Off To Stevens Transport On Monday The 10th, After 20+ Years Off The Road

Off to second day of orientation, just wanted to add a couple of picts.

The entrance, some owner/leased trucks and a training area.

Brian

Off to second day of orientation, just wanted to add a couple of picts.

The entrance, some owner/leased trucks and a training area.

Brian

Nice pics, looks AWESOME, Brian! Nice looking K'dubs, too ~!!!

How goes it ?!?! Training still coming along as expected ?!?! I'm following, btw . . . !!

~ Anne ~

Update 2/4/21, Hi and I have some new stuff to go over. First of all, the orientation almost gave me an aneurism. We watched a lot of film and signed so many papers I think they could just about do anything they wanted to me because I probably signed something saying so.

Anyways, I am out of orientation and waiting on a driver trainer. The deal here is to get 240 hours of driving time and complete two mountain passes, one in the west and one in the east. That will get you a truck and be able to run solo. I have to admit they did offer me a driver trainer but it was with a dedicated Kraft Driver running in the east and north east. I spoke to the guy. He was nice enough but at first, he said any mountains he would drive those. That was a red flag for me. After we spoke a little more and I mentioned I had 15+ years driving pre-200, he then said I could drive his truck over the mountains. He was a leased/owner driver and I can understand he wants to keep his truck out of danger but that’s not helping me any. As we talked a little more, he said I would be with him for only 21 days and then move to another trainer, that’s not too cool. Did not care for that much either. There were other little things he said that also made me hesitate. So, I had to pass it up.

Two of the other students behind me in line got OTR drivers so I not sure why they keep offering me dedicated route drivers. I’ll give it another day two and see what they come up with.

I’ll update when I finally get a driver trainer and let you all know what’s what. That’s it for now.

Brian

Brian's a happy camper. Got a txt from Stevens today and was told to call this driver trainer. The text message did not give any info except for a name and telephone number. Well, I spoke to him and I could not be more pleased. The Driver trainer seemed really cool. He is a company driver instead of a owner/lease driver and runs OTR. If he feels confident I can handle the truck after a day or two, he said he will let me do all the driving and help me get my 240 hours asap, mountains and all. He also said other things that made me feel that we will get along just fine. Hoping anyways.

I leave Tuesday morning to meet up with him and we will be heading down the road. This will give me a chance to get my stuff ready, get well rested and be able to watch the Super Bowl as well.

It really bugged me that after almost 20 years of over road experience no one would hire me because I did not have any recent experience. I'm finally going to find out if this is something I want to do for a few more years and mostly it was a challenge to myself to see if could still drive and manage all that comes with it.

It's going to be awhile before I can update this post with more info. If your following this, check back around the 13 or 14. This will give me a few days on the truck.

Until then,

Brian

Awesome!

I would also enjoy reading your thoughts on your new/old adventure

Off to Stevens Transport on Monday the 10th, after 20+ years off the road

First of all, for those who thought you may be to old to start a driving career, go for it. I am in my late 60's. I drove during the 70's, 80's & 90's but had a desk job for the past 24 years. Now that I am retired, I going back on the road for a few years.

I know there are a couple of people in these forums that suggested I might want to keep looking for another place to start and I appreciate your opinion. But Stevens was the only place in the past 2 to 3 months that would take me with no recent experience and since since I have my CDL the recruiter said, if you can believe him, the refresher course would only be a few days to maybe a week depending on my skills training.

I have to find out if I can still do it. Not all the bull crap stuff the company may ask me to do but the driving, dealing with the traffic, the hours behind the wheel, waiting to get loaded/unloaded, working with dispatchers, truck stop parking etc... those kind of things.

So I am leaving this Sunday and starting orientation on Monday. If anyone is interested, I'll try and update the blog with my experiences objectively while at Stevens. I'm excited and apprehensive at the same time,

Brian

I for 1 think that’s a very smart move be on your part a lot of us newbies myself included get in such a hurry we hop on the first thing smoking and cry about how we didn’t learn nothing smart move !!!

Update 2/4/21, Hi and I have some new stuff to go over. First of all, the orientation almost gave me an aneurism. We watched a lot of film and signed so many papers I think they could just about do anything they wanted to me because I probably signed something saying so.

Anyways, I am out of orientation and waiting on a driver trainer. The deal here is to get 240 hours of driving time and complete two mountain passes, one in the west and one in the east. That will get you a truck and be able to run solo. I have to admit they did offer me a driver trainer but it was with a dedicated Kraft Driver running in the east and north east. I spoke to the guy. He was nice enough but at first, he said any mountains he would drive those. That was a red flag for me. After we spoke a little more and I mentioned I had 15+ years driving pre-200, he then said I could drive his truck over the mountains. He was a leased/owner driver and I can understand he wants to keep his truck out of danger but that’s not helping me any. As we talked a little more, he said I would be with him for only 21 days and then move to another trainer, that’s not too cool. Did not care for that much either. There were other little things he said that also made me hesitate. So, I had to pass it up.

