Roehl lease program?

With 2009 over I was wondering how the I.C.s did last year. Not asking for specifics (none of my business) just an overview of your year after taxes and other expenses. Any big surprises either good or bad, would you recommend going this route to others, any advise would be appreciated.

 

Financilally it was a very smart decision. My income has increased quite abit. I have learned to very aware of mpg's and idle because that is my money going out the stack. I get good miles and am treated very fair by the O/O dsr team. I don't think I would be able to go back being a company driver. If you are thinking about this step I would recommend that you look for a truck from a outside source and then bring it to Roehl.

 

I did alright. Started this venture in August and grossed just over $51k for the end of the year and had quite a bit of time off. Now after taxes and expenses I netted drastically less, but I'm still not complaining. I have a cheap truck and my fixed expenses are significantly lower than most L/Os so that helps. I choose to sacrifice fuel economy for speed, it just works better for me personally. It seems a good few of the ICs in the flatbed division do the same. I think it works for us because we generally have liberal delivery windows and aren't tied to appointments as much as vans and reefers, so the sooner we kick the load off the sooner we get another one. ETCH is correct, if you can getting your own truck is best but I'm still happy with my decision to lease. Flatbeds are being offered a choice between mileage and percentage of the load now, I haven't seen Dan to learn the ins and outs of it yet so I can't tell you anything more on that. I couldn't go back to company after having the freedom on this side.

 

do you o/o's get longer trips? generally less routes in places like new york/jersey/canada? or is the freedom you talk about mean you can go out of route,go faster,deny loads (do they hold that against you?) things like that?

 

I just started as a l/o so what I have to say is strictly my first impressions. We can't go to Canada because our trucks aren't governed. In my case I don't just refuse a load. I work with my fm by letting her know what I'm looking to do and she gets with the planner to get us going in the right direction. The biggest difference is the respect that I'm treated with. I feel more like a partner than a piece of equipment that needs to shut up and do what he's told. Talk to me in about six months to see how the miles are. Three weeks isn't long enough to have any idea.

 

As an O/O can you refuse New York? Or can you say you want to stay in a region? I like where I've been sent and the heartland, where I spend most of my time. Can the dispatches get worse if my FM changes after going O/O?
If an O/O is just miserable with where he's been sent is there any recourse?

 

The very worst thing you can do in trucking is refuse a load. The second worse is tell your DM you don't like going a particular place. Always accept your load and tell them thank you. Once you hang up the phone you can yell and scream all you want. If you tell them, just as an example, that you hate going to Chicago you will be going there all the time! If you just take your load, act happy about it and thank them for the load then whenever they have a good load it will go to you. Dispatchers love drivers that they don't have to argue with or drivers that are difficult. Yes you may have a crappy load every now and then but do it and tell them you have no problem in doing so. Trust me, this will go a long way in their books! Actually a lot of companies will fire you for load refusal. The ones who don't you will wish they had anyway. Good luck and for the love of god please heed this advice!

 

Well as a company driver, I have never refused a load. But I was sorta hoping with the word "Owner" in owner/operator, I would have some say. BUT!!! With so much more to learn, the best 1st lesson in any job is when to say yes and when to shut-up and listen.

So yes I will heed your good advice. And thanks.

 

They have to allow a O/O to refuse a load, otherwise he would have to be classified as a company driver in the eyes of the IRS. At Roehl you can state you don't want to run in a certain area. I never ran the Northeast north of DC on the 95 corridor. I stated at the beginning this is somewhere I will not run. It never hurt my miles. Most of Roehls O/O's wont run the northeast. As a company driver you can be fired for refusing a load.

 

Yea I get stuck running them all

LMAO I am always up there and I mean always, Come from South loaded to the north, then back south or Midwest then south then back northeast lmao.... I don't mind it to much good miles and I tend to stay out of NYC as long as I don't go in there its all good