Start CDL School For Stevens Transport Mon. 6/6/16 (Whew, Glad That One Is In That Date!!)

Okay, other than The Chad's diary, as one other poster said, there isn't a whole lot of info here on Stevens. I start CDL school for them at their contract school in Keenesburg, CO on Monday. Really hoping this doesn't jinx me, but would y'all be interested in me doing a diary of my time at school? I'm not a brand newbe, but it has been like thirty-something years since I last did this and the longest I ever pulled before on a regular basis were 45' trailers. I'm thinking that the 53's are gonna be a whole different experience with the added tail swing and such. Could be interesting.

Anyway, I will post if anybody is interested.

DSTURBD

I like reading these diaries! And I'm sure that there are plenty of lurkers out there that will read it too.

So yeah, write away!

When I was with Stevens ten years ago, their sponsored training was Dallas and Houston only. Write the diary!

Backing isn't that much different, need a bit more space for setup, response is a tad slower, but shouldn't be an issue for you. RH & LH hand turns; the extra 8' is noticeable. Suggest taking a higher arc through the turn to compensate and eyeball your mirror longer. You'll adjust. Best wishes for success with Stevens. Good luck!

Different peoples training diaries really help. Especially since everyone sees them through different eyes. So, please write.

Cool! Sounds like a go then. Here goes. I called Haley at Stevens this morning for my last Friday check-in during the waiting period for school to start and she was very cool about everything and wished me good luck. Called the school as I was supposed to arrive tomorrow (Sat.) to check in one last time with them and let them know that I got all of my errands in Denver done a day early, passed all of my endorsements, got my TSA fingerprint and background rolling, got my DOT medical card at the VA Medical Center, and my CPL. He asked where I was and I told him, "At the Loves truck stop about two exits south of you." I said that I was just going to relax and camp in my pick-up over night rather than drive all the way back to Yuma, just to turn around in the morning and drive back. I have a really good new book and I was just going to read that and relax until tomorrow morning. He said, "Don't do that! There's no need to sleep in your pick-up, come on up and we'll check you in today and put you in your room." So, about ten minutes later, I was in their office and getting my materials for class and having a nice conversation with them. I think that I am really going to like this school. As I write this, the class that graduates today is packing and cleaning around me and getting ready for their ceremony this afternoon. They all say that this has been a great experience and an awesome school. I am even more encouraged now. I will still have to take the company's physical, but that's fine and I knew I would, just wanted to get the one from the VA to make sure there weren't any major hidden surprises! All's good! And they told me this morning that while everyone else is going to the DMV for testing Tues. I will get an extra half day or more on the range by myself. That will be cool. coming in early like this, I was able to sit down with the head trainer and talk about various aspects of the training like shifting, double clutching (and that it will be required all the way through driver training with a mentor driver in his truck, and all testing), etc. Good to know the expectations going in. Already have two chapters and the quizzes for them finished this afternoon from the text book. We are off and rollin'!!!

DSTURBD

I will post if anybody is interested.

DSTURBD, these diaries are good now, for both lurkers and commenters. Also, for those in the future who want to read what Stevens training is like.

Post away!

Quick update from this afternoon. There is a quiz at the end of each chapter (34 chapters in the book) and having nothing better to do, I am already through 7 chapters and the quizzes. Really quiet here right now as I am the only one here. My class starts arriving tomorrow. They have us housed in a duplex that they rotate classes through, so it's more like living at home than in a motel. However, that makes us responsible for all cleaning and dish duty to, ha ha. I already have almost two nights of homework done already and will probably get a bunch more done tomorrow. I should have a pretty good head start on Monday. They said figure on four chapters per night. They are fairly short chapters for the most part and totally review after all the time I spent on the High Road training materials.

Diggin' it so far!

DSTURBD

Stevens will ram safety down your throat, which is a good thing. You will hear negatives about them but I liked working for them. You will spend a lot of time in good ol' Texas. If I wanted to spend 6-8 weeks at a time out in the road I would consider going back.

Best of luck! Sounds like they have a good school in CO. If you do orientation in Dallas it's a lot thrown at you at once. But it's a lot of fun.

Hey there Chris K, I'm originally from Texas, so I'm looking forward to getting back down there. If all goes well with school and getting on with them, I'm toying with the idea of moving back there maybe. As to safety, you can never be too safe and I'm more than old enough to know that. Just turned sixty last Saturday and I'm looking at this whole thing as kind of a birthday present to myself. LOL

DSTURBD