Two of the other students behind me in line got OTR drivers so I not sure why they keep offering me dedicated route drivers. I’ll give it another day two and see what they come up with.

I’ll update when I finally get a driver trainer and let you all know what’s what. That’s it for now.

Brian

Brian's a happy camper. Got a txt from Stevens today and was told to call this driver trainer. The text message did not give any info except for a name and telephone number. Well, I spoke to him and I could not be more pleased. The Driver trainer seemed really cool. He is a company driver instead of a owner/lease driver and runs OTR. If he feels confident I can handle the truck after a day or two, he said he will let me do all the driving and help me get my 240 hours asap, mountains and all. He also said other things that made me feel that we will get along just fine. Hoping anyways.

I leave Tuesday morning to meet up with him and we will be heading down the road. This will give me a chance to get my stuff ready, get well rested and be able to watch the Super Bowl as well.

It really bugged me that after almost 20 years of over road experience no one would hire me because I did not have any recent experience. I'm finally going to find out if this is something I want to do for a few more years and mostly it was a challenge to myself to see if could still drive and manage all that comes with it.

It's going to be awhile before I can update this post with more info. If your following this, check back around the 13 or 14. This will give me a few days on the truck.

Until then,

Brian

The Driver training is on.

As I mentioned in previous post, Stevens requires 240 hours of driving time with a trainer before issuing you a truck to go solo. I left Dallas Tuesday morning was flown to Tampa Fl. to meet up with my OTR driver trainer. I arrived at the TA just outside of Tampa around 2 pm and he was waiting for me. He was a nice enough guy. Very enthusiastic about me getting my hours asap. I threw my stuff in the truck and I started driving right then and there. I drove a little south to pickup a load of orange juice, 42500 lbs, going to Long Island, NY. This is going to be a good first trip, lol. Well all is well so far. It's Wednesday evening and I am writing this from a Flying J truck stop in North Carolina. near the Virginia line. So far I have done all the driving, So I would say things are going well.

About 4:30 this morning we are going leave here and try to make it to rest area just out side of NYC near the GW bridge. The trainer feels we can get there about 4 pm, maybe 5, get some rest and then leave out around 1 am for a 3 am deliver. He said he would drive in but I would need to drive out of the city to get my NE quota. I think I can handle that. It's been a while since I drove a semi in NYC, but I'll give it a whirl.

Like I said, things are going good, mostly flat and straight roads so far. Had some thick fog this morning for a few hours but finally the sun showed through. It's 8:00 pm EST and I best get some rest for the drive to the GW tomorrow. I'll let you all know how the drive in or out of Long Island when I get a chance.

Bye for now, Brian

The Driver training is on.

As I mentioned in previous post, Stevens requires 240 hours of driving time with a trainer before issuing you a truck to go solo. I left Dallas Tuesday morning was flown to Tampa Fl. to meet up with my OTR driver trainer. I arrived at the TA just outside of Tampa around 2 pm and he was waiting for me. He was a nice enough guy. Very enthusiastic about me getting my hours asap. I threw my stuff in the truck and I started driving right then and there. I drove a little south to pickup a load of orange juice, 42500 lbs, going to Long Island, NY. This is going to be a good first trip, lol. Well all is well so far. It's Wednesday evening and I am writing this from a Flying J truck stop in North Carolina. near the Virginia line. So far I have done all the driving, So I would say things are going well.

About 4:30 this morning we are going leave here and try to make it to rest area just out side of NYC near the GW bridge. The trainer feels we can get there about 4 pm, maybe 5, get some rest and then leave out around 1 am for a 3 am deliver. He said he would drive in but I would need to drive out of the city to get my NE quota. I think I can handle that. It's been a while since I drove a semi in NYC, but I'll give it a whirl.

Like I said, things are going good, mostly flat and straight roads so far. Had some thick fog this morning for a few hours but finally the sun showed through. It's 8:00 pm EST and I best get some rest for the drive to the GW tomorrow. I'll let you all know how the drive in or out of Long Island when I get a chance.

Bye for now, Brian

Rest up, good sir~! Still following along; my other half (the driver) just got home & fed. I read your post to him, and he .. 'SURE DON'T MISS THOSE RUNS~' LoL.. Rights to passage, for sure. Stay safe! Best wishes ~~!!!

~ Anne ~

( & Tom )