Roehl Transport, Inc. - Marshfield, Wi.

Anyone who can tell me what I can look forward to while in Gary? I used to live in the Chicago area, so I'm not so much concerned about that. I'm curious as to what takes place during those 3 days?

The best I can tell you from my memory is that it is a very fast 2.5 days. More so if your evo 1 trainer swoops in to pick you up at noon on day 3 which is when it is over. First thing Monday morning you will shoot down the street for your DOT drug screen. Then back for some paperwork. Lots of information craming over the next two days. On day 2 we were road tested. Only a couple tight turns. Very doable! Just set up and use all the space avalible. Will be simular to your state cdl test asking you what a sign was etc. The free lunch you will get you through to the free dinner which at both resturants is a lot of food. I prefered Zantes, I recomend the Gyros platter (Very filling). You will get a little home work to do back at the motel. Time will go very quickly.

Also, if there are any other central IL (Springfield specifically) drivers on this forum, where do you park your truck during time at home? I know I can't park at home and have been told that some truck stops "rent" a space to keep the truck at.

That parking thing was an issue for me on the National fleet. They did not want me parking at the truck stop for the weekend. An arangment that I had already worked out. They did not want me parking at the local drop yard. Can't park where I live do to local laws. So I called around the fleet manager and asked where the policy is at in my driver hand book ($50 if you lose it) that says I can not park at the drop yard. Was told there is no policy to that effect, hence I take up a spot at the drop yard. If they would of left well enough alone I would be parking at the truck stop since I can not find anything that says that is not allowed either.

Bottom line, Roehl is big, just not one of the mega carriers. Some of the decissions are made on the spot and not a matter of policy. You will see in the Gary orentation some of the staff is laid back, a couple on ego trips, one seems to hate his job. My advice to you, is not let the later two types get to you. Stay focused on you and the task at hand..... to take the first step in your driving career. Roehl may turn out to be your career or the first step, only time will tell.

Which fleet you go into may determine how successful and happy you are at Roehl. There is an order of priority as to how and who get the runs. Thus it can effect ones income and more importantly stress levels. However it makes sense why it is done. Once again, you are taking a step to get into trucking and get experiance. You can switch fleets and try differant things pretty freely at Roehl to try and find your nitch to make it work for you. I have seen flat bedders go to refers, van to flat bed, regional to national and so on to find something that works for them.

Best of luck to you in your trucking journey.

 

If its possible , please look at my post if you can do it by looking up my name here , this is my first post and I think I sent it to the wrong place , gezzzz a newbie even can annoy himself sometimes.

 

Getting ready to retire from the military and have a few questions about Roehl. Yes, I could call a recruiter but I want to get some independent thoughts from you guys first.

I plan to relocate near Akron, OH at this time. I understand from the Roehl website that pretty much all of their fleets are available from there. I'm only interested in the 7/7 program at this time. Now for the questions:

1. Would it be difficult getting flatbeds on the 7/7 program?
2. I'm eligible for free training and GI Bill benefits. If I drive 7/7 would that mean I only get part-time GI Bill money or is it still considered full-time study under their apprenticeship program and full-time GI Bill payments?
3. I can actually relocate anywhere. Is the Akron area a good choice or is there an advantage to anther location?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

7/7 for flats isn't available for the Mogadore (Akron) yard.

 

In order to qualify to collect the GI Bill money in their apprenticeship program you will have to work full time for the duration of the 2 year program. If you switch to 7/7 or leave the company before then, the salary and GI MOney will stop.

 

I cant help with the GI bill thing. However if you are living in Akron,you are in a very good spot to do the 7/7 program. Their drop yard is in Mogadore on Ghilcrest Rd. I worked out of the Mogadore yard on the 7/7 program,and I live about 85 miles from there.This meant I had a long drive every other Sat. morning, then another long drive home the following Fri.They run me pretty good on my 7 day trips, I averaged over 3000 miles each trip. Of course from Dec. thru Feb. freight is slow everywhere, and there were a couple of weeks where I only got around 2600 miles.I quit or actually retired the first of May,this year.Roehl aint perfect,but I found they will work with you if you are willing to work.

 

I just finished orientation for the 7-3/4 out of Mogadore, OH. I wouldn't give your GI benefits to ROEHL. Find an independent school - TDDS is near Akron. These greedy buzzards (trucking companies) will bill the government for "training" you. You work for them, they give you minimal miles, you quit, and they run another through the same program. Get your training on your own. Get a job where you get to see your boss face to face, not some pencil neck through a Qualcomm. I just started with Roehl - but I am now looking again. From here on out, I will not work for a company that has more than 500 trucks - unless its UPS

 

Wow, just finished orientation and already whining and looking for another job. I am sure you will be happier somewhere else. Not really, but keep looking anyway. If JBC is going to do the honor program it doesn't matter what kind of miles he gets, he will get paid salary. Does Roehl benefit from the honor program? Of course, but it seems like a pretty good program for someone new to trucking. I wish I was paid salary for my first two years. It doesn't matter if he the truck breaks down, gets detained or crappy miles he will still get paid.

 

Exactely! Being paid salary benefits the driver and not the company no matter how the government is reimbursing the company. Salary will motivate the company to keep that driver moving, plus, if you qualify, you can still get mileage and saftey bonuses during this time.

These aprenticeship programs are not new, it is just now moving into the trucking world. Plus, if you have no plans on going to college after military, why wouldn't you want to find a way to get something out of your GI Bill? I'm all for it, and whether I decide to drive for Roehl after I retire or not I will at least give their training program a good look when I go for CDL training.

 

I have to agree with the other guys. Man, you just started with Roehl and you're looking? Seems to me, with any job, it's part what you make it (aka your attitude) that will keep it enjoyable or miserable. If you keep that attitude, you won't be happy anywhere. Of course there are exceptions; I mean you can have a real bad experience and then it would be appropriate to look elsewhere. Did you? You didn't say.
As for the honors program, I also agree. In fact, they tell me I can still qualify even though I got out in 1973 and I'm sending in my DD214 as soon as I get my requested copy from records and I darn sure hope they're right! I just finished RDTC school a week ago (I'll talk about that elsewhere, and am waiting... and waiting, for my trainer to pick me up)... but as far as the honors it's a win / win. 1st you don't pay for the school and owe Roehl nothing as do the paying students, so you can leave when you want. Second, yeah salary for 2 years while you learn is a pretty good deal. For flatbed national and Great Lakes regional, the start is $435 per week for 6 weeks of evo training then $800 a week 1.5 - 6 months, then $840 @ 6-12 months, $890 @ 12-18 months and $940 from 18-24 months. Partially paid benefits and the ability to earn bonusus round out a pretty attractive offer, if you ask me.
As for my evo training, I really want to get started. Bill Cochran (my trainer), if you're out there, I'm (sort of) patiently waiting... let's roll man!