• Hi Guest,
    Do you have a question specific to a particular company? If so, click here for our list of over 50 popular trucking companies. Don't see the company listed? Post your question in our General Trucking Forum for all of our members to see, and we will consider adding a forum specifically for the company you mention.

What do you guys think of Stevens Tranport?

Davezilla

Well-Known Member
Looking around for some schools and considering some of the "free" ones first.
What do you guys think about Stevens Transport?
I understand that as an unexperienced driver Im not going to make $50k a year staying near home and working 8 hours a day, I have to pay my due.
Im willing to be away from home for long periods of time if that makes any difference on getting a job.
 
Hey I was wondering if anybody had heard anything on Stevens recently?? I am considering starting my driving career with either them or Swift. Was just really wondering what people had heard about Stevens. I read that their school is no good, but I am not going to their school or any other company sponsored school. Want to be able to leave a company if I don't like it. Anyways was just wondering what kind of miles you get running with Stevens, and if anyone would recommend Stevens over Swift or the other way around.


I truly can't give you an opinion on any other companies due to not being employed by them. Stevens is great. I have heard nothing but good things about Swift and Conway from friends of mine. The mileage depends on what you can handle in most cases. If you are the type to request home time every 21 to 28 days, they will not be able to rely on you for long haul runs which is where you make your money. It also depends on your driver manager. If your DM is on top of things, you will be running constantly. If this is the case, you can get over 3000 miles per week. If you are in the alliance program, you get fed more miles. If you are an owner op, you get even more than the alliance crew. Company drivers are the bottom of the totem pole at Stevens. You also make a lot more money in the other two areas.
 
You also have to keep in mind that the people who are successful with Stevens Transport aren't looking for a forum to share their experience on. They are out making money... Door closed, Foot down!!!
The negative comments are coming from those people which had an unfortunate experience. These people are going to tell anyone with an open ear or in this case, eyes. There are many negative things about Stevens but as a trainee in the last day of my second trainer, I can say that they have been upfront about everything so far. You just have to read the negative comments and take notes. With these notes in mind, go to your nearest truck stop *(LOVES, Flying J, Pilot or TA)* and find a Stevens driver. They are the ones to ask. Not the ones who didn't make it due to their own issues. I came into this job with low expectations and a negative attitude after reading the comments about Stevens and I am happy to say that this is a great company. You will start with very low pay but you can use the training here to open new doors for you in the future. Stick with them for 6 months to a year with no accidents and you can go almost anywhere.

Best of luck to you. Oh yeah, I went to USTDTS in Michigan. I financed the program because I didn't want to be tied to a company for an extended period just in case the rumors were true. Now I can go anywhere without the restraints of a contract.

All righty then! Since you have just stated in your post you went to a driving school other than the stevens academy, and you just got off the truck with your second trainer, that means you are a newbie and an ignorant one at that. Think your gonna drive for stevens for six months to a year and move on to bigger and better things? :rolllaugh: What your gonna do, if you want to keep your DAC clean and your driving career in tact, is sign up for the alliance lease program that stevens offers. And yes, by god you will. After your first ninty days solo with stevens, if you get that far, they will put so much pressure on you to accept thier lease deal, you will either accept it or tuck your tail and run home to mama. If you dont do as they instruct you, and yes, you have no say so in the matter at all, you will sit waiting for loads and go broke. So its simple. Go with the alliance lease program or go home. Your obligation to the lease will be for two years. If you break that lease and drag up you will owe stevens the balance and your credit will be ruined for years to come. You will pay stevens transports truck note, fuel costs, maintence, insurance. You will be given just enough miles to pay your bills and thats it. You will never own the rig you lease outright! The only ones profiting from this will be the arron brothers and you will get nothing for your hard work and service. The only positive thing i saw from your post was you went to a decent driving school. Stevens academy does not teach you how to drive. They just get you thru the CDL testing. Most of their candidates drivers couldnt find the gears with a map, GPS and the guidance of sweet baby jesus himself. If i were you i would go ahead and bend over :hump: and prepare to feel the fury if you think stevens transport is you road to the promise land!
 
