New rules at Roehl for Toll and Optistop route

This is an issue that comes from non-drivers sitting in front of a computer screen. You hired me as an experienced driver for my skill and knowledge. We both want the same thing namely to deliver the load in the fastest, safest, legal way possible. Additionally your opti-system is wrong about 30-50% of the time. It is also not uncommon for the opti-system to be as much as 30% longer than the dispatched miles. I am a professional driver, trust me to get this right more often than not, I have the driver scorecards to prove that I know what I'm doing.

 

Opti stop is a funny program, Roehl should sue the company that sold it to them! When I was there, it would route me down US 41 through Indiana every time instead of I-65 when i would pick up in Chicago and the load was heading south. Did I go down US 41 to save 5 miles? Uh no!

It would try to run me out of fuel by putting my fuel stop beyond what I had available to get to pre routed fuel stop! I kept calling dsr and all I got was "if you need emergency fuel, let me know and we will get you somewhere to get 20 gallons before your scheduled fuel stop." Ridiculous! I just started filling up at any Pilot when I started getting under 1/4 tank and never heard a word about it.

Another one I learned quickly when I was there was the routing to Miami. Opti stop would take you down 75 and onto the Florida TP. Roehl doesn't have Sunpass. It's 12 miles longer to take I-10 to Jacksonville then south to Miami from there. Cheaper for the company to go 12 miles out of route...yes. Opti stop really doesn't know when you need fuel or the cheapest way to get there, they need to get their money back!! LOL!

 

I remember when I first started there the rule was when heading across northern indiana we couldn't use the toll road from portage to South Bend. Had to hope off on 20 over to hwy 2. Very tedious. I also do not miss the anal retentive, control freak nature of the company.

 

Roehl is going to have to sue themselves. Opti-stop is an in house program. It is a lot better than it used to be. Plus, just look at all the free Subway you can get from getting fuel at all those wonderful Pilots.

 

Going from Fairburn Ga to Cullman Al .... instead of back on I85 north to I20 west .... opti tried routing me up Ga 92 to I20 to save 5 miles ..... well there is a low bridge (10ft) on Ga92 so opti just caused a total of an extra 20 miles since I had to back track to get on I85 north anayway .....

 

"anal retentive, control freak nature of the company. " MO family man, that is the most approriate, susinct description of Roehl I've ever seen. My 2+ years is not going to turn to three. I've had enough of what you so aptly described and am looking hard. Didn't help I just got a new dispatcher that apparently is beeazlbubs 1st cousin and though I've asked for a new dsr (excuse me, newly named... Fleet Manager, meaning the driver doesn't really have any representation at Roehl) I was refused... That was the last nail in the Roehl coffin.
A couple years ago I felt Roehl was a decent company but in my opinion there's been a hell of a downhill slide in these past two years. Every policy change has made it harder to make money, miles are low and Roehl wants to MICROMANAGE EVERY detail of the drivers life. The new route policy is more ridiculous than the fueling policy and leave NO room for driver discretion to take an easier, faster or even shorter route even without additonal tolls. It'll be interesting this winter when they run you up some of these secondary roads adjacent to the toll roads, especially in PA, NY and other snow/mountain states. Good luck to those of you who stay with this "anal retentive, control freak company."

 

Me either.

 

I believe although it is an in house program they got the idea from a former Schneider higher up who came over to Roehl.