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:
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.
Thanks for reading.