He might be a nice person, who knows? If he's gonna give "uplifting" advice, it had better be accurate and or the truth or i will call him out on it. Be safe!

Okay then, I hereby call you out.

You start out calling the poster ignorant. Nice.
You then claim that he will have to sign up with Alliance. Lie. I just finished a 2,717 mile week with the weekends off and am a company driver, and have been for almost two years. Still a newbie, but hopefully not ignorant.
I've been asked to go Alliance, and I said no. I've not been bothered in any way since, and not has any other company driver who has the guts to simply say 'no thanks'.
And just what are you implying about keeping your DAC clean or else? Mine's clean after almost two years.
Of course you're going to run when and where they tell you. IT IS YOUR JOB TO DO SO. And you will never be forced to run illegal, over hours, over weight or any other dangerous or illegal situation. They don't want the trouble either.
Then you claim , "You will never own the rig you lease outright!"
Lie. A friend from the schooling just this week paid of his Freightliner and now has the title.
Then you say "The only ones profiting from this will be the arron brothers and you will get nothing for your hard work and service."
So what's a two year old truck he owns outright then? What about the house he lives in? Or the car he drives from where he parks HIS truck to his house?
Then you say "Stevens academy does not teach you how to drive. They just get you thru the CDL testing. Most of their candidates drivers couldnt find the gears with a map, GPS and the guidance of sweet baby jesus himself."
Gee thanks for commenting on my driving ability without once seeing me drive. I think I do fine. I might scratch a gear once in a while, but I move the truck as well as most other drivers, better than a surprising number of other drivers. I dock at some of the worst, smallest, tightest possible places every week. One place has less than twenty feet from the front of my bumper to the guardrail out front, and I make it in without touching that rail or trailers next to me.
I have yet to damage my truck in any way, not a single scratch. Nor have I gotten a ticket, been pulled over, or otherwise even slightly damaged my DAC. Other than missing a scale in backwoods Arkansas and getting a warning ticket, and scratching a truck as I backed in during a blizzard last winter that didn't even scratch my truck or trailer. I sometimes wonder if I even was the one to hit his truck or if I arrived at the wrong time is all.
So, If i were you i would go ahead and bend over :hump: and prepare to feel the fury of your lies and falsehoods.
 
Okay then, I hereby call you out.

You start out calling the poster ignorant. Nice.
You then claim that he will have to sign up with Alliance. Lie. I just finished a 2,717 mile week with the weekends off and am a company driver, and have been for almost two years. Still a newbie, but hopefully not ignorant.
I've been asked to go Alliance, and I said no. I've not been bothered in any way since, and not has any other company driver who has the guts to simply say 'no thanks'.
And just what are you implying about keeping your DAC clean or else? Mine's clean after almost two years.
Of course you're going to run when and where they tell you. IT IS YOUR JOB TO DO SO. And you will never be forced to run illegal, over hours, over weight or any other dangerous or illegal situation. They don't want the trouble either.
Then you claim , "You will never own the rig you lease outright!"
Lie. A friend from the schooling just this week paid of his Freightliner and now has the title.
Then you say "The only ones profiting from this will be the arron brothers and you will get nothing for your hard work and service."
So what's a two year old truck he owns outright then? What about the house he lives in? Or the car he drives from where he parks HIS truck to his house?
Then you say "Stevens academy does not teach you how to drive. They just get you thru the CDL testing. Most of their candidates drivers couldnt find the gears with a map, GPS and the guidance of sweet baby jesus himself."
Gee thanks for commenting on my driving ability without once seeing me drive. I think I do fine. I might scratch a gear once in a while, but I move the truck as well as most other drivers, better than a surprising number of other drivers. I dock at some of the worst, smallest, tightest possible places every week. One place has less than twenty feet from the front of my bumper to the guardrail out front, and I make it in without touching that rail or trailers next to me.
I have yet to damage my truck in any way, not a single scratch. Nor have I gotten a ticket, been pulled over, or otherwise even slightly damaged my DAC. Other than missing a scale in backwoods Arkansas and getting a warning ticket, and scratching a truck as I backed in during a blizzard last winter that didn't even scratch my truck or trailer. I sometimes wonder if I even was the one to hit his truck or if I arrived at the wrong time is all.
So, If i were you i would go ahead and bend over :hump: and prepare to feel the fury of your lies and falsehoods.

