Flatbed Division Info

I depends on where you live for miles. I talk to bedders out of the west that do 2800 a week average because they stay west and they have longer runs. Living in TN, you will be in the Midwest and east coast almost exclusively. In this area it's mostly short runs and lots of time to make them. My average is somewhere around 1800 miles a weeks. I know that you have heard my experience before, but as there aren't many roehl flatbedders on the boards, so I'll post it again. I know many people are getting similar miles or fewer. Winetaster can attest to 1800 or fewer average and he stays out longer than I do, so that really doesn't help.
As for the prostars. I really don't mind it. I think they have plenty of room, a ton of storage space and are comfortable. I have has zero mechanical issues with mine, and while I feel it's severely underpowered especially for as much as they like to send you down back roads, once you get it figured out, it's not too bad. The only real issues I have with the truck is with the auto start/stop and bunk a/c. They put a different style battery in my truck then watch it had from factory so my a/c will go for 3 hours max. My auto start stop doesn't kick in until after the truck has cut all power to the truck (to keep from killing the batteries) which leads to my food going bad prematurely over the weekends while which I am always sitting on. I was told by maintenance to just leave my parking lights on to kill the batteries quicker. Bunk heater works like a champ.

Roehl will install a 1200watt inverter that will run for 2 hours and then requires 8 hours off before you can turn it on again. I live without an inverter. You can get hot water and stuff inside the truck stop for free. Only thing you really need an inverter for is a TV (good investment for the flatbed side. You'll be sitting a lot) but you can run that off a 300 watt inverter you can get from the truck stop that plugs into the cig lighter for $30. They say anything that plugs into the cig lighter is fair game.

 

Don't scratch off list. I have been with Roehl as a flat bedder for over two years. In your location, you should run 2200-2800 miles a week. How many miles you get depends on many factors, how long you stay out, your own productivity and the fleet manager. As a flat bedder an average is two hours to get loaded and secured. Prove that you can move and you will be rewarded.
The prostars are decent. I get up to 8 hours on the batteries be four the autostart get in. The other writer had the electrical load shed kick in. That occurs a loud alarm goes off.

 

Some info, In June, I was out for 25 days. I recorded 11.000 miles. Month before that, it was 9940 for 24 days out. Roehl has one of the best flat bed training, division and reputation for new drivers.

 

I'm glad someone is having good luck with Roehl. I and many people aren't doing as well. I agree. Good training and a good reputation. It has helped me greatly finding what's hopefully a better job. Ford l8000, I can't say roehl has been horrible. I can't say you absolutely should not drive for roehl. I just don't think it's the best idea of the options out there.

 

Roehl did give me a chance for an oversize load. I can't say it was a very positive experience due to a bit of poor judgment on my part followed by some issues with roehl management, but the load did arrive there safely and I do believe all I have learned with roehl helped that take place. It was nice to get some experience with it with a company that will help walk you through it. But I don't see any other starter companies not doing that.

My ultimate goal is to either get my own truck and authority, and/or run in a specialized fleet. I like the challenge of pulling something big or heavy or both, and also the idea of running my own company, my own truck, the loads I want to run and how I want to run it

. There are plenty of options out there. There is a good reason that I am leaving Roehl a lot sooner than I had originally planned, just as there is a good reason some people stay longer. Your results may vary.

 

nmmmmmmmmmmm