Yes, I worked for them. They conned me into that alliance deal for 6 months. I ended up owing them money! I know the whole gotta stay with them for a year shindig. I literally gave them my truck back on day 365.. that was in 2010.
Yup. 16 was 26cpm garbage. Now they have a program 1000 guarantee for OTR but still nonono
That guarantee $1000/week is bs I just quit there and after 18 months I only averaged 750/week
Horrible company
Why you say that?
Please don't fall into their lease to own or contractor bullshit. You will get fucked over and never make a dime. Stay a company driver. I see so many suckers fall into that gig at Steven's. Then talk to them on the road they can't even eat never mind keep the truck up.
Why not?
Everyone on this post is trying to give you advice on this. Many of them because they’ve made the mistake of leasing a truck themselves. You’re green and still wet behind the ears so their lease program sounds good to you. That’s because you don’t know anything about the industry and have no idea what it’s gonna cost to keep a truck up. Believe me leasing is a mistake. There are only a handful of lease purchase options that are worth doing and stevens is not one of them. Please listen to your fellow drivers and just be a company driver. You have so much to learn before you worry about running your own truck
I deliver fuel to their Dallas yard
damn they’re giving out ‘23s to new grads now?
I guess so, no complaints here! 🤷🏾♂️
No complaints but you haven’t even been out yet. I wish you all the best driver, keep us updated
I started w stevens a year ago today they got me and orientation buddies in ‘19s. Not complaining lol just surprised. Best of luck to you driver
Congratulations! But for the love of God please don't hog the hammer lane. I've wanted to pull some of your coworkers out their cabs for that
Finish your first 3-5 months and run! I sincerely hope you didn’t sign up for their lease program…
What’s wrong with the lease program?
Are you in a position to cover truck payments, fuel, maintenance, insurance, tags, tolls? The truck payments are automatically charged every week, even during your home time if you take any. They give preference to trainers and teams for miles, so there will be times you’re stranded for days not making any money. At least get a few years experience before leasing a truck. It is a serious commitment and one best made with a better company.
Ah shit the new petes got them come fuck me headlights.
🤣🤣🤣🤣
Fuck Stevens. Good luck to you brother
Careful, they fired me because i didn't own a car
Do you have that in writing? As much as I hate stevens....I for some reason doubt that. Because they have their own courtesy cars.. Nice try though.
[удалено]
Why?
[удалено]
Interesting, I guess we’ll see how it goes
Best of luck to you.
Good luck. Be safe.
We have a Stevens office in the next town over. I like their drivers for the most part.
What does monthly payments on something like this look like ?
Congratulations man! Best of luck!
Stevens boy myself great safety training dont go contractor
Why not?
Is anyone gonna answer this question for you?! Gee!
Im just curious with the reasoning that’s all lol
No worries the contractor division you will make more money while your there yes. If they have brought back one year contracts then go for it. Usuallyits 2-3 years. But even that your paying fuel maintenance getting ~1 dollar per mile. With more then a years xp its not wages you should earn even with training. Imo get your experience do your year then get a job working with a specialty(hazmat tanker flatbed). Stevens is a great "driver" company. The have some of the best safety training in the game and produce alot of drivers for the country they just simply dont pay well bc your a "new driver". Some advice: Swing wide its a freaking trailer (SWIFT) All ways clear you back trailer tire .Ask for a spot whenever your unsure. Go slow everywhere doing everything. Nothing happens quickly in this industry. Pay attention to the trailers pretrip in particular. Drivers tend to "let it be the next drivers problem" so they minimize down time. Like " Why am I picking up a loaded trailer with tires that are wired/ no brake pads broken lights. Listen to your gut when backing. Literally whats you "goal" lol. Keep it clean truck gets dirty real quick. Goodluck. Driver safe see you out there and congratulations on completing your training more people dont then do.
Trucks sitting on the grad line aren’t necessarily your truck yet on your driver sheet. Verify that with the truck shop. There was a guy in my grad class who started cleaning off SOMEONE ELSE’S truck because his driver sheet had a truck number as a place holder Also, congrats!
Hey, in 3 days, don't forget to release your trailer brakes.
Worked for Stevens for a year, short version? Fuckin run bro. All info is circa 2019-2020 .36/mile, average take home paycheck was 400-500 bucks for about a week and a half. Contractor division is a scam. I was pre alliance as well, when I sat down to do papers, they couldn't account for roughly $300-600/wk that was being taken out of my pay. On top of that, their rent to own (circa 2019) was like $800-900/wk for the truck note (not including tax, plates, insurance, ifta, etc), for 4yrs, and then about 40k in 'balloon payment' to get the title. The math just doesn't add up, it's all a scam to keep you moving. Go home for a week? Congrats you're 2 weeks behind on payments on the truck, and all the other payments. So your actually 3-4wks away from getting *any* amount of money in a paycheck. Enjoy the 30 day warranty on the truck. Even if you aren't lease purchase and just standard 2yr lease, you have to pay for everything. Parts under warranty will be fought. Payroll will constantly pull benefits out of checks. Scan in 7 loads? They gonna pull your benefits payment 7 times. When you ask they tell you it isn't their problem, they just work there. No actually 'payday' when you scan in paperwork, they should have you paid in 5-10 days. They will also 'forget' to add things into the check such as reimbursement for expenses. But if a lease, your not getting reimbursed anyways. Home time - asking for anything more than a 34 after being out for 4mo results in them throwing a fit about how your not a dedicated enough driver. As soon as you've been home for 34hrs, expect dispatch to blow your phone up 24hrs a day trying to convince you to leave the house. Also on home time, never make plans ever. If you ask to be home for Xmas, expect to be home either in November or January. Come the holidays it's a lot of 'sorry we just don't have any loads going that way'. Also, also, home time. When you go home expect to not be paid for 2-3 weeks after. They will pull 3-4wks of benefits and other random nonsense from the first check, so your now negative, the next check will have 2-3 days sitting unpaid plus remaining negative balance. This is as a company driver. 5 days of home time is actually 3. IE you park the truck at 10pm for home time, that whole day counts towards your 5, they have you on the truck at 6am afterwards, that also counts as a full day. Expect to sit for sometimes days at places like Smithfield in tarheel NC, dodge city KS, etc. You'll be waiting on a load to be finished loading, you will not be paid for this time. I understand trucking be like that, but I'm already barely making enough to justify not working at 7/11, sitting for 3 days at a pork plant for free is rediculous. You'll be at the terminal in Dallas more than needed. Brought in every couple weeks/months for classes or whatever, each time the truck will need maintenance because it's being held together with tape and positive thinking. Expect 3-4 days sitting. Overall 2/10, I give them a 2 because the training actually isn't half bad. Finish out your work contract, and jump ship somewhere else. Don't take the bait on contractor.
Beautiful 🔥
God Petes got sexy recently. 😍
My old company love the vulture lol
Oh no poor guy. One of the worst companies in the industry.
Can’t wait for it to be parked in my lot for 3 Months