Comments By USMC AAV

So Ironically enough, it looks like I may be going to a Swift dedicated Wal-mart account. I got the call the other day after I submitted an application on the Swift application site. The recruiter I talked was really nice, and explained everything. Hell I think we talked about an hour on the phone. Best part is I can get home 3 to 4 weekends a month, and maybe during the week. They (Walmart) have a DC in Hope Mills NC., which is about an hour door to door.

I did a lot of reading looking into G-Town's threads/postings and went into my phone conversation with lots of questions when I talked to the recruiter. Ironically enough almost everything that G-Town said is accurate to my situation. (Kudos to you G-Town).

This is a really good review for Steven's Transport. Just saying cause I really like how you id the overall review from all directions.

I work for Stevens Transport. January, 2017 was my start date with them. They recruited me out of Roadmasters.

I was out 42 days with a trainer, put in graduation fleet as a solo driver for 90 days, and have been driving as a solo company driver ever since.

I'll get this out of the way now; I am not a recruiter. I'm also a no BS guy.

I chose Stevens because I liked their reputation as being safety oriented, and having a good finishing school.

They are big on doing things the right way, at least in terms of safety. So much so that there is an instant termination policy in any driver caught making a U-Turn. No exceptions.

Orientation is typically three full days. My first day lasted from 0800 to 2300, mostly sitting in a classroom listening about company policy and safety procedures. We did drug testing and a DOT physical.

Did my backing and road test that night. Was in a two star hotel to sleep in a shared room with another guy who was on medical hold for an apnea test at around midnight.

The next two days were less hectic, lol.

After your orientation, you'll be assigned to a trainer for OTR work. My very first load was from Chicago to Hunts Point, NY. I drove through snow for the first time in my life on I-80] through Penn.

When I was out with a trainer, when I wasn't driving, I had to do online modules as part of my OJT requirements. The trainer was generally a nice guy, but sharing a sleeper berth with another man for 42 days cured me of any thoughts of wanting to team drive.

While I was out, got paid $400 a week and the trainer got my pay in miles.

When I was in grad fleet, dispatchers are usually more chirpy because you're in graduation fleet and making sure that you're doing okay and keeping on task.

Now in my experience, the loads I got in grad fleet starting out were not great loads. A lot of them were already late. A lot of them were produce loads that were already on the brink.

Thats the nature of our industry. The new guys dont get the prime loads. Remember, trucking is a trade, and in trades, guys get paid for their quality of work and experience.

Also, Stevens runs 85% reefer loads. Keep that in mind.

Equipment: First truck I got was a Freightliner Cascadia with 400k. The interior was well worn, the engine had a nasty habit of sometimes not wanting to crank. But other than that, it was a good truck.

On my third month of grad fleet, they recalled me back to the yard because they sold my truck. I learned not to like going back to the yard because you'll be back for at least a week while you catch of on paperwork, continuing education/lectures, waiting on a new truck.

My second truck was a Kenworth T680. Great truck, and aside from discovering a leak in the marker lights when I put it through the wash, no problems. Started getting better loads during the last month on graduation fleet, and one cool day in Dodge City, Kansas as I was getting fuel at the Loves, the message came through that I had graduated and became a fleet driver.

The company, in general, I would say has been fair to me. I think being proactive with your dispatcher and safety removes a lot of headaches you will have in any company. I will keep working for them for another year until I have two years experience, then move onto greener pastures.

Keep in mind, a lot of the gripes I've stated you'll see in a lot of companies. And most companies do have good training programs.

The short version:

Pros: Safety first company, decent miles/loads (eventually), decent dispatch, good equipment (eventually), freight in all 48 states and Canada.

They do have dedicated regions as well as railyard and tanker work.

They also reimburse you if you paid for your own training. They'll also reimburse you for a passport, as well as your Hazmat/Tanker endorsement.

Cons: Yard time is a chore, getting into and out of new equipment can be a pain in the ass, typically because they like to do a bunch of trucks at one time when they do. You don't get to take your truck home. Occassionally, they are a little late in getting you home, but not more than a couple of days.

Conclusion: Stevens is not one big happy family. It's straight to the point about gaining experience and getting the loads in. I'm still learning in fact.

Is it an awesome company? No.

Is it a horrible compant? No.

Is it a good starter company? I think so.