I've read your posts in this forum and others as well. Your nothing but an office hack spreading "lies" about what a good company stevens is. I have a friend who drove for em also. Man ended up bankrupted, homeless and black balled from the trucking industry for years to come. Are you going to dispute the fact that stevens is a second rate CDL mill? Your only kidding yourself pal. And even if this crock of :poo: post of yours was true, i guess it is a step up for a man who lived in his mothers basement till he was forty and worked part time at a radio station.
 
So what's a two year old truck he owns outright then? What about the house he lives in? Or the car he drives from where he parks HIS truck to his house?

Thats easy to answer. His wife makes good money or his mom helps him out. Do you own a house? A car? And bought your own truck thru stevens transport? Hell NO! You just say you know someone who does.
 
I thought that was you TruckerTrash. You can change your screen-name, but you cant change what and who you are. You finally proved who you are to anyone and everyone who cares to know.
Yup, office hack here.
View attachment 4273
Here's the view this morning.
Sounds like your friend wasn't very intelligent.
He worked somewhere that paid him so little that he went bankrupt, AND lost his house, AND his chance to get another job?
What an idiot.
I do dispute that Stevens is a second-rate CDL mill. I also dispute your claim that you have a friend. You're too rude and spout too much ignorant crap to have one. Unless he's as rude and ignorant as you seem to be.
I also dispute that you drive a truck. I don't think that you ever have, either. I think you lurk and troll in trucking forums because you wish you could.
And I will never be anything less than proud of selling my house and second car to live with my parents when they needed me to. Or of working part-time while taking care of them so that they could live at home in their final years instead of a nursing home.
You can think whatever you like of me, I hardly care what someone like you thinks. What I do care about is you lying about the company I work for and lying and bashing me in a public place. You're an example of why free speech has a downside.
And I've told you before, my parents' home didn't have a basement.
And you never did answer my question; What do you have against me personally that you insist on bashing me and the company I drive for?
View attachment 4273
 
Be nice cajun,black seems like a nice person along with uplifting advice for the new drivers.

Thanks Patriciajnsn, It's nice to know that there are decent people reading these posts as well. I don't get in to childish name calling, nor do I throw out fallacies of arguement. I do however, state the facts. I agree with the fact that Stevens puches the alliance leasing program feverishly, but I know many successful company drivers personally. They said no to the leasing and still make a good living. The key to this is "never turn down a load". The idea behind this statement from a successful company driver is to create a good relationship with your driver manager. You take a crap load one day, the next day they try to give you a long haul. You scratch my back and i'll scratch yours mentality.

The alliance program was a two year lease until recently. Now you have the option of a one year lease. The only difference between the two, other than the time, is that you gain one cent per mile in your lease completion bonus when completing the one year plan and one and a half cents per mile with the two year plan. I am going alliance as soon as they call me. When I complete this, I am going to purchase my own truck through Stevens. The reason for the purchase through Stevens is, my credit is in poor shape due to seven months of looking for a job. I am in college right now for supply chain management and logistics.

With my degree, I plan to start my own fleet of trucks and work my way up. I have high hopes for this working out, as do my three children and wife. My wife is going to manage the books because she is a senior book keeper at a government facility, she knows book keeping. For anyone thinking about going to Stevens, the experience for me has been great and I have never been lied to. Reading forums with negative comments will help you in the way of how not to be. Play your cards right and keep your chin up. Stevens CDL school is like most other schools. They don't teach you how to drive the truck, just how to pass a test. You get the driving knowledge from the over the road trainers. This is why I chose Stevens. They have an extensive teaching program. I went to school elsewhere, only because I didn't want to be tied to a company right off the bat. Stevens is also paying tuition reimbursement for going to another school.:hello::tongueout:

Cajun, I am sorry that you had a bad experience with Stevens however, this isn't always the case. I find it difficult to beleive that I am the exception to the rule. Your friend fell on hard times as well, I would like to hear the whole story because there seems to be a missing link there. People, in general, aren't set up to fail. The goals in which we set are the paths in which we take. I failed to keep my job of 12 years as an automotive mechanic due to my dependability. I took a lot of time off when I should have been there. Granted, it was paid time off. But, the problem was that I just called in rather than requesting it. We make our own beds is what I am saying. We live and we learn. I won't be making that mistake again.:bonk:

Thanks for reading.
 
