Question:
Well, I went in there with a clear mind, not taking anything from what ive read on here in there, and must say i liked what i heard. NOW- before you say anything, i know that recruiters are paid to do one thing ---recruit---so i knew they would make it sound good----and thats why I wanted to tell yall what he said and then discuss it.
Basically, I went and saw them because they had a recruiting seminar here in my town, and ive got family right next to their training facility in Dallas---so its convenient. We showed up and the recruiter was late, and then once he showed we had to cram 25 guys in a room that seated about 10-12. So my first impression wasnt the best, but it got better.
He basically started off saying its a hard road ahead, not anything easy about it, but if you stick it out, you can make a decent living. (I really respected that answer, good and honest)
He then cleared out about 6 people when he said we can hire ex-cons, but no 2 time DWI folks, or one other thing (cant remember, just remembering him say multiple DWI and about 6 people got up)
He then told us that training was 3 weeks long in Dallas,Texas. He said we had to have a CDL permit before we showed up, and that training wasnt paid, but our housing and food was loaned to us. If we make it thru training, he said once we are hired on soon after that, our pay starts out at $325 a week. We will spend 5 weeks with a trainer, getting paid $325 a week, plus $50-150 per load/unload pay if we want it. He said the average new hire trainee earns $600-700 a week with everything together (salary + load/unloading loads)
After that, we are sent out with other trainees in our class as a team and drive as a team for 3 weeks together. (still making same pay average $2600 month for first 7-8 weeks)
He then said part of our training we will go in as many states, and parts of the US as possible to get as much practice in different situations as possible.
Now for the good part---When we are finally hired on as fully trained drivers, our starting pay is .23 a mile. He said that sounds low at first, but that he says the average mileage by new trainees as well as regular veteran OTR drivers for the company average 12000 miles a month. He said there are alot of people that go over that amount of miles, and its all dependent on how much you want to work. Also included in that pay is $150 monthly fuel bonus, Unload/Load Pay, and pay for extra pickups and deliveries.
He then went on to say that its not hard to knock out 600-700 miles a day. BUT, just to give us new prospective drivers an example he gave us this average figure of what new hirees get paid once hired on as a solo driver--
Average 529 miles per day X .23 a mile= 851.69
Plus load/unload pay= $150.00 (pay for one load/unload)
plus monthly bonus= $37.50 (weekly breakdown)
---------------------------------------------
Average new hiree income-- $1,039.19 (gross)a week
So thats about $4k gross a month. He said the more you drive, and the longer you stay, the pay increases.
So having sat thru this 2 hour session, I must say im liking what i see, but before i call them and see if ive been approved, i wanted to post this info and see what yall think? Better yet, and Stevens drivers out there can back this info up? Just looking for your thoughts on this Info and on Stevens in general........
Thanks! -->
Hook EM Horns!
[This message was edited by UT-Longhorn on September 25, 2002 at 20:19.]

Answer:
Hmm, well, i just posted my thread, and then read that thread a couple down from mine about the guy that was also interested in Stevens.
Well, after reading that post, Tell me---Being a resident of Austin,Texas, and having a place to stay in the Dallas area----is there any place in Dallas besides Stevens that takes newbies with no experience, trains them, and pays them more than Stevens? Or is better than Stevens?
I talked to USXpress today, they said id have to come up with $250 for training, a way to get up there, and $100 for tests, books, and materials. Anyone know what USXpress starts there newbies out at?
Hook EM Horns!

Answer:
It would appear that the other class of individual that Stevens will reject are those who can operate a calculator. If you think that you're going to be making $1,000 per week at Stevens, you're in for a big surprise Longhorn. Rather than listen to a recruiter's BS, why don't you call the payroll department at Stevens and see if they'll confirm the "Average pay" for newbies.
BTW, if you want to know what U.S. Express pays, ask them. They've got an 800 number, don't they?

Answer:
Average 529 miles per day
Plus load/unload Average new hiree income-- $1,039.19 (gross)plus monthly bonus
$325 a week, plus $50-150 per load/unload pay if we want it. He said the average new hire trainee earns $600-700 a week with everything together (salary + load/unloading loads) $2600 a month,
I hope you thoroughly realize that this recruiter is so full of bull I'm amazed he can walk. The average trainees income will be $325.00 a week. You won't be in any condition to unload and reload your trailer for quite a while. Have you done the math to figure out how many loads you'll have to load and unload a week to come close with the 600-700 dollar mark. Very doubtful you'll ever see $150. for unloading.
Then $1000+ a week as a new solo plus a bonus. I am sure you know that you only get bonuses for obtaining goals. Those goals first off need to be obtainable. Not going to happen at-least not on a regular basis.
You'll most likely be making the "$600-700" as a solo and not as a trainee. Please do not let recruiters hipe talk about big money affect your decision in any way. It simply will not happen. Maybe with a company paying upper 20's and low 30's cpm you will make what this guy describes but not at .23cpm.
I seriously believe you were told the best case scenarios when looking at income possibilities. I also believe he put reality in the dumpster to get some recruits. After all he is paid a percentage when you sign up.
You best check out some other companies seminars. Get all the info you can and read everything about each. Then make a better informed decision.
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"
_________________
RC Universe


Answer:
If you are looking for the most "bang for you training dollar buck" consider Central Tech in Drumright, Oklahoma.
You'll be glad you did and it's right north of you, up here in God's country.
It hurts to give a Texan advice...not really.

Answer:
"I hope you thoroughly realize that this recruiter is so full of bull I'm amazed he can walk. The average trainees income will be $325.00 a week. You won't be in any condition to unload and reload your trailer for quite a while. Have you done the math to figure out how many loads you'll have to load and unload a week to come close with the 600-700 dollar mark. Very doubtful you'll ever see $150. for unloading."
Why wont I be in any shape to unload/load for a while? So lumpers dont cost $150-200?
Hook EM Horns!