Also, wait on leasing on truck from them. I've heard goid things about Alliance, I've heard bad things. But as a new driver, the last thing you want is a truck payment saddled with all the other things you need to do.

Just got off the phone with a recruiter from US Xpress. She said that they have a 98% automatic fleet. The only way you can get an manual is if you are a current long term driver with US Xpress or if you are getting a lease purchase and there is one currently around.

As I read through this there is something I have to mention and everyone on here I would think would agree with me. Weather is unpredictable. Learn to drive in snow now, even better when you have a trainer with you that helps to explain when you lose traction, or loss in visibility. Same with backing. Learn to do it now and practice as much as you can. Once you are on your own you are making money based on how much you drive, so now is the time to get all this training done and practice it under the eyes and knowledge of a trainer.

Either way you will be doing a lot of backing and snow is something that you will have to deal with every winter. Hell I'm on a southern route, I rarely make it north of Virginia, BUT I do see snow from time to time and knowing how to drive in it makes a HUGE difference. Get over the fear now and learn to adapt to it and things change, because as I said, weather is unpredictable. It changes constantly. One day your in the sun and then by the afternoon your in a flurry of snow. It happens all the time. Get that experience now and overcome it, otherwise you will always been worried about it.

It is kinda silly but I have a rain maker in my cab. Basically a sound machine that plays rain, thunderstorms, lightning, etc. Helps me sleep all night long. You can find many really good apps on your phone.

Other tricks are melatonin about 45 minutes before you go to bed. Helps you sleep! Same thing with Walmart version of Benedryl with antihistamine in it which makes you sleepy. You just gotta find your niche.

Gonna go with Errol on this one. Make sure you check their specific policy on Riders and follow it if there is one.

I had my sister ride with me for a week once a few years ago. She loved it during that whole week and we actually grew a lot closer then we were before. She got a personal tour of the country for free and I got a chance to improve a bond with family.

Allowing people to ride along with you is not a casual deal. Your company will have policies as to who may be on your truck, and you will probably have to pay a monthly insurance fee to cover them.

Just a heads up. You do need to ask your company about it. There's going to be a form to fill out, and that insurance fee. Other than that, having company along may be good thing!

(My sister-on-law rode shotgun with her husband for seventeen years. Recently she went ahead and took a driving course, aced it don't you know, and is now teaming with her hubby.)

I've been reading this and kicking this around for the last few days.

So I am going to mention it like this, it has been my experiences that trucking will damage most relationships when or if your wife/girlfriend is not on board with it. There area few people that it has actually helped but from those I know personally, for the most part it was like the nail in the coffin. If your marriage is on shaky ground, then if you disappear for a week or two or three and then only make it home for 2-3 days, you wife will definitely freak out. The vast majority of people I know that do trucking (friends and family totally 19 people) , almost all are divorced, with 4 exceptions (that's almost 80%).

If you marriage is on the rocks now, fix it before you go over the road. Otherwise, its a good bet it won't end well. Granted I don't know your specifics, but if I was talking to a friend or family in the same situation, I would tell them to think on this really hard, because of my past experiences with other friends and family.

This is the reason why this is my go-to site. Every time I have a question I get feedback that you really can't get from recruiters. A lot of times it isnt stuff that I would have thought of, or things that just are "good to know". The wheelbase is something I wouldnt have even dreamed of asking. but having you all explain it is does answer some other questions that i would have been asking sooner or later. (Thank you Rainy and G-Town)

On a side note, I did talk to Swift the other day also. They have a Walmart dedicated account that I could get into but they didn't seem to much information about it, or the recruiter was trying to steer me away from it. I mean he casually mentioned it and quickly left the subject alone. So I am not sure about that, but I hear G-Town talking about his route from time to time and I have to wonder. Granted I know not all jobs/locations are the same. Anyway thank you for filing in some of the grey areas!!

I drive Swift version of the LW. Other notable differences, shorter wheelbase and a tighter turning radius (steer axle setback another 6" toward cab). I can maneuver this in rather tight spots that would be a tad more difficult in the longer Condo Sleepers. It will also scale legal with a 46k+ payload.

Good to know! Thank you Rob and Rainy. This gives me a really good understanding of what it would be like. Plus I think I could easily work into a LW cab, since I don't keep that much stuff in my cab anyway. I really do appreciate it :)

Keep in mind that Miss Myoshis is an International. The cascadia LW are somewhat smaller inside.

Thank you for your input Diver. I do appreciate it.