How the program works
Stevens sponsors training through its own Dallas academy and a partner-school network, advertising no out-of-pocket costs with lodging, meal, and transport assistance. The advertised structure is a 160-hour ELDT course followed by a 240-hour paid finishing program with a trainer. Note the minimum age: 22, higher than the legal minimum, which catches some applicants by surprise.
What the official page doesn't publish is the financial instrument underneath. Drivers report the tuition is structured as a promissory note in the $6,000 range, in at least some cases with significant interest, due if you leave within the first year, with collection activity reported against early leavers. That doesn't make the program a scam; reefer carriers train a lot of successful drivers this way. It makes the note the single most important document in the deal. Read it, understand the interest, and know your payoff number at every exit point.
The terms at a glance
| Term | What we found | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | None advertised; lodging, meals, transport assistance included | Advertised |
| Pay during training | 240-hour finishing program is paid; wage not published | Ask in writing |
| Commitment | Tuition note reported due if you leave within the first year; full workoff reported to take longer | Driver-reported |
| If you leave early | Promissory note reported around $6,000, with interest in some reports; collections reported | Driver-reported |
| First-year freight | Refrigerated over-the-road, team common early; minimum age 22 | Advertised / reported |
Anything marked "ask in writing" or "driver-reported" is exactly that: a number the company doesn't publish. Make the recruiter put it on paper before you travel to orientation.
What to watch with Stevens Transport
- Ask to see the promissory note before you travel to orientation, and read the interest rate.
- Get the payoff amount at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months in writing.
- Confirm the finishing-program wage before you start, since it isn't published.
Questions to ask any training carrier
- What exact dollar amount would I owe if I left at month 3, 6, 9, and 12? In writing.
- Is being let go treated the same as quitting for repayment purposes?
- What did the median driver from my training class gross in their first year?
- How long is the trainer/team phase really running right now, and how is that time paid?
- Which terminal would I be assigned to, and what's the realistic home time from it?
Official sources and verification links
-
Stevens Transport official training page
The company's own description of the program. Always the starting point, never the whole story.
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FMCSA Training Provider Registry
The official place to search approved training schools and file a complaint.
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BLS Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers
Federal job and pay data for heavy and tractor-trailer drivers: typical pay, how many jobs are expected, work hours, and injury risk.
FAQ
Is Stevens Transport's CDL training really free?
It has no upfront tuition bill, but you pay with a work commitment, and leaving early creates a debt under the program's terms. Read the contract or financing agreement before orientation, not at it.
Where do these Stevens Transport program details come from?
From the company's official pages and, where marked, from driver reports or court records. Terms change; we last checked June 12, 2026. Always confirm the current contract with the company in writing.
How do I compare this against paying for school myself?
Run both paths through the school ROI calculator with cautious numbers: your real weeks without income, the repayment terms, and a modest first-year pay figure. The cheaper-looking path isn't always cheaper after the contract.