Do yourself a favor and don't even think of working for this low paying training company! 26cpm to start out? 30cpm after one year? Those numbers are pathetic! Why would anybody devalue themselves sooo low?
 
Ok so give us some starter companies that pay more then Stevens?????????????The new drivers don't have a choice in the matter,they all pay low.
Do yourself a favor and don't even think of working for this low paying training company! 26cpm to start out? 30cpm after one year? Those numbers are pathetic! Why would anybody devalue themselves sooo low?
 
I agree training companies don't pay but that has got to be the lowest of the low. You really have to call around and do your research but I trained for us xpress 3 years ago and they had dedicated accounts that payed from .32cpm to .49cpm. Heck even swift stole the walmart account and pay .32cpm.
 
I still make WalMart runs. In fact, I made three drops at WalMarts in Indiana just three days ago. The drops were shipped from Farmers Branch Texas out of a place called Don Miguels Dist Ctr. I did notice that there was a decline in our WalMart loads though. So Swift has the account now? I bet Stevens is agitated. They bend over backwards to keep the accounts. I bet there were a lot of late loads from Stevens. Not sure, but why else would they lose an account when they are willing to take the loads at such a low rate? I hear Swift and Conway are also good companies to work for. Never have, but this is what I have heard.;)
 
That was 3 yrs ago,call USX now and see what they pay for starting out.Bet it's low.
I agree training companies don't pay but that has got to be the lowest of the low. You really have to call around and do your research but I trained for us xpress 3 years ago and they had dedicated accounts that payed from .32cpm to .49cpm. Heck even swift stole the walmart account and pay .32cpm.
 
You said a mouthful there,never turn down a load.That's the quickest way to get on your companies bad side.There's no perfect company out there.But if you look on the possitive side,you'll be a successful driver.Far as leasing goes I blame the drivers for not having a good exp with the program.All they have to do is say no.The lease program will always be there,why be in such a hurry.Then if the company can't take no for an answer then go elsewhere.

Thanks Patriciajnsn, It's nice to know that there are decent people reading these posts as well. I don't get in to childish name calling, nor do I throw out fallacies of arguement. I do however, state the facts. I agree with the fact that Stevens puches the alliance leasing program feverishly, but I know many successful company drivers personally. They said no to the leasing and still make a good living. The key to this is "never turn down a load". The idea behind this statement from a successful company driver is to create a good relationship with your driver manager. You take a crap load one day, the next day they try to give you a long haul. You scratch my back and i'll scratch yours mentality.

The alliance program was a two year lease until recently. Now you have the option of a one year lease. The only difference between the two, other than the time, is that you gain one cent per mile in your lease completion bonus when completing the one year plan and one and a half cents per mile with the two year plan. I am going alliance as soon as they call me. When I complete this, I am going to purchase my own truck through Stevens. The reason for the purchase through Stevens is, my credit is in poor shape due to seven months of looking for a job. I am in college right now for supply chain management and logistics.

With my degree, I plan to start my own fleet of trucks and work my way up. I have high hopes for this working out, as do my three children and wife. My wife is going to manage the books because she is a senior book keeper at a government facility, she knows book keeping. For anyone thinking about going to Stevens, the experience for me has been great and I have never been lied to. Reading forums with negative comments will help you in the way of how not to be. Play your cards right and keep your chin up. Stevens CDL school is like most other schools. They don't teach you how to drive the truck, just how to pass a test. You get the driving knowledge from the over the road trainers. This is why I chose Stevens. They have an extensive teaching program. I went to school elsewhere, only because I didn't want to be tied to a company right off the bat. Stevens is also paying tuition reimbursement for going to another school.:hello::tongueout:

Cajun, I am sorry that you had a bad experience with Stevens however, this isn't always the case. I find it difficult to beleive that I am the exception to the rule. Your friend fell on hard times as well, I would like to hear the whole story because there seems to be a missing link there. People, in general, aren't set up to fail. The goals in which we set are the paths in which we take. I failed to keep my job of 12 years as an automotive mechanic due to my dependability. I took a lot of time off when I should have been there. Granted, it was paid time off. But, the problem was that I just called in rather than requesting it. We make our own beds is what I am saying. We live and we learn. I won't be making that mistake again.:bonk:

Thanks for reading.
 