Answer:
Originally posted by Tightrope:
If you are looking for the most "bang for you training dollar buck" consider Central Tech in Drumright, Oklahoma.
You'll be glad you did and it's right north of you, up here in God's country.
It hurts to give a Texan advice...not really.
How much is the training? I cant afford much
-->
Hook EM Horns!

Answer:
If your like most the trainees I've met you are going to be very tired from being up many hours driving and training.
No, lumpers do not get $150.00 to $200. to unload. I have hauled loads that every pallet had to be broken down and the most I have ever paid is $120.00. You as a driver will not be paid the same amount a lumper is paid. Companies often are willing to pay a lumper $100 while only giving a driver $40-60 for the same load. Worse yet is companies pay drivers by the pound for unloading.
What would Stevens have to benefit by wearing out their drivers loading/unloading if you were paid exactly the same as the lumpers?
I am a little confused because it does seem very clear that when a company says you can make a good living by doing a little extra work their trying to compensate for something. In Stevens case they are trying to compensate for a very poor pay and benefit package.
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"
_________________
RC Universe


Answer:
Now that is a lofty statement. Their are many experienced drivers out there not making that.
Is it possible, yes, maybe four weeks out of the year you "might" make something in that ball park range. Take note of the word "might".
The recruiter said banging out 600 to 700 miles a day is not hard! OH. When was the last time he drove a truck, 1970.
With the volume of traffic on the roads today, banging out those miles can be hard. Wait until you try it. If your running anywhere east of the Mississippi, 600 miles solo is a good day. You don't always have good days, trust me. If you are able to run 700 solo miles a day, he forgot to tell you about the log book. Your going to run out of hours fast, especially in the east.
He's making it sound easy to make a 1000 a week. If it was that easy, we wouldn't have drivers quiting left and right in this business. I don't know many drivers making 1000 a week, every week.
Many O/O's don't even make that kind of money.
So when you say a 1000 a week, we say, WOW. There should be about 500,000 drivers banging down Steven's door for a job. O/O's would be selling their trucks to make that kind of money.
As for me, I'll wait for the first 500,000 and then see.

Answer:
Not too much in the way of positive feedback, huh? Don't worry too much about that. These guys are telling you this stuff so you will not be too dissapointed when you don't make what you were told.
As everyone else is telling you, the figures can be achieved, but certainly not on a regular basis, and certainly not legally. As a solo driver, if you go stricly by the law, you can only drive so many hours in each day. You can throw in so many hours of on duty; not driving time as well. But very soon, you will run out of hours to work and you will have to shut down.
During the time you are shut down for lack of hours, you cannot work and you will make no money. Did they say anything about detention pay? Many of the places you will go will have you waiting around, and unless the company pays for detention, you will not make any money.
Stevens has added a few drop and hook loads, at least as far as I understand, but most will be live load and unload. While many of these will be fairly easy, many others will not. At least they do a lot more than produce! (Though it might be a good idea for every new driver to haul some produce. Aw heck...I guess I am just being a little vindictive!)
Now here's another little secret. Stevens is not the only company that will do this to you. The better options will open up for you with experience, and then only if you keep your nose clean, you know, your work and driving record.
Nope, we have not painted a very pretty picture here, but then reality is not always pretty. It is better to find out now before you discover the truth the hard way.
Don't get me wrong, I love trucking, and I have certainly been there and done that, but my eyes were never closed and I knew what I was getting into before I ever took the proffessional leap!
« Without respect for basic rights and objectivity, even a democratic government can be oppressive and tyrannical. »

Answer:
Thanks all for the info. So REALISTICALLY, given those numbers i was given today, what could I expect to see in pay during training for Stevens?
What could i expect to see once i go solo?
Hook EM Horns!

Answer:
You'll be fortunate to net $250 (after taxes, FICA, etc.)per week during training unless you find the one trainer in a million who's interested in lumping his own freight. Even then, you'll be splitting the pay.
Out of that $250, you can deduct your on-the-road expenses - food, laundry, phone calls , etc..
Once you solo, don't expect to be running more than 2,200 miles per week for awhile though, odds are, you'll have lots of opportunity to play lumper. You'll be getting the crappiest loads that the dispatchers wouldn't dare stick to a more experienced driver. BOL

Answer:
Phil (Paladin) is right. Do not expect more during training. You may lump a load or two but do not expect much for doing it. You will soon see why most drivers don't lump their loads.
Again pretty much right on about the beginning solo miles. You may not even see 2200 for a while. Stevens will keep you close to Texas when you first start out. I'll quote what a person in safety told me. But I don't remember who it was, "we don't want to have to go far when you have a wreck".
If you manage to make 3000 miles a week you will need to make some long hauls. Not much opportunity to unload when you only do a couple of runs a week. At .23cpm running 3000 miles will not give you $1000. But 3000 miles is a best case scenario.
It would seem far smarter to work for a company that pays better and let some else unload your truck. Make more work less.
"Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of all who threaten it"
_________________
RC Universe


Answer:
So are there any companies you would suggest going to work for that will train me and pay me better? Is it worth the drive to USXpress?
Hook EM Horns!

Answer:
bad about USXpress. Have you given Schneider a call. I believe they have a terminal in Dallas and I hear their training is top notch.
If you are determined to pull reefers try FFE. They are also out of dallas and start you out at .26cpm and you are up to .29 cpm at 1 year. Stevens doesn't get you to .29 until you've been there 6 years.