National Carriers (NCI) vs Roehl vs Crete

Discussion in 'Motor Carrier Questions - The Inside Scoop' started by CAGEtrucker, Jul 17, 2014.

  1. CAGEtrucker

    CAGEtrucker Road Train Member

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    I got offers to to orientation from both. Every company has pros and cons. Any input on these 2. I have sleep apnea and use a BiPap machine so I need power so an APU would be great or lenient idle policy so I can still make fuel bonus Any and all input would be great. These are the 2 I have heard from so far I also applied with Crete these were my top 3 picks. Thanks
     
    Last edited: Jul 18, 2014
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  3. Puppage

    Puppage Road Train Member

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    What are you looking to pull?
     
  4. CAGEtrucker

    CAGEtrucker Road Train Member

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    I have been off the road for 9 months. I tried flatbed and it is not my thing I ran with a buddy and just so not want to tarp and all that extra work. I am looking at NCI AND Roehl.
     
  5. CAGEtrucker

    CAGEtrucker Road Train Member

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    Reefer or van. I have my hazmat as well.
     
  6. Puppage

    Puppage Road Train Member

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    I've heard some pretty good things about Roehl.
     
  7. teqntexas

    teqntexas Medium Load Member

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    your chances of getting something with a apu @ NCI straight out of orientation is kinda slim. None of the kenworth T-700's have them. the new kenworth 680's do have them but they are kinda hard to come by. (though they have stopped ordering the 700's so all the new trucks will be 680s.) that said, all trucks do have 1200-1500 inverters installed for you. As for idle time? It'll prob depend on your DM. i get the monthly call re: your way to high on your idle time, keep an eye on it. and that's it. I just remind them that i tend to run nights (all you pull are reefers) and if they want me to run nights and sleep during the day, well the trucks gonna run. and he leaves me alone till next month. Now my idle time is high, like 65-70% high. enough to take the overall mpg down to 6.1. when you take out the idle time it's a solid 6.9 mpg or better.

    @ nci, when you pull meat loads outa liberal or dodge city, if your there for more than 24 hours, they will pay for a hotel room for you and you qualify for $100 layover as well. so that gets you outa the truck to help with the idle time as well.

    i've been running south west regional for 4-5 months now with NCI. Now SW regional is kinda a HUGE area, basically anywhere from ohio to california if you are willing to take the loads. they will even offer runs to NYC to ya if ya want them, i just turn those down simply saying NOPE, i'm SWR. and it hasn't been a problem.

    They are currently running a few freightliners, kenworth 700s and kenworth 680s. like i said above they are starting to phase out the 700s and go with the 680s exclusively. they are not ordering anymore freightliners. the 700s are all 10 speed manuals, and the 680s are all autos. both on the company side are set @ 65. the other difference is in the 700s you get a fridge built in. both also have flatscreen tv mounts installed as well.

    routes... you will pull meat loads, lol, lots of them. nature of the beast when your named National Carrier and your owned by National Beef. So you would get to know liberal ks and dodge city ks really well. typically pull those loads out and then back haul candy, water, beer, soda whatever it takes to get you back to kansas. don't be suprised if your deadheaded a lot either. like 300-600 miles back to the meat plant to get a load.

    any questions about nci, let me know, i've been here for @4-5 months now running south west regional. if i don't have an answer, i know lots of other nci drivers that will have it.

    good luck where ever you end up.
     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2014
    backbackback and CAGEtrucker Thank this.
  8. teqntexas

    teqntexas Medium Load Member

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  9. CAGEtrucker

    CAGEtrucker Road Train Member

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    Thanks for the input I live in Arizona and am looking at the West Coast Region. I have never driven a KW how is the turning radius? I like my cascadia because backing was easy with a great turning radius. My major concern is being able to run my BiPap machine I like to make bonus do you know if people with machines have a different structure for the fuel bonus?

    Do you ever have any weight problems? I would assume not since they have been doing these loads for so long.

    Is hometime constant?

    Also is there any physical test during orientation steps, lifting and such?

     
    Last edited: Jul 19, 2014
  10. CAGEtrucker

    CAGEtrucker Road Train Member

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    An admin can delete this one if they want to/
     
  11. teqntexas

    teqntexas Medium Load Member

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    #1. yeah, to me the turning radius of the kw isn't as tight as the cascadia. lol, infact - now this is embarrasing - myself and 2 other drivers totally bombed the backing test during orientation. held us back a day and all we did for about 3 hours was drive around the yard in Irving and back trailers and then they cut us loose.

    #2. as for the BiPap and bonuses, i really don't have any idea. but you can bonus on fuel by hitting as low as a 6.5 avg on mpg in a t-700, so i'd think you'd be alright.

    #3. so far no, but i have seen some stevens and transam guys having problems in liberal, they have them rescale with a yard jockey watching and then will reload the trailer if needed. but then again, i typically don't show up at the plants with a full tank of fuel... (watch, i'm gonna have issues now... thanks. )

    #4. for me it has been. i usually stay out 2-3 weeks, closer to three and take at least 3 if not 4 days home time. so far hasn't been an issue. call my dm the day before i am ready to head out so i'll have a load when i get back to the truck.

    #5 physical was pee in a cup, blood pressure, and vision. then sat and talked to the doc about how he loves to run marathons then poof i was done. no lifting or squatting or running around a track.

    also fyi, you get some pc time to use and it comes in handy esp at the plants. something like 15 miles or so. more than enough to drop a trailer and head to wal-mart or to the hotel in liberal or the hotel, truck stops or casino in dodge city.

    fyi as well, dude it aint all wine and roses. trust me. it is what it is. every company has it's issues, but for me, so far, the positives have been out waying the negatives. you could def do worse than nci.
     
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