Not sure, but why else would they lose an account when they are willing to take the loads at such a low rate?


I know when I go to work for a company that's the words I want to hear. Us xpress is still paying those same rates and stevens is still paying their low rates.
 
Stevens Transport - Dallas, Tx.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I will try and give you only the facts and keep my opinions to a minimum.

When the recruiter tells you that a hotel and $70/week will be furnished, it
means that they front this to you and you will be paying it all back.

When the recruiter tells you that they will "help you out" with bus ticket
to Dallas, it means you will be paying it back.

When Steven's gets you to Dallas, you will be required to sign a promissory note for aprox $240 for hotel stay, $210 for food money, $65 for physical (even if you already have your DOT physical card) and the cost of a bus ticket (if you chose to take the transportation they provide you). I believe my total note is $645.

You will also have to bring enough money to cover changing your driver's
license to Texas, the cost of your CDL permit and the cost of your CDL.
Then, the cost of changing your Texas CDL back to your home state.

This note is paid back at the rate of $25/week through payroll deduction.

You are required to sign a loan for $4,552 plus 18% interest for total of
$4,950, to be paid back on the 10th of every month after graduation of their school for one year. It is also to be paid if you fail the class, get fired
for any reason (even if you get fired for having two accidents on the road)
for any reason at all. However, if you work for them for one year, the loan
will be forgiven. If you work for them even one day shy of a year, you owe them the same amount of money. The loan payback is not pro-rated. If you go into default, your loan will be turned over to a collection agency where they will add 30% to the amount owed.

Avoid any contact with a lady named Carol. She is the owner's daughter and a vice-president. To say that she lacks people skills is an understatement. After one visit with her, you will have the tone set for how Steven's treats people as a whole. This is not an opinion, it is a fact. The trainers will agree as will the folks at the Greyhound station that try to avoid her. Folks, this is the lady in charge of recruitment.

The hotels that they contract are nasty!!!!!!! Fact.

You will have 3 weeks of training at their CDL school. Do not look at this
school as a separate entity from the company. You are there to be trained in order to receive your CDL to work for Steven's. The school is a separate company only on paper in order to receive funds from the Texas Workforce Commission and Federal Gov't funds. I quote: "The loan that you sign is only to encourage folks to work for Steven's for one year." What I trying to point out is, don't give any indication that you have plans other than what they lay out for you.

You will then go through a one week orientation, at which time your
employment with Steven's begins. Then, if you don't have to wait for a
trainer to go on the road with, you leave for 5 weeks teaming with a
trainer. The number of hours vary. Usually, if you are with an
owner/operator, you will drive 11 hours a day. If you are with a company
driver, your drive time may be as little as 5 hrs/day at first. If at
anytime the trainer needs to go home, gets sick etc..., you will have to
wait for another trainer. Then, you come back to Dallas and go through a
second week of orientation. At this time, you are back waiting for a tractor
to drive with another student. You team with another student for 3 weeks.
Then back to Dallas to wait on a tractor of your own. This last week they
sent out several students who have been waiting on a tractor by way of
Greyhound to pick up 14 trailers that where abandoned. These tractors became the tractors they will be driving. So, plan on not making a real paycheck or well over 3 months. I would estimate no less than 15 weeks if everything goes smoothly (hahaha, right).

If the recruiter says that you may take your tractor home, what they mean is that you can if you can prove to them that you have at least a six foot fence and locked gate to secure it in.

Their trucks are governed at 62mph.

You aren't forced dispatched, but you better take the dispatch if you want
to be dispatched in the future. (quote from a trainer)

You will see NYC quite a bit. At least in the first 8 months or so.

According to their Director of New Hires, they think that a person who has
an 8th grade education and has made $6.25/hr all their lives and are happy taking what Steven's has to offer works out best there.

Steven's trained aprox 2000 drivers last year. They put only 100 new trucks on the road. (quoted from an instructor, verified by an office personnel)

They have about 1800 tractors on the road with just over 2000 trailers.

Owned by Steven Aaron.

Direct competition is FFE.

I will add more as I think about it. Just be aware before you leave for
Dallas. They bring you there without informing you of much. I believe that I was just plain lied to. Once you are there is when they tell you things that might have been helpful to know before you left home. I only hope that I canshed light on what Steven's is offering before you find yourself feeling trapped. With my experience with getting recruited in the military and with my education I feel like a fool for falling right into their trap. If I knew this info before I went, then I can only blame myself for being in a situation. However, going without knowing, then shame on them.
 
Here's another classic:


STEVENS TRANSPORT, SLAVE LABOR AND RIP-OFF'S! I am repeating this to be sure you don't get taken...

You have probably ended up considering Steven's Transport w/ the horrible economy and joblessness in this country. Understandable. Who isn't? If you are down to your last dollar you are in deep trouble with these ***'s. Here's the "Steven's Promise", I mean, farce...They offer school, your CDL, a fabulous income blah,blah,blah. 3 week school, 5 weeks of road time for your miles, a great job with a great income. Total, it is promised that it should take only 8 or so WEEKS to become an employee. They also promise that they'll pay 350.to 375. per week while you do this. A5 figure income is also mentioned after you complete their crap. Well, how about the TRUTH? Stevens has no idea what that is so let me tell you. You stay in a fleabag motel for 3 weeks, conveniently located at the rectum of the universe while they LOAN you 70.00 a week. They also charge you for these fabulous accomodations later, but before you are even employed. They hold you hostage for 6-8 MONTHS, not weeks while you scrounge for your road time with another trainee, an inexperienced driver, battling with them for road time. They pay you 100.00 per week instead-NOT 350.00-If you survive this, you get to make a whole 1000.00 per MONTH working for their delightful company. They badger and browbeat you with a so called "contract", threatening to come after you if you decide to save yourself and leave. One of the most amazing acts was while they are going through a ridiculous backround check-the DOD doesn't even bother with one like this-they deliberately make mistakes on the paperwork in an attempt to slander your record. The office staff apparently can't read or understand Englsh but are responsible for doing backround checks when they themselves couldn't find their *** with a flashlight. The instructors at the school make jokes openly in class about how the recruiter lied about everything, and how *** you are to have fallen for it. They charge each student 9000.00 for these classes while already collecting 9000.00 from the government for the same thing. This is not including your so called lodging costs or allowance during this time. WARNING-THIS IS A TOTAL AND COMPLETE FRAUD. Steven's barely has any trucks that are on the road driven by "employees". Anyone making any money is an independent lessee, NOT a Steven's employee. NOTE: A CDL Booklet is available from your local DMV for free and a small fee at the DMV will allow you to take the tests for your CDL".NO CDL SCHOOL IS NECESSARY TO GET YOUR CDL:. There are many reputable companies who will allow you to get your road time through them and who will probably even employ you for a real wage,. ALSO: They threaten you with their BS contract and it is important to know that a contract either verbal or written is ONLY valid when BOTH parties keep their agreement and the contract has been made in "good faith"'. STEVEN'S TRANSPORT lies before you even get there'. They honor NO PART of their contract/. No court will hold you liable under these circumstances.. THESE PEOPLE ARE FRAUDS AND LIARS|. DO NOT GO TO STEVEN'S TRANSPORT FOR ANYTHING unless you are using the advertisement as toilet paper or birdcage liner.
 
Ok so give us some starter companies that pay more then Stevens?????????????The new drivers don't have a choice in the matter,they all pay low.

Dot Foods hires new drivers right out of cdl school and guarantees either $50,000 or 42 cpm your first year. In writing.

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk
 

Create an account or login to comment

You must be a member in order to leave a comment

Create account

Create an account on our community. It's easy!

Log in

Already have an account? Log in